The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study: First Follow-up Report - Newark, New Jersey

Publication Date:

Publisher: Fragile Families

Author(s): M. DeKlyen; K. Bradway; S. McLanahan

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

Increased non-marital childbearing over the past forty years has resulted in nearly one of every three births occurring outside of marriage today. The risk of poverty and family dissolution is greater for unmarried parents and very little is known about the relationships between, and resources of, married couples, or the impact of government policies on their lives. The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study is collecting information from 20 U.S. cities about new unmarried parents, factors that encourage or discourage family formation and the health and wellbeing of children born outside of marriage. The study follows a birth cohort of 3,700 children born to unmarried parents and a comparison group of 1,200 children born to married parents. Baseline data were presented in the Newark Baseline Report (2000). This current report presents findings from Newark, New Jersey of the one-year follow-up survey. Characteristics of the survey population include a disproportionate number of black and Hispanic unmarried parents. Forty percent of the mothers and 33 percent of fathers lack high-school education, one-fifth of the fathers have some history of incarceration, and more than one-third of the mothers received TANF or food stamps. Analysis of the data revealed consistency with results from the baseline surveys and four main findings: (1) cohabiting relationships are relatively stable for many unmarried couples; (2) many unmarried fathers continue to be involved with their children in the year following birth; (3) parents in fragile families, especially mothers, are in precarious economic circumstances; and (4) the majority of children born outside of marriage appear to be healthy at 12 to 18 months of age. This report is intended to enable community leaders and policymakers to better design programs and policies that effectively meet the needs of unmarried parents and their children.