Targeting for Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Ronald B. Mincy and Marah Curtis Columbia University and Chien-Chung Huang Rutgers University

Marriage vs. Fatherhood Services Unfortunately healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood have been posed as competing agendas. Marriage + argument did not prevail I was part of a panel of experts that participated in an effort to structure the forthcoming healthy marriage demonstrations Goal: Position programs to win healthy marriage competitive grants

Early decisions Couples  romantically involved  express interest in marriage  no multiple partner fertility Services  Marriage promotion media campaigns  Relationship education and counseling  Little or no Employment and training Substance abuse Mental health Legal intervention Policy reform

Targeting for Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood These early decisions can help us re-frame the debate about restoring families in terms of targeting for outcomes For individuals and childless couples:  Anyone who is interested in marriage can receive healthy marriage exploration services For couples  Married people should receive marriage maintenance services  Unmarried parents with children who are romantically involved and interested in marriage should receive marriage prep and maintenance services Others should receive responsible fatherhood/team parenting services  Not romantically involved  Facing significant barriers to marriageability

What to ignore when targeting exclusively for responsible fatherhood services Age of mother or father Education of mother or father Employment status of mother or father Ethnicity of mother or father Mother’s MPF Generosity of State’s TANF benefit Effectiveness of State’s child support program

What to consider when targeting exclusively for responsible fatherhood Factors that increase odds of non-romantic involvement  Black vs. White 53 percent  Fathers’ MPF 56 percent  Disagreed about the pregnancy 26 percent Factors that reduce odds of non- romantic involvement  Previous birth in common 25 percent  Contributions during pregnancy 67 percent  Fathers are supportive of mothers 57 percent  Paternity Establishment44 percent

Using Responsible Fatherhood To Screen for Appropriate Services Couples who do not fit this profile need further screening Unclear about the status of their relationship, for example:  Black couple with MPF, but paternity is established, he contributed during this pregnancy and is supportive of mother  White couple made no contribution during pregnancy, but no disagreement about pregnancy and no MPF

Overnight Visit Predictors Factors that increase odds  Black vs. White 99 percent  Teen vs father202 percent  Mother prefers weekly to no contact211 percent  Mother prefers monthly to no contact220 percent Factors that decrease odds  Over 30 vs father40 percent  Father’s MPF36 percent  Father has new union36 percent  Baseline visit/friends vs. cohab52 percent  Baseline rare/never speak vs. cohab76 percent

Summary Healthy Marriage and responsible fatherhood are not in fundamental conflict Through targeting they can find common ground Healthy marriage requires romantic involvement, which has clear predictors Responsible Fatherhood + can  screen for potential effectiveness of healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood services and  increase responsible fatherhood, even where there is little apparent potential