In 7 Ways States Can Strengthen Marriage and Families, authored by Katie MacLeod and published by the Institute for Family Studies, readers are introduced to seven evidence-based policy strategies that states can adopt to support healthy marriage and family formation. The article argues that strengthening families is not merely a private matter but a public good with real consequences for children, communities, and state budgets. Therefore, the article further argues that states don’t need to start from scratch due to proven approaches already in existence across the country.
Readers will learn about concrete policy ideas including reducing marriage license fees for couples who complete premarital counseling, incorporating the “Success Sequence” into school curricula, expanding relationship education programs, mandating parenting courses for divorcing parents, and training family court judges about discernment counseling as an alternative to premature divorce. The article is particularly valuable for policymakers, educators, and advocates who want to understand how government can play a constructive, upstream role in reducing family fragmentation and improving outcomes for children and adults alike.
