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Marriage:
 America’s No. 1 Weapon
Against Childhood Poverty
How the Collapse of Marriage Hurts the Nation
     and 7 Steps to Reverse the Damage
                  A Heritage Foundation Book of Charts

 Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society • Fall 2010
Growth of Unwed Childbearing in the U.S., 1929–2008
  Throughout most of U.S.                PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK
history, unwed childbearing was
rare.                                    50%

  When the federal government's
War on Poverty began in 1964,                                                                       40.6%
only 6.3 percent of children in the      40%
U.S. were born out of wedlock.
However, over the next four
decades, the number rose rapidly.
By 2008, four out of 10 births           30%
occurred outside of marriage.


                                         20%

Note: Initiated by President Lyndon
Johnson in 1964, the War on Poverty
led to the creation of more than three
dozen welfare programs to aid poor       10%
persons.The government has spent
$16.7 trillion on means-tested aid to
the poor since 1963.

Source: U.S. Government, U.S. Census      0%
Bureau, and National Center for Health      1930   1940   1950   1960    1970   1980    1990    2000 2008
Statistics.


                                                             Chart 1 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.     heritage.org
Death of Marriage in the U.S., 1929–2008
  The marital birth rate—the              PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN TO MARRIED COUPLES
percentage of all births that occur
to married parents—is the flip side        100%
of the out-of-wedlock birth rate.
  Through most of the 20th cen-
tury, marital births were the norm
in the U.S. In 1963, more than 93
percent of births occurred to
married couples.                          80%

  However, in the mid-1960s, the
marital birth rate began to fall
steadily. By 2008, only 59 percent
of births in the U.S. occurred to
married couples.
                                          60%
                                                                                                     59.4%
Note: In any given year, the sum of the
out-of-wedlock birth rate (Chart 1)
and the marital birth rate (Chart 2)
equals 100 percent of all births.

Source: U.S. Government, U.S. Census      40%
Bureau, and National Center for Health       1930   1940   1950   1960    1970   1980    1990    2000 2008
Statistics.


                                                              Chart 2 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.     heritage.org
Marriage Drops the Probability of Child Poverty by 82 Percent
  The steady rise in out-of-           PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE POOR
wedlock child bearing is a major
cause of high levels of child pov-
                                        50%
erty in the U.S.
  In 2008, more than a third (36.5
percent) of single mothers with
children were poor, compared to         40%
                                                     36.5%
only 6.4 percent of married
couples with children.
   Single-parent families with          30%
children are almost six times more
likely to be poor than are married
couples.                                20%
   The higher poverty rate among
single-mother families is due both
to the lower education levels of
                                        10%
the mothers and the lower income                                                       6.4%
because of the absence of the
fathers.
                                         0%
                                                  Single Parent,               Married,Two-Parent
                                                 Female-Headed                       Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American                 Families
Community Survey, 2006–2008 data.

                                                        Chart 3 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.   heritage.org
One-Third of All Families with Children Are Not Married
  Overall, married couples head        100%
roughly two-thirds of families with
children in the U.S. The other         90%
third are single-parent families.             33%                 Unmarried
                                       80%
                                                                  Families


                                       70%


                                       60%


                                       50%


                                       40%
                                              67%                 Married Families


                                       30%


                                       20%


                                       10%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American    0%
Community Survey, 2006–2008 data.


                                              Chart 4 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.   heritage.org
71 Percent of Poor Families with Children Are Not Married
  Nearly three-quarters of families    100%
with children in the U.S. that are
not poor are married couples.          90%
                                                26%
  By contrast, 71 percent of all
poor families with children are        80%
headed by single parents.
                                       70%
                                                                             71.2%                 Unmarried
                                       60%                                                         Families

                                       50%

                                       40%      74%

                                       30%

                                       20%
                                                                             26.8%                 Married
                                       10%                                                         Families

                                        0%
                                              Non-Poor                   Poor Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American           Families
Community Survey, 2006–2008 data.


