This is an annotated version of an article originally published in a special issue of The American Prospect on “”The Politics of the American Family,”” April 8, 2002. Ooms describes the current debate about the role of federal and state governments in promoting marriage. She suggests that liberals and conservatives might find consensus on a […]
From the Child Trends Data Bank, this paper reviews trends in family structure over the last decade. Over the last 10 years, the proportion of children living with both parents has stabilized from 69% in 1995 to around 67% in 2006. Research shows that among children in two-parent families, those living with both biological parents […]
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 […]
This mentor recruitment kit includes a promotional brochure and a DVD designed to assist churches in recruiting mentors for youth. The poster includes information on the federally funded MentorYouth.com Initiative and reasons for churches to become involved in mentoring youth. Strategies are discussed for leading the mentoring recruitment program and recruiting mentors using three different […]
This tip sheet will provide guidance on 1) what you need to know before making the first contact with potential partner referral organizations; 2) how to pique their interest in your healthy marriage (HM) programs; 3) how to approach potential partner referral organizations; 4) what to communicate to them about your HM program.
This DVD is designed to be used as part of a 2-hour program for 3-7 engaged couples in premarital education counseling. It discusses how couples can embrace wedding planning as a learning opportunity and learn life-long lessons about their own teamwork and their relationships with parents, in-laws, and extended families. A marriage therapist discusses how […]
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 this 78 minute DVD an African American couple work through a single, difficult problem: the stress on their relationship caused by “”ex’s.”” As they work out a creative solution the complexities of the problem are demonstrated while they use Relationship Enhancement skills. These skills include: showing understanding (empathy), expression, discussion, problem solving, self-change, helping […]