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Building Strong Families Evaluation

General Information

View a brief abstract of this project.

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Evaluator(s) Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Investigator(s) Alan Hershey (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.)
 
Domain Income Security/TANF
Child/Family
Status In Development (not yet fielded)
Duration Oct 2002 - Jan 2011
Type Research and/or Program Evaluation
Program/Policy Description The Building Strong Families (BSF) project aims to learn whether well-designed interventions can help couples fulfill their aspirations for a healthy marriage and a strong family. The project will test interventions with low-income, unwed couples beginning around the time of their child’s birth. The programs will be designed to help such couples strengthen their relationship, achieve a healthy marriage if that is the path they choose, and thus enhance child and family well-being. Programs will be designed around two main components. First, the programs will provide instruction and support to improve marriage and relationship skills and enhance couples’ understanding of marriage. In addition, programs will provide a variety of services that could help low-income couples sustain a healthy relationship. These services might, for example, help to improve parenting skills or address problems with employment, health and mental health, or substance abuse. Some initiatives might supplement these main components with policy changes to improve incentives or reduce disincentives to marry.

The BSF project will address the following key questions:
  • Foundation: What underlying conditions, preparation, resources, and context make it possible to implement programs that focus on promoting healthy marriage for a target population of low-income unwed couples with children? On what theories of behavior and family well-being do the programs rest? What types of organizations are well suited to operating such programs?
  • Operation: What are the important issues and challenges in designing, implementing, and operating programs, and what lessons can be drawn from the program experience? What services are included, and how do they complement existing programs for low-income families?
  • Participation: Who participates and for how long, and what services do they receive? How does participation differ for subgroups?
  • Impacts: How do BSF programs affect couples’ attitudes and expectations about marriage, the quality and stability of their relationships, and whether they marry? What effects are found on parents and their relationships with their children, and the well-being and development of children? Which program designs work best?
After an initial program evaluation, well-designed programs that make good implementation progress will be monitored for a pilot operations period, and six sites will ultimately be chosen for the evaluation.
Notes Visit the project website.
 
Last Updated 03/31/05
Type of Summary Unreviewed
Contact(s) Alan Hershey (ahershey@mathematica-mpr.com)
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
P.O. Box 2393
(T) (609)-275-2384
(F) (609)-799-0005
Submitter(s) Research Forum Staff (info@researchforum.org)
National Center for Children In Poverty
215 West 125th St, 3rd Fl
(T) (646)284-9600
(F) not reported

Populations Studied

Target Population Single parent families
Fathers
Low-income households
Subgroups Analyzed None
Sample Size and Unit not reported
Execution Based on random assignment.
Follow ups 18, 36, and 60 months after random assignment.

Sites Studied

site selection in progress

Program Components, Policies, and Activities Evaluated

Social/Support services

Administration/Implementation

Variation in program components across sites? No

Outcomes Assessed

Service utilization

Program implementation

Income security

Family and relationship outcomes

Adult outcomes

Child Outcomes

Types of Studies

Type Impact Study (Controlled Experiment)
 
Type Implementation/Process Study
 

Data Sources

Source Administrative data
 
Source Developmental assessments/screenings
 
Source Focus Group
 
Source Interview
 
Source Program descriptions and documents
 
Source Survey
 

Findings Available

Other

Recommendations

Existing Publications

04/01/03 Building Strong Families: In Brief #1:Strengthening Relationships and Supporting Healthy Marriage Among Unwed Parents Mathematica
08/01/03 Building Strong Families Evaluation: In Brief #2 Supporting Healthy Marriage and Strengthening Relationships of Unwed Parents: Technical Assistance Available Mathematica
05/14/04 Building Strong Families Evaluation: Implementing Programs to Strengthen Unwed Parent's Relationships: Lessons from Family Connections in Alabama: Final Report Mathematica
08/01/04 Building Strong Families: Guidelines for Developing Programs Mathematica
03/29/05 Building Strong Families Evaluation: Brief #3: What We Know About Unmarried Parents: Implications for Building Strong Families Programs Mathematica

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