                                                      Chart 5 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.      heritage.org
Few Unwed Births Occur to Teenagers
  Out-of-wedlock births are often       PERCENTAGE OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS
confused erroneously with teen          BY AGE OF MOTHER
births, but only 8 percent of out-
of-wedlock births in the U.S. occur                                      Under
to girls under age 18.                                                   Age 18:
  By contrast, some three out of                                          7.7%
four unwed births occur to young
                                                          Age
adult women between the ages of                          30–54:
18 and 29.                                               17.7%                      Age
                                                                                   18–19:
                                                                                   14.5%

                                                     Age
                                                    25–29:
                                                    23.0%
                                                                           Age
                                                                          20–24:
                                                                          37.1%
Note: Figures have been rounded.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2006 NHS
data.

                                                       Chart 6 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.   heritage.org
Less-Educated Women Are More Likely to Give Birth Outside Marriage
  Unwed childbearing occurs             PERCENTAGE OF BIRTHS THAT ARE MARITAL
most frequently among the               OR OUT OF WEDLOCK
women who will have the greatest        100%                                                             Unmarried
difficulty supporting children by                                                            8.3%         Mothers
themselves: those with low levels        90%
of education.
                                         80%                                34.0%
   Among women who are high
school dropouts, more than two-                               51.4%
                                         70%
thirds of all births occur outside               67.4%
marriage. Among women who                60%
have only a high school diploma,
slightly more than half of all births    50%                                               91.7%         Married
occur outside marriage. By con-                                                                          Mothers
                                         40%
trast, among women with at least a                                          66.0%
college degree, only 8 percent of        30%
births are out-of-wedlock.                                    48.6%
                                         20%
                                                 32.6%
                                         10%

                                          0%
Source: U.S. Department of Health and          High School High School       Some         College        Mother’s
Human Services, Centers for Disease             Dropout     Graduate        College       Graduate       education
Control and Prevention, 2006 NHS                  (0–11        (12          (13–15          (16+         level
data.                                             Years)      Years)         Years)        Years)

                                                            Chart 7 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.    heritage.org
Both Marriage and Education Are Highly Effective in Reducing Child
Poverty in the United States
  The poverty rate for married         PERCENTAGE OF                        Poverty Rate of Families by
couples is dramatically lower than     FAMILIES THAT                                                            Single
                                                                           Education and Marital Status
the rate for households headed by      ARE POOR                                                                 Married
                                                                            of the Head of Household
single parents. This is true even        50%     47%
when the married couple is com-
pared to single parents with the
same education level.                    40%
  For example, in the U.S., the
poverty rate for a single mother                                   31.7%
who has only a high school               30%
diploma is 31.7 percent, but the                                                     24.2%
poverty rate for a married couple
                                         20%
family headed by an individual                          15.2%
who, similarly, has only a high
school degree is far lower at 5.6        10%                                                             8.9%
percent.                                                                   5.6%
                                                                                              3.2%              1.5%
  On average, marriage drops the
poverty rate by around 80 percent         0%
among families with the same                    High School        High School           Some             College
education level.                                 Dropout            Graduate            College           Graduate

                                       Note: Virtually none of the heads of families in the chart who are high school drop-
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American   outs are minor teenagers.
Community Survey 2006-2008 data.

                                                                Chart 8 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.       heritage.org
Unwed Birth Rates Vary Strongly by Race
  Out-of-wedlock childbearing           PERCENT OF BIRTHS THAT ARE OUT OF WEDLOCK
varies considerably by race.
                                        80%
  In 2006 (the most recent year
                                                                                           8.3%   71.6%
for which racial breakdown is
available), nearly four in 10 births    70%
(39.7 percent) in the U.S. occurred
outside marriage. The unwed birth       60%
rate was lowest among non-                                                       51.3%
Hispanic whites, at just over one
                                        50%
in four births (27.8 percent).
Among Hispanics, more than half                39.7%
of births were out-of-wedlock.          40%
Among blacks, seven out of 10
births were to unmarried women          30%                    27.8%
(71.6 percent).
                                        20%

                                        10%

                                         0%
Source: U.S. Department of Health and         All Races        White            Hispanic           Black
Human Services, Centers for Disease                            Non-                                Non-
Control and Prevention, 2006 NHS                              Hispanic                            Hispanic
data.

