Thinking about participating?

Consider these:

• What the project offers
• What couples are saying
• Did you know? What research shows

What the project offers

• A family formation coordinator: A friendly expert to assist you and to connect you to services for you and your child; meetings can be in your home.
• A mentor couple: A married couple from the community who can help you build your relationship.
• Help with child support issues.
• Parent and couples education.
• Premarital and marriage counseling.
• Support from groups in your community.
• A chance to help others¿down the road you might help other couples.
• All at no cost to you!

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What couples are saying

We interviewed couples who had a child before getting married and now have a healthy marriage. Here is some of what they had to say:

"What would have made our lives easier? One-on-one mentoring, mutual support from couples, classes . . ." -Kaisha & BJ

"Find that pocket of support . . . Accept all the support that you can get." -Tami & Max

"Take advantage of . . . any programs that are offered (and) don't be afraid to use them!" -Serena & William

"(Get) a couple to look up to, like a mentor couple." -Maria & Carlos

(names have been changed)

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Did you know? What research shows

• Most unmarried couples having a child together love each other and hope to get married. (1)
• Children in married, two parent families tend to have better academic outcomes than children from other family structures. (2)
• Children living with their married, biological parents are less likely to experience child abuse and poverty. (3,4,5)
• Married partners tend to have better overall health and psychological well-being than those that are single or cohabitate, respectively. (6,7,8)
• Married men report higher wages than single men and have been found to be more productive and more likely to be promoted. (9)
• Married women have substantially more economic resources than single women. This leads to better mental and physical well-being. (10)

1. McLanahan, S. et al. (2003). The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study: Baseline National Report. (clicking on this link will open a new window)
2. Jeynes, W.H. (2000). The effects of several of the most common family structures on the academic achievement of eight graders. Marriage and Family Review, 30(1/2), 73-97.
3. Daly, M. & Wilson, M. (1985). Child abuse and other risks of not living with both parents. Ethology and Sociobiology, 6, 197-210.
4. Margolin, L. (1992). Child abuse by mothers¿ boyfriends: why the overrepresentation? Child Abuse and Neglect, 16, 541-551.
5. Rank, M.R. & Hirschl, T.A. (1999). The economic risk of childhood in America: estimating the probability of poverty across the formative years. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61(4), 1058.
6. Ross, C.E., Mirowsky, J., & Goldsteen, K. (1990). The impact of the family on health: a decade in review. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 1059-1078.
7. Lamb, K.E., Lee, G.R., & DeMaris, A. (2003). Union formation and depression: Selection and relationship effects. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65, 953-962.
8. Kim, H.K. & McKenry, P.C. (2002). The relationship between marriage and psychological well-being: a longitudinal analysis. Journal of Family Issues, 23, 885-911
9. Korenman, S. & Neumark, D. (2001). Does marriage really make men more productive? The Journal of Human Resources, 26, 282-307.
10. Hahn, B.A. (1993). Martial status and women¿s health: The effect of economic marital acquisitions. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55, 495-504.

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