This paper reviews a series of studies addressing the question of whether loss of love and affection early in marriage and long-term marital instability have roots in couples’ premarital relationships. The findings summarized in this paper suggest that loss of love and affection early in marriage and later marital instability can be traced back to […]
Getting the most out of marriage and family skill building classes requires more than a good curriculum. Having an effective facilitator is the key to a successful program. A good facilitator is the leader of the class, is invested in the outcomes and the mission of the class, and is knowledgeable about process and course […]
Many couples in the United States are choosing to live together before marriage. Young people in particular, seem to believe that living together first is a good idea. Research shows, however, that couples who live together before getting married: Have a higher divorce rate; Tend to be less happy in their marriages; Have more trouble […]
In the past decade, policymakers and researchers have become increasingly interested in social programs that promote and support healthy marriages. A growing body of research evidence suggests that marriage has benefits for families and children, including improved economic well-being and mental health, and that children raised in two-parent families perform better in school and have […]
As part of a project for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation on options for collecting marriage and divorce information at the national, state, and local levels, The Lewin Group developed and administered a survey of state-level […]
This curriculum guide is designed to help organizations choose a marriage curriculum when planning to provide marriage education services in the community. It begins by listing questions to consider when selecting the most appropriate curriculum for a specific audience, and then offers an assessment guide to help practitioners systematically analyze a curriculum or compare curricula. […]
The success of every healthy marriage initiative depends on getting the word out about the program. In addition to making the community aware of the services offered, quality marketing helps recruit participants. While some organizations will have a media or advertising budget, many will not. This Tip Sheet provides ideas on how to get free […]
In the late 1990s the State of Oklahoma, recognizing the economic and social consequences of its high rates of divorce and non-marital childbearing, undertook an innovative strategy to strengthen families. At the direction of the Governor, the state initiated an effort to reduce divorce and decrease non-marital childbearing. This pioneering effort became the Oklahoma Marriage […]
The goal of the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative (OMI) is to make information about the skills needed to build and sustain healthy marriages broadly available throughout the state. To pursue the mission of changing the culture of marriage and divorce, OMI leaders decided to engage the support of grass-roots volunteers in communities across the state. By […]