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Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study
Welfare reform brought changes in family dynamics and structure. We collected data for the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which addressed nonmarital childbearing, child development, family formation, the impact of welfare reform, and the role of fathers in low-income families across the nation. The study found that most unwed couples were romantically involved at the time their child was born and anticipated marrying each other. Most also agreed that it was better for children if their parents were married, and many felt that they themselves would be better off. Yet, they faced many obstacles to achieving healthy marriages.
By following this sample of unwed parents and their children from 1998 through the present, the study looks at questions such as:
- What are the conditions and capabilities of new unwed parents, especially fathers?
- How many of these men hold steady jobs?
- How many want to be involved in raising their children?
- What is the nature of the relationship between unwed parents?
- What factors push new unwed parents together, and what pulls them apart?
- What are the long-term consequences for parents, children, and society of new welfare regulations, stronger paternity establishment, and stricter child support enforcement?
- How well are children born to unmarried parents faring after fifteen years?
To obtain baseline measures, the study interviewed nearly 5,000 sets of parents of newborns in 20 cities between 1998 and 2000. Mothers were interviewed in the hospital after the birth of their babies; fathers were interviewed either in the hospital or at home. Follow-up interviews were conducted at one-year, three-years, five-years, and nine-years after the child’s birth. There are in-home observations in conjunction with the one-year through nine-year follow-ups and child care/provider teacher surveys when the child is three, five, and nine. The focal children were surveyed at the nine-year follow-up. Biomarker and birth record data have also been collected. A 15-year follow-up will go into the field in 2013.
Several related studies used the data from Fragile Families to research the mechanisms by which poverty affects child health and development. These studies focused on such issues as household food insecurity and its relationship to mental health problems and obesity, child care, and the medical and obstetric history of mothers and newborns.
An issue brief from our Building Strong Families (BSF) project drew on Fragile Families survey data to detail the characteristics and relationship patterns of unwed parents. The findings are helping state and local agencies and other groups designing BSF programs gain a better understanding of how to reