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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Contact: ACF Press Office
(202) 401-9215
Review Concludes Marriage Education Helps Couples
Marriage and relationship programs increase couple satisfaction and strengthen marriage, according to evidence from a new review of program evaluations released today by HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF).
“The best data available show the effectiveness of programs designed to help couples improve their communication and relationship skills,” said Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., HHS assistant secretary for children and families. “This systematic review shows the importance of President Bush’s healthy marriage initiative, which gives more couples access to services so that those who have chosen marriage for themselves can acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to form and sustain a healthy marriage.”
The review, entitled “Systematic Review of the Impact of Marriage and Relationship Programs,” examines 39 studies representing the highest quality evidence available in the field of marriage research. The studies were screened from more than 12,000 marriage research abstracts and more than 500 marriage program evaluations conducted since 1960.
Using the findings from these marriage program evaluations, the review confirms that marriage programs lead to positive effects for couples. The results indicate that programs focusing on improving communication skills and relationship satisfaction produce statistically significant improvements in both of these areas.
HHS is also releasing a companion report entitled “Service Delivery Settings and Evaluation Design Options for Strengthening and Promoting Healthy Marriages” that highlights key components of current marriage education programs, identifies opportunities and challenges for expanding services into other service delivery systems and provides recommendations regarding evaluations of healthy marriage programs.
Both studies were conducted by the Urban Institute, under a contract from ACF, to help inform policymakers of the existing research on the effectiveness of services to strengthen marriages and options for expanding services. In his budget request for 2006, President Bush has proposed $100 million in matching funds for states and tribes to develop innovative healthy marriage programs, and another $100 million to fund technical assistance and research and demonstrations targeted to family formation and healthy marriage. In addition, President Bush is requesting $40 million annually in mandatory funds for a responsible fatherhood program.
To read the report, go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/strengthen/serv_delivery/reports/systematic_rev/sys_title.html
To read the companion report, go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/strengthen/serv_delivery/reports/service_delivery/ser_title.html
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news