Does Marriage Really Matter?

or How can a parent’s love life impact a kid’s future?

What do we know? With thanks to: Marriage and Relationship Education, a policy brief from The Family Strengthening Policy Center, an initiative of the National Human Services Assembly and The Role of Marriage in Youth Development from The Institute for Youth Development.

Children of divorced or never-married parents are at greater risk than children living with their own two married parents for: School failure Poor health Child abuse Suicide Teen pregnancy Behavior problems Weak parenting Future divorce

30% of divorces are justified…. –High conflict –Abusive of self, others, substances 70% of divorces are not necessary…. –Low conflict –Can be improved through prevention and education

What’s new? Relationship skills for healthy relationships and marriages can be learned… –Communication –Conflict resolution –Actions that bring couples closer and drive them apart –Good partner selection

Less likely to… live in poverty. suffer physical or sexual abuse develop health, emotional, mental health or behavior problems attempt suicide engage in delinquent behaviors become a teen or unwed parent become divorced themselves Children in two parent, healthy marriage families are on average….

To give teens hope, especially those from non-intact families. To increase eventual marital stability. To improve communications with parents. To build knowledge and self awareness that delays the onset of sexual activity. To model effective interactions: decrease peer-to-peer physical violence and verbal aggression Why target teens?

Want to join our team? $410 will allow one teacher to reach 30 students with hours of instruction. $2,000 will train 40 teachers. $16,400 will equip those 40 teachers with the materials needed to reach over 1,200 teens.

Does Marriage Really Matter? Absolutely!