This video from the 2016 Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) reviews three papers exploring the stability or instability of Hispanic families, including household composition, family structure changes, and income instability.

Two-parent families’ lower TANF participation rates appear to result from differences in policies and practices. The dynamics of family relationships and personal feelings, especially of men, about seeking assistance may contribute to this difference as well. These families may also receive fewer support services than single-parent families because of either formal rationing of services or staff assumptions about their needs.

This report documents these findings by analyzing administrative data, phone interviews, and site visits, highlighting key findings about:

1. the characteristics of two-parent families participating in or eligible for TANF;
2. the variety of services two parent families are receiving through TANF;
3. how state policies help or hinder families participation in TANF; and
4. how beliefs, attitudes and perceptions of state and eligible families help or hinder families’ participating in TANF. (author abstract)

This paper summarizes research on the prevalence and experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) among the target populations for adult healthy relationship programs. The purpose is to provide practitioners with information on their program populations to support their efforts in addressing program participants’ experiences with IPV.

This is the first in a series of papers from the Responding to Intimate Violence in Relationship Programs (RIViR) project, which aims to understand how to best identify and address IPV in the context of healthy relationship programming. (author abstract)

This report describes four Responsible Fatherhood programs that focus primarily on low-income Hispanic fathers:

1. Futuro Now from KidWorks, a partner of The East Los Angeles Community Union, in Santa Ana, California
2. Project Fatherhood at The Children’s Institute, Inc., in Los Angeles County, California
3. Project Padres at Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program in Imperial County, California
4. Responsible Fatherhood Program at Southwest Key in San Antonio, Texas

This study provides information about how these federally funded programs are implemented in a culturally relevant way and insights into the participating fathers’ program experiences. (author abstract)

This brief summarizes findings from a qualitative research study that explored the strategies five home visiting programs use to engage fathers and the fathers’ experiences with the programs. Interviews with program staff and clients revealed that young fathers’ motivations to participate are similar to those of older and experienced fathers, and that they benefit similarly from the program. However, young fathers present unique challenges, including relationship instability, family resistance, logistics, and developmental immaturity. The lessons programs shared may help other programs that serve low-income families in their efforts to engage young fathers. (author abstract)

This fact sheet provides descriptive characteristics of Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education programs serving youth, characteristics of those served, and the most commonly used curricula, program goals, and expected outcomes. (author abstract)