In A Proposed Model for State Policy Initiatives to Strengthen Marriage, authored by Alan J. Hawkins and published by the Institute for Family Studies, readers are introduced to a comprehensive legislative framework developed by the National Alliance for Relationship and Marriage Education (NARME) that states can adopt to invest in healthy marriages at the community level. The model calls for funding voluntary relationship literacy education for youth and young adults, premarital education for engaged couples, ongoing enrichment programs for married couples, and better support for couples in crisis.
Readers will learn why the author argues that states—not the federal government—are best positioned to lead pro-family policy efforts, and how early pilot programs in Utah are already showing promising results. It’s a valuable read for policymakers, marriage advocates, and community leaders interested in practical, fiscally responsible approaches to strengthening families.
