California Healthy Marriages Coalition Releases Positive Perspective on Federal Report

SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Attention and controversy surround the seemingly disappointing Building Strong Families (BSF) Early Impact Report recently released by the Administration for Children and Families. A great deal weighs on this report, including a potential decision from the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support about the continuation of Federal funding for Marriage and Relationship Education programs now offered in thousands of locations across 46 states. Upon analysis of the BSF report, California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC) sees the BSF findings as encouraging about the impact of Marriage and Relationship Education and hopes it will support continuing funding for these programs.

CHMC President Dennis Stoica states, "Although these early results are not conclusive, the BSF report is quite encouraging about the impact of Relationship Education on couples who participate in only a few hours of classes.  Because the research site with the highest rate of attendance showed the strongest impact on couples' relationship satisfaction, the Early Impact results point to the prime importance of getting couples in the door so they can benefit from the programs being offered."  Stoica notes especially promising results in African American and high-risk communities. The real challenge, he says, "lies not in program content but in getting the word out about their great value for couples."  Stoica's full testimony presented to the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support is posted on the CHMC website, www.CaMarriage.com.

The Building Strong Families Early Impact Report, research studies on the positive alignment of Marriage and Relationship Education classes with key social factors--including physical and mental health, children's achievement in school, crime and poverty—as well as a statewide clearinghouse of Marriage and Relationship Education classes are also available at www.CaMarriage.com.

California Healthy Marriages Coalition is the recipient of the Federal government's largest Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant. For the past four years, CHMC has taught proven relationship-building skills to more than 44,000 Californians through Marriage Education and Relationship Skills classes for all ages and stages.

SOURCE California Healthy Marriages Coalition