From policy ideals to program realities: A conceptual and empirical investigation of U.S. healthy marriage and relationship education programming

Healthy marriage and relationship education (HMRE) programs have proliferated since the Healthy Marriage Initiative was launched by the United States government in 2002. This initiative was preceded by decades of discourse about how to address rising rates of poverty and divorce, and decreasing rates of marriage and fertility in America. Today, HMRE programs continue to serve families, mostly supported by federal funds awarded to organizations to provide these services. Over the years, HMRE programs and the policies that authorize their funding have been the topic of spirited debates among scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates. Some scholars and policymakers argue that HMRE programs produce measurable benefits to families, justifying the continued federal investment which has surpassed one billion dollars to date. Others argue HMRE programs are a misguided attempt to accomplish the federal government’s goals to support families and alleviate poverty. Notably, writing in support of or opposition to HMRE programming sometimes appears divided along sociopolitical lines. In this two-part study, a scoping review and an empirical examination of HMRE program data are used to address empirical, ideological, and theoretical questions about HMRE programming. Specifically, the scoping review examines the perspectives underpinning HMRE programs and policies, how they have changed across time, and how they intersect with broader discourse on marriage in America. The second study uses empirical data to examine whether participants’ baseline beliefs about marriage and parenting are associated with their relationship outcomes measured one year later, and whether these beliefs are related to different associations with relationships outcomes among participants assigned to an HMRE program, compared to those who are not. Findings illustrate a complex interplay between structural issues in American society, ideological tensions, and HMRE programs and policy. I conclude with recommendations and future directions for HMRE programs and policy to support American families.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Dvlpmt & Family Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Rivas-Koehl, Matthew

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ogolsky, Brian G
• Lleras, Christy
• Barton, Allen
• Scott, Mindy

• relationship education
• marriage policy
• healthy marriage initiative
• family policy

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Matthew Rivas-Koehl

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129738

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129738