Marriage Education for Fragile Families

NGA Webcast

August 31, 2004

Brookings Institution

Washington, D.C.Dana Reichert Dana Reichert

TANF Executive OfficeTANF Executive Office

State of LouisianaState of Louisiana

Findings from Louisiana Fragile Families Study

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5%

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15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Committed Relationshipafter Pregnancy

Co-habiting Visiting

• “Magic Moment” shorter than expected—only 48% of couples survive pregnancy

• High hopes for marriage (over 60% want to get married), but ambivalent about benefits.

• Significant majority of both mothers and fathers (71% and 78%) have children with other partners

• Money (64%) and spending time together (54%) most common source of conflict

• Nearly half express interest in marriage education and relationship skills services; slightly over half express interest in service to help father get job/better job

Top Three Predictors of Marriage Interest

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5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

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35%

Percent Increase

Relationship CapacityEmploymentMarriage Attitudes

• Fathers’ “relationship capacity”– Listen, solve problems

together– Ability to compromise– Support goals and

aspirations

• Fathers’ employment• Attitudes about marriage

– Marriage makes you happier, better for children

“Bang for the Buck” Theory

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10%

RelationshipCapacity

Employment

MarriageAttitide

RelationshipCapacity andEmployment

Co-habitors Visitors

• For those couples in committed relationships (co-habiting or visiting), greatest gains come when combining marriage education AND employment—not either or.

“Weight in the Hammer” Theory

Service Model

• Identify existing “on-ramps” to serving individuals

• Identify ways to help couples identify themselves

• Present marriage education, relationship skills and workforce services

Louisiana’s Curriculum for Fragile Families

• 3 Tracks—Couples, individual mothers, individual fathers– Same skill set, designed for couples and individuals who may

not have made decisions about future of relationship

• Explore marriage and relationships resulting in “relationship action plan”– Explore ideas and perceptions about what marriage is, what it

isn’t, and unrealistic expectations– Gender distrust, gender rolls, stereotypes, racial stereotypes– Listening, conflict resolution (marriage education component)– Qualities of a good relationship (marriage education)

Five Things For Policymakers

1. Be specific about your goal (reduce divorce, reduce fragile families, population, etc.)

2. Supporting marriage education doesn’t always mean starting a program

3. Understand specific needs as it relates to your target population AND your goal

4. Identify champions and partners

5. Institutionalize your ideas