                                                          Chart 9 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.   heritage.org
Growth of Unwed Childbearing by Race, 1929–2008
  Historically, out-of-wedlock           PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK
childbearing has been somewhat
more frequent among blacks than          80%
among whites. However, before                                                                             Black Non-
the onset of the federal govern-                                                                          Hispanic
                                         70%
ment's War on Poverty in 1964,                                                                            72.3%
the rates for both whites and
blacks were comparatively low.           60%
                                                                                                          Hispanic
  In 1963, not even one in 10 (3.1                                                                        52.5%
percent) white children was born         50%
outside marriage. By 2008, the
number had risen to more than            40%
one in four (28.6 percent).
  In 1963, about one in four black       30%                                                              White Non-
children (24.2 percent) was born                                                                          Hispanic
outside marriage. By 2008, the                                                                            28.6%
                                         20%
number had risen to nearly three
in every four (72.3 percent).
                                         10%


                                          0%
Source: U.S. Government, U.S. Census
Bureau, and National Center for Health     1930   1940   1950   1960    1970   1980    1990    2000 2008
Statistics.


                                                            Chart 10 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.    heritage.org
Racial Composition of All Births and Out-of-Wedlock Births in the U.S.
  In the U.S. in 2006, some 53.5
percent of all births occurred to                 ALL BIRTHS                         OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS
non-Hispanic whites; 24.4 percent
occurred to Hispanics, and 14.7
percent occurred to non-Hispanic
blacks.
                                                                                                   36.8%
   Because blacks and Hispanics                                            White Non-
are more likely to have children                       53.5%                Hispanic
without being married, they
account for a disproportionately
large share of all out-of-wedlock
births. Even so, the largest number
of unwed births are to white non-                                                                  30.9%
Hispanic women.                                                              Hispanic
  In the U.S. in 2006, 37 percent                      24.4%
of all non-marital births were to
non-Hispanic whites; 31 percent
were to Hispanics, and 26 percent                                                                  25.6%
                                                                           Black Non-
were to black non-Hispanic                             14.7%                 Hispanic
women.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and                   7.2%               Asian/Other              8.5%
Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2006 NHS
data.                                   Note: Figures have been rounded.

                                                               Chart 11 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.   heritage.org
Non-Married White Families Are Seven Times More Likely to Be Poor

  Marriage leads to lower poverty      PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
rates for whites, blacks, and His-
panics.
                                        25%
   For example, in 2006, the pov-                                                    21.7%
erty rate for married white families
was 3.1 percent. But the poverty
rate for non-married white fami-        20%
lies was seven times higher at 21.7
percent.
                                        15%



                                        10%



                                         5%
                                                     3.1%


                                         0%
                                                Married Families             Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2006–2008 data.

                                                      Chart 12 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.   heritage.org
Non-Married Black Families Are Five Times More Likely to Be Poor

  In 2006, the poverty rate for        PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
black married black couples was
6.9 percent, while the poverty rate
                                        40%
for non-married black families was
more than five times higher at                                                        35.3%
35.3 percent.                           35%

                                        30%

                                        25%

                                        20%

                                        15%

                                        10%
                                                     6.9%

                                         5%

                                         0%
                                                Married Families             Non-Married Families
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American
Community Survey, 2006–2008 data.

                                                      Chart 13 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.   heritage.org
Non-Married Hispanic Families Are Nearly Three Times More Likely to
Be Poor
  In 2006, the poverty rate for        PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR
Hispanic married families was
12.8 percent, while the poverty
                                        40%                                          37.5%
rate among non-married families
was nearly three times higher at
37.5 percent.                           35%

                                        30%

                                        25%

                                        20%

                                        15%          12.8%

                                        10%

                                         5%

                                         0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American            Married Families             Non-Married Families
Community Survey, 2006–2008 data.


