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Who We Are... The Happy-Family is owned and operated by ATLM, LLC and provides FREE premarital workshops to couples in Liberty, Chambers and Galveston counties. We partner with Faith based organizations to spread the word about changes to Texas State Law with respect to marriage. Classes are FREE! Sign up today for an upcoming workshop in your county! The Texas House Bill 2685 Premarital couples are encouraged to attend an eight hour premarital education course before the date of the application for the marriage license. Couples that complete these classes will receive a certificate of completion valid for 365 days and have their marriage license fees waived. County fees will still apply (approx. $6-$12). Healthy Marriages Research over the last thirty years indicates a decline in marriage and an increase divorce. Studies show this trend has a negative affect on families, the economy, and on individuals’ overall well being. However, there are also indicators that show as a whole, Americans are still positive about the institution of marriage, and that certain social and policy interventions can help to alleviate negative trends. Below is a brief summary of some commonly sited facts from the body of research that support the need and demand for healthy marriage programs. The Value of Marriage Research indicates that marital state is equally or more important to an individual’s well being than their economic status. [i]
[i] “The Healthy of an Institution: A U.S. Marriage Index,” The Institute for American Values, Fact Sheet 3, March 2007. http://center.americanvalues.org/?p=54 [ii] Doherty, William J. et al., “Why Marriage Matters: 21 Conclusions from the Social Sciences.” http://www.heartland.org/pdf/14963.pdf [iii] “What is the Relationship of Marriage to Physical Health,” National Healthy Marriage Resource Center, March 10, 2008. http://www.healthymarriageinfo.org/docs/phnmarriagefs.pdf
| The Hope 
- In A National Survey on Marriage in America, 94 percent of respondents said that divorce is a national problem, an attitude that suggests an openness to marriage improvement efforts.[i]
- Since the mid-1990s the rate of children living in single parent homes has decreased, an accomplishment that many link to the implementation of new social policies and programs.[ii]
- Attitudes toward marriage are also positive. A National Survey on Marriage in America found that only 2 percent of young Americans surveyed reported being uninterested in marriage and 88 percent stated that marriage should be for life. Of married couples surveyed, 88 percent reported feeling “very” or “completely satisfied” and 93 percent stated they would remarry their spouse if provided with the opportunity to reconsider the option.[iii]
- The preliminary research findings from the federally supported Building Strong Families Initiative, which operates in seven sites throughout the country, shows that couples are welcoming of marriage education opportunities and report significant improvements to their relationship following course completion.[iv]
- In Texas, 45 percent of surveyed individuals ages 18-44 indicated they would “definitely” be willing to participate in marriage and relationships classes, and another 37% said they would “maybe” be willing to.[v]
- Studies evaluating self-reports and behavioral measures of couples that have participated in premarital education programs indicate about a 30 percent increase in measurable improvements in communication and problem solving skills when compared to non-participants.[vi] These findings are significant because there is also convincing amounts of evidence to conclude that the improvement of specific skills like communication and conflict management generally improve marital outcomes.[vii]
- Similar findings from multi-study reviews on a variety of marriage programs show participants are likely to experience improved marital satisfaction and communication than those who do not receive any intervention.[viii]
* Estimates on the national divorce rate vary considerably, but 50 percent is the most commonly accepted estimate.
[i] “With this Ring,” A National Survey on Marriage in America, The National Fatherhood Initiative, 2005. http://www.smartmarriages.com/nms.pdf [ii] Finegold, Kenneth and Wherry, Laura, “Marriage Promotion and the Living Arrangements of Black, Hispanic, and White Children,” The Urban Institute, Series B, September 2004. http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/311064_B-61.pdf [iii] “With this Ring,” A National Survey on Marriage in America, The National Fatherhood Initiative, 2005. http://www.smartmarriages.com/nms.pdf [iv] “Implementation of the Building Strong Families Program,” Mathematica Policy Research, January 7, 2008. http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/pdfs/bsfimplementation.pdf [v] Harris, Steve, et al.,Twogether in Texas: Baseline Report on Family Life in the Lone Star State [vi] Carroll, Jason and Doherty, William, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Premarital Prevention Programs: A Meta-Analytic Review of Outcome Research.” Family Relations, vol 52, 2003. [vii] Carroll, Jason and Doherty, William, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Premarital Prevention Programs: A Meta-Analytic Review of Outcome Research.” Family Relations, vol 52, 2003. [viii] Reardon-Anderson, Jane et al, “Systematic Review of the Impact of Marriage and Relationship Programs.” | The Challenge 
- According to national trends, about one third of all first marriages will end within the first 10 years.[i]
- Between 1970 and 2000, the percent of married adults has decreased by 12 percent and births to married parents have declined 22 percent.[ii]
- In 2004, there were a total of 81,324 divorces in Texas.[iii]
- In 2004, divorce affected the lives of 62,380 Texas children under the age of 18.[iv]
- Minority children are significantly less likely to live with married parents. Whereas 69 percent of white children lived with married parents in 2002, only 26.6 percent of African American children lived with married parents.[v]
- In 2006, 33 percent of Texas children were raised in single parent households, up from 29 percent in 2002.[vi] Unwed and divorce childbearing elevates the likelihood a family will experience poverty.[vii]
- Only half of surveyed Texans reported knowing people in “good and healthy marriages.”[viii]
[i] Bramlett, Matthew and Mosher, William, “First Marriage Dissolution, Divorce, and Remarriage in the U.S.,” The Center for Disease Control, May 31, 2001. [ii] “The Healthy of an Institution: A U.S. Marriage Index,” The Institute for American Values, Fact Sheet 3, March 2007. http://center.americanvalues.org/?p=54 [v] Finegold, Kenneth and Wherry, Laura, “Marriage Promotion and the Living Arrangements of Black, Hispanic, and White Children,” The Urban Institute, Series B, September 2004. http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/311064_B-61.pdf [vi] Kids Count, Annie E. Casey [vii] Doherty, William J. et al., “Why Marriage Matters: 21 Conclusions from the Social Sciences.” http://www.heartland.org/pdf/14963.pdf [viii] Harris, Steve, et al.,Twogether in Texas: Baseline Report on Family Life in the Lone Star State |
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