Helping unwed parents build strong and healthy marriages: A conceptual framework for interventions

Although there are exceptions, research indicates that children raised in single-parent families are at greater risk of living in poverty and of developing social, behavioral and academic problems than are children raised in married-parent families. This report presents a framework for intervention that would address the needs and circumstances of unmarried parents and provide instruction and knowledge for those who would choose to form and sustain healthy marriages. Head Start and Early Head Start staff can help develop programs that will assist couples in strengthening their bond while supporting the developmental needs of their child. (author abstract)