Concurrent Sessions 9 - (NBCC CE Credit: #1 hr and Conference Attendance Credit: #1 hr)

327-01: Relationship Formation and Stability in the United States:  Patterns, Trends, and Correlates
Susan L. Brown,  Kasey Eickmeyer,  Paul Hemez,  Wendy Manning  

327-02: Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Program Design and Implementation
Mindy E. Scott  

327-03: Priorities For Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Program Evaluation
April Wilson    

Discussant: Kendy Cox
Chair/Moderator: Elizabeth Wildsmith

Summary
The Marriage Strengthening Research and Dissemination Center aims to forge a nexus between research on marriage and families in the U.S. and programmatic approaches designed to support healthy relationships and marriage, particularly for those most in need. Drawing from a comprehensive review of existing demographic and evaluation data combined with program evaluation findings, strengths and gaps in research on healthy relationships and marriage, and Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) program implementation and evaluation will be discussed. Opportunities to strengthen HMRE programs through research and evaluation will be addressed.

Objectives
-- Introduce the Marriage Strengthening Research and Dissemination Center
-- Present findings that describe the current state of healthy relationship-related research and practice
-- Identify opportunities to support and strengthen Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education programs and practices through future research and evaluation

Subject Codes: relationship formation, relationship quality, education
Population Codes: non-clinical practitioners, couples/coupled, marital status, relational status, and family structure or identity
Method and Approach Codes: systematic literature review, relationship education, evaluation