This policy brief explores the question of creating policies to encourage marriage in terms of TANF. The general agreement is made that federal and state policies should not penalize marriage. It explores the effect of TANF program rules on family formation decisions.

From the National Governor's Association, Center for Best Practices, this article reviews marriage education programs across States, which seek to ultimately improve outcomes for families and children. Research shows that children raised in, two-parent homes have lower risk of both academic and behavioral issues and greater stability in their future relationships as adults. Reviewing current marriage education programs, NGA provides lessons learned for enhanced service delivery.

In light of welfare reform, HHS has devoted funds to the Healthy Marriage Initiative. Because of the debate surrounding marriage education, this article seeks to answer what exactly is marriage education and if it is working. Marriage is seen to strengthen families, reduced poverty, and improve child wellbeing.

This report reviews the importance of local community coalitions for implementing a healthy marriage initiative in Grand Rapids, MI. The "Healthy Marriage, Healthy Relationships" Initiative began in 2003, and researchers provide information on how the pilot began operations and sustained community coalitions.

This pilot Healthy Marriage Initiative, called Healthy Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood, was implemented in Nampa, Idaho as a coalition of faith- and community-based partners. Through OPRE, this resource provides information on the local implementation of a healthy marriage campaign.

Studies have shown that family structure is an indicator for educational outcomes among children. This article proposes that by increasing marriage in the US would greatly improve education achievements among children.

This Brookings Institute Policy brief reviews federal and state initiatives that promote family formation and health marriages. The article tells how to identify effective programs to promote marriage, which benefits the overall wellbeing of families and children.

The proportion of married African-American couples has declined over the past years. This report seeks to identify the potential consequences to African-American families due to these low marriage rates and compare the consequences of marriage to Caucasian families.

This article outlines marriage penalties and the effect these penalties can have on low-income families. Despite recent policy reforms, these penalties still remain for mostly low-to-moderate income families. Authors offer suggestions for reducing these marriage penalties such as setting a maximum marginal tax rate for lower-income individuals and providing wage subsidies to low-income workers.

This report describes a meeting that took place in Charleston, WV, on November 3, 2004, sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The meeting was a follow-up to a a Healthy Marriage Forum that took place in Charleston, WV, on June 9, 2004.