This document presents early findings from the Supporting Healthy Marriage (SHM) Demonstration Evaluation and provides an overview of the early implementation from the eight demonstration programs across the country providing SHM services. Services include healthy marriage and relationship education skills sessions and support services to over 6,000 low-income, married couples with children. (Author abstract)

Guidelines and exercises for facilitating a new Marriage Enrichment Group. Eight months of “”teach-out-of-the-box”” plans. Permission is granted to copy exercises only. (Author abstract)

This report examines changes in the likelihood, timing and stability of marriage among adults ages 25 to 59. The analysis utilizes the public use micro samples of the 1950 to 2000 Decennial Censuses and the companion 2008 American Community Survey (ACS). The 2008 ACS was the first Census Bureau enumeration to inquire if the respondent […]

David and Sarah Catron detail all the steps necessary to get a chapter of Better Marriages up and running in a community, congregation, or civic club. It includes practical information, which any group can use to get started. (Author abstract)

Social institutions that have been around for thousands of years generally change slowly, when they change at all. But that’s not the way things have been playing out with marriage and family since the middle of the 20th Century. Some scholars argue that in the past five decades, the basic architecture of these age-old institutions […]

David and Vera Mace describe the essentials of conducting a mini-retreat. Materials include exercises for a 9 to 12 hour retreat to introduce couples to marriage enrichment. (Author abstract)

Americans today are less likely to be married than at any time in the nation’s history. Rates have declined for all groups, but they have fallen most sharply among those on the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder. A new survey finds that these less-advantaged adults are more likely than others to say that economic […]

The fundamentals of marriage enrichment are compiled in an easily read and academically sound format. For those who want to go beyond the simple mechanics of dialoguing, they will find a wealth of knowledge in this 17 page monograph. The Dyers describe the five stages of successful marriage enrichment experiences. Leaders will learn about successful […]

This CD contains a set of visual aides and diagrams from The Couple in a PowerPoint presentation. Available in both English and Spanish. (Author abstract)

Close Companions is the marriage enrichment handbook and required reading for couples participating in leadership training. It examines what is happening to marriage from various viewpoints and covers building relationships, communication, understanding marital conflict and settling disagreements by negotiation. Includes a history of marriage enrichment. (Author abstract)