State efforts in marriage education programs.

This issue brief discusses State development and implementation of marriage education programs to strengthen families and improve outcomes for children. It describes the objectives of the programs and types of programs, and notes research results that indicate children raised in two-parent homes with low conflict levels have a lower risk of both academic and behavioral issues and exhibit greater stability in their own relationships as adults. Strategies States and localities can use to fund marriage education are explained, and lessons learned from State and local programs are shared. Lessons include: curricula should be tailored to meet the particular needs of the target population; recruitment and retention strategies are important; marriage education programs can be effectively linked to existing services and programs; and staff providing marriage education programs need to be properly trained and selected. 19 references. (Author abstract modified)