                                                      Chart 14 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S.   heritage.org
7 Steps to Reduce Child Poverty through Marriage

Given the importance of marriage in reducing child poverty, the following steps should
be undertaken to strengthen marriage in low income communities.

1) Reduce anti-marriage penalties in welfare programs.

2) Create public education campaigns in low-income communities on the benefits of
marriage.

3) Require welfare offices to provide factual information on the value of marriage in
reducing poverty and welfare dependence.

4) Explain the benefits of marriage in middle and high schools with a high proportion of
at-risk youth.

5) Require federally funded birth control clinics to provide information on the benefits of
marriage and the skills needed to develop stable families to interested low-income clients.

6) Require federally funded birth control clinics to offer voluntary referrals to life
planning and marriage skills education to all interested low-income clients.

7) Make voluntary marriage education widely available to interested couples in low-
income communities.
The Family & Religion Initiative is one of 10 Transformational Initiatives making up The Heritage
Foundation’s Leadership for America campaign. For more products and information related to this initiative
or to learn more about the Leadership for America campaign, please visit heritage.org.




  The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to
formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited gov-
ernment, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
  Our vision is to build an America where freedom, opportunity, prosperity, and civil society flourish. As
conservatives, we believe the values and ideas that motivated our Founding Fathers are worth conserving.
As policy entrepreneurs, we believe the most effective solutions are consistent with those ideas and values.




                                     214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE • Washington, D.C. 20002 • (202) 546-4400 • heritage.org

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Marriage and Poverty in the United States

