The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative: A Process Evaluation

Publication Date: May 2008

Publisher: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Author(s): Robin Dion; Sarah A. Avellar; Heather H. Zaveri; Debra Strong

Research Area: Social conditions

Keywords: Teen Marriage; Relationship Skills; Oklahoma Marriage Initiative; Low-Income Groups

Type: Report

Abstract:

By the end of 2007, between 5 and 10 percent of Oklahoma households had participated in relationship skills workshops. Every county in the state was reached to some extent. About three-quarters of participants were youth or adult clients of agencies that serve single adults. The overall participation pattern results from a planned focus on educating young people, who tend to marry young in Oklahoma and become at high risk for divorce, as well as a focus on low-income groups known to be at special risk for divorce and nonmarital childbearing.