This special issue focuses on the increasing disconnect between parenthood and marriage and how to make marriage more child centered. It begins by discussing the three levels of decline of the child centered marriage, including the weakening link between marriage and parenthood and the growing acceptance of unwed parenthood, the shift away from children within the marriage, and society s drift away from child centeredness. Sixteen essays follow that explore how to make marriage more child centered. The essays address: using public policy and private suasion to encourage marriage, marriage and relationships, why couples should not just live together, overcoming a culture of self-absorption, building family-centered communities, the benefits of marriage, the equal-regard marriage, supporting marriage in the community, economic reform to support child centered marriage, using welfare reform to strengthen marriage, public policy and marriage and child poverty, reconnecting marriage and babies, reversing teen pregnancy and single parenthood, the need to discuss marriage and to promote marriage more effectively, creating a culture for healthy marriage, and the essential foundations of marriage.