  • 1. Marriage: America’s No. 1 Weapon Against Childhood Poverty How the Collapse of Marriage Hurts the Nation and 7 Steps to Reverse the Damage A Heritage Foundation Book of Charts Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society • Fall 2010
  • 2. Growth of Unwed Childbearing in the U.S., 1929–2008 Throughout most of U.S. PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK history, unwed childbearing was rare. 50% When the federal government's War on Poverty began in 1964, 40.6% only 6.3 percent of children in the 40% U.S. were born out of wedlock. However, over the next four decades, the number rose rapidly. By 2008, four out of 10 births 30% occurred outside of marriage. 20% Note: Initiated by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, the War on Poverty led to the creation of more than three dozen welfare programs to aid poor 10% persons.The government has spent $16.7 trillion on means-tested aid to the poor since 1963. Source: U.S. Government, U.S. Census 0% Bureau, and National Center for Health 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008 Statistics. Chart 1 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 3. Death of Marriage in the U.S., 1929–2008 The marital birth rate—the PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN TO MARRIED COUPLES percentage of all births that occur to married parents—is the flip side 100% of the out-of-wedlock birth rate. Through most of the 20th cen- tury, marital births were the norm in the U.S. In 1963, more than 93 percent of births occurred to married couples. 80% However, in the mid-1960s, the marital birth rate began to fall steadily. By 2008, only 59 percent of births in the U.S. occurred to married couples. 60% 59.4% Note: In any given year, the sum of the out-of-wedlock birth rate (Chart 1) and the marital birth rate (Chart 2) equals 100 percent of all births. Source: U.S. Government, U.S. Census 40% Bureau, and National Center for Health 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008 Statistics. Chart 2 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 4. Marriage Drops the Probability of Child Poverty by 82 Percent The steady rise in out-of- PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE POOR wedlock child bearing is a major cause of high levels of child pov- 50% erty in the U.S. In 2008, more than a third (36.5 percent) of single mothers with children were poor, compared to 40% 36.5% only 6.4 percent of married couples with children. Single-parent families with 30% children are almost six times more likely to be poor than are married couples. 20% The higher poverty rate among single-mother families is due both to the lower education levels of 10% the mothers and the lower income 6.4% because of the absence of the fathers. 0% Single Parent, Married,Two-Parent Female-Headed Families Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Families Community Survey, 2006–2008 data. Chart 3 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 5. One-Third of All Families with Children Are Not Married Overall, married couples head 100% roughly two-thirds of families with children in the U.S. The other 90% third are single-parent families. 33% Unmarried 80% Families 70% 60% 50% 40% 67% Married Families 30% 20% 10% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American 0% Community Survey, 2006–2008 data. Chart 4 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 6. 71 Percent of Poor Families with Children Are Not Married Nearly three-quarters of families 100% with children in the U.S. that are not poor are married couples. 90% 26% By contrast, 71 percent of all poor families with children are 80% headed by single parents. 70% 71.2% Unmarried 60% Families 50% 40% 74% 30% 20% 26.8% Married 10% Families 0% Non-Poor Poor Families Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Families Community Survey, 2006–2008 data. Chart 5 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 7. Few Unwed Births Occur to Teenagers Out-of-wedlock births are often PERCENTAGE OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS confused erroneously with teen BY AGE OF MOTHER births, but only 8 percent of out- of-wedlock births in the U.S. occur Under to girls under age 18. Age 18: By contrast, some three out of 7.7% four unwed births occur to young Age adult women between the ages of 30–54: 18 and 29. 17.7% Age 18–19: 14.5% Age 25–29: 23.0% Age 20–24: 37.1% Note: Figures have been rounded. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006 NHS data. Chart 6 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 8. Less-Educated Women Are More Likely to Give Birth Outside Marriage Unwed childbearing occurs PERCENTAGE OF BIRTHS THAT ARE MARITAL most frequently among the OR OUT OF WEDLOCK women who will have the greatest 100% Unmarried difficulty supporting children by 8.3% Mothers themselves: those with low levels 90% of education. 80% 34.0% Among women who are high school dropouts, more than two- 51.4% 70% thirds of all births occur outside 67.4% marriage. Among women who 60% have only a high school diploma, slightly more than half of all births 50% 91.7% Married occur outside marriage. By con- Mothers 40% trast, among women with at least a 66.0% college degree, only 8 percent of 30% births are out-of-wedlock. 48.6% 20% 32.6% 10% 0% Source: U.S. Department of Health and High School High School Some College Mother’s Human Services, Centers for Disease Dropout Graduate College Graduate education Control and Prevention, 2006 NHS (0–11 (12 (13–15 (16+ level data. Years) Years) Years) Years) Chart 7 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 9. Both Marriage and Education Are Highly Effective in Reducing Child Poverty in the United States The poverty rate for married PERCENTAGE OF Poverty Rate of Families by couples is dramatically lower than FAMILIES THAT Single Education and Marital Status the rate for households headed by ARE POOR Married of the Head of Household single parents. This is true even 50% 47% when the married couple is com- pared to single parents with the same education level. 