A new US report into state and government programmes designed to encourage and stabilise marriage has found that these programmes can have a positive effect, particularly on lower-income families.
However, the report also found that the level of success varied considerably depending on the programme, and that many of the initiatives suffered from a lack of funding.
The report, by Professor Alan J. Hawkins and Betty VanDenBerghe, analysed a variety of ‘Health Marriage and Relationship Initiatives’ or HMRIs. The report said that HMRIs have potential to do great good. “If an increasing number of at-risk individuals participate in these programs early in their lives, they will be better able to form healthy relationships and enduring marriages that ultimately improves child well-being and reduces poverty in our society.” Some of the more successful programmes included the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative, a statewide education campaign that enrolled more than 300,000 people; the Strong Bonds programme focusing on military couples, and the “Supporting Father Involvement” initiative in California.
But other programmes, such as one aimed at helping encourage stability among unmarried couples, were less successful.
According to the Deseret News, Hawkins said assessments of what works among the various programs nationwide are in the early stages, but evidence suggests educational programs may be making small impacts. “By small, I don’t mean trivial,” he said. “They may be reducing the number of single-parent families and increasing the number of two-parent families.”
The report’s authors called for more federal funding of the successful programmes, and for more research into exactly what kinds of programme are most successful.
According to VanDenBerghe, some oppose the programs because they see them as government intervention, but she said: “If you want to talk about government interventions, let families fall apart. Then the courts decide where the kids go and when they can be with you, or garnish your paycheck. Lots of money is spent when families do fall apart. This doesn’t cost much and can prevent a lot of stuff.”