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from: Smart Marriages®
(Strange headline for this article?? - but it
covers the reasons why we're gearing up to increase
marriage-strengthening capacity for couples across all
segments of society. - diane)
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 2, 2003
By Cheryl Wetzstein
With funding for marriage-promotion activities virtually
assured this year, researchers are busy preparing
blueprints to help states embrace the concept of advising
unmarried parents about the benefits of marriage.
"In fact, most unmarried parents with a new child have
high hopes for their relationship," M. Robin Dion and
Barbara Devaney of Mathematica Policy Research Inc. wrote in
a recent report.
Data from the national Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing
Study, based at Princeton University, show that 82 percent
of poor, unmarried couples are "romantically involved
with each other" at the time their children are born.
Moreover, 55 percent of the mothers and 72 percent of the
fathers think their "chance of marriage" is
"pretty good or almost certain."
Still, one year later, fewer than 10 percent of these
couples are married, as interpersonal problems, unemployment
and the stress of raising a newborn take their toll. A state
pro-marriage program could begin by assessing a couple's
interest in marriage, the Mathematica report said.
States then could offer programs to strengthen the couple's
relationship and parenting skills, and offer employment
training to help them become more "marriageable."
States also could review their welfare and child-support
policies to ensure that marriage is a positive step
economically.
The House welfare bill allows up to $300 million a year for
pro-marriage activities. A Senate Finance Committee welfare
bill, expected in mid-May, is likely to have a similar
provision, since Chairman Charles E. Grassley, Iowa
Republican, "strongly supports" it, aides said
this week.
The Mathematica report is part of a federally funded project
in partnership with major research groups, such as Manpower
Demonstration Research Corp., Urban Institute, Public
Strategies Inc. and Decision Information Resources Inc.
The report identifies 19 marriage education, mentoring
and inventory programs that could be "a good starting
point" for state programs.
Ten of the programs are suitable for engaged couples,
five are faith-based and three are for new parents.
The report also anticipates that state workers will have
many questions about how to add a "marriage
component" to their services. These and other issues,
such as substance abuse, domestic violence and mental
illness, all have to be addressed in new programs, the
report concludes.
http://www.washtimes.com/culture/20030502-85254329.htm
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