40% For example, in the U.S., the poverty rate for a single mother 31.7% who has only a high school 30% diploma is 31.7 percent, but the 24.2% poverty rate for a married couple 20% family headed by an individual 15.2% who, similarly, has only a high school degree is far lower at 5.6 10% 8.9% percent. 5.6% 3.2% 1.5% On average, marriage drops the poverty rate by around 80 percent 0% among families with the same High School High School Some College education level. Dropout Graduate College Graduate Note: Virtually none of the heads of families in the chart who are high school drop- Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American outs are minor teenagers. Community Survey 2006-2008 data. Chart 8 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 10. Unwed Birth Rates Vary Strongly by Race Out-of-wedlock childbearing PERCENT OF BIRTHS THAT ARE OUT OF WEDLOCK varies considerably by race. 80% In 2006 (the most recent year 8.3% 71.6% for which racial breakdown is available), nearly four in 10 births 70% (39.7 percent) in the U.S. occurred outside marriage. The unwed birth 60% rate was lowest among non- 51.3% Hispanic whites, at just over one 50% in four births (27.8 percent). Among Hispanics, more than half 39.7% of births were out-of-wedlock. 40% Among blacks, seven out of 10 births were to unmarried women 30% 27.8% (71.6 percent). 20% 10% 0% Source: U.S. Department of Health and All Races White Hispanic Black Human Services, Centers for Disease Non- Non- Control and Prevention, 2006 NHS Hispanic Hispanic data. Chart 9 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 11. Growth of Unwed Childbearing by Race, 1929–2008 Historically, out-of-wedlock PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BORN OUT OF WEDLOCK childbearing has been somewhat more frequent among blacks than 80% among whites. However, before Black Non- the onset of the federal govern- Hispanic 70% ment's War on Poverty in 1964, 72.3% the rates for both whites and blacks were comparatively low. 60% Hispanic In 1963, not even one in 10 (3.1 52.5% percent) white children was born 50% outside marriage. By 2008, the number had risen to more than 40% one in four (28.6 percent). In 1963, about one in four black 30% White Non- children (24.2 percent) was born Hispanic outside marriage. By 2008, the 28.6% 20% number had risen to nearly three in every four (72.3 percent). 10% 0% Source: U.S. Government, U.S. Census Bureau, and National Center for Health 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008 Statistics. Chart 10 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 12. Racial Composition of All Births and Out-of-Wedlock Births in the U.S. In the U.S. in 2006, some 53.5 percent of all births occurred to ALL BIRTHS OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS non-Hispanic whites; 24.4 percent occurred to Hispanics, and 14.7 percent occurred to non-Hispanic blacks. 36.8% Because blacks and Hispanics White Non- are more likely to have children 53.5% Hispanic without being married, they account for a disproportionately large share of all out-of-wedlock births. Even so, the largest number of unwed births are to white non- 30.9% Hispanic women. Hispanic In the U.S. in 2006, 37 percent 24.4% of all non-marital births were to non-Hispanic whites; 31 percent were to Hispanics, and 26 percent 25.6% Black Non- were to black non-Hispanic 14.7% Hispanic women. Source: U.S. Department of Health and 7.2% Asian/Other 8.5% Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006 NHS data. Note: Figures have been rounded. Chart 11 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 13. Non-Married White Families Are Seven Times More Likely to Be Poor Marriage leads to lower poverty PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR rates for whites, blacks, and His- panics. 25% For example, in 2006, the pov- 21.7% erty rate for married white families was 3.1 percent. But the poverty rate for non-married white fami- 20% lies was seven times higher at 21.7 percent. 15% 10% 5% 3.1% 0% Married Families Non-Married Families Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2006–2008 data. Chart 12 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 14. Non-Married Black Families Are Five Times More Likely to Be Poor In 2006, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR black married black couples was 6.9 percent, while the poverty rate 40% for non-married black families was more than five times higher at 35.3% 35.3 percent. 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 6.9% 5% 0% Married Families Non-Married Families Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2006–2008 data. Chart 13 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 15. Non-Married Hispanic Families Are Nearly Three Times More Likely to Be Poor In 2006, the poverty rate for PERCENTAGE OF FAMILIES THAT ARE POOR Hispanic married families was 12.8 percent, while the poverty 40% 37.5% rate among non-married families was nearly three times higher at 37.5 percent. 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 12.8% 10% 5% 0% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Married Families Non-Married Families Community Survey, 2006–2008 data. Chart 14 • Marriage and Poverty in the U.S. heritage.org
  • 16. 7 Steps to Reduce Child Poverty through Marriage Given the importance of marriage in reducing child poverty, the following steps should be undertaken to strengthen marriage in low income communities. 1) Reduce anti-marriage penalties in welfare programs. 2) Create public education campaigns in low-income communities on the benefits of marriage. 3) Require welfare offices to provide factual information on the value of marriage in reducing poverty and welfare dependence. 4) Explain the benefits of marriage in middle and high schools with a high proportion of at-risk youth. 5) Require federally funded birth control clinics to provide information on the benefits of marriage and the skills needed to develop stable families to interested low-income clients. 6) Require federally funded birth control clinics to offer voluntary referrals to life planning and marriage skills education to all interested low-income clients. 7) Make voluntary marriage education widely available to interested couples in low- income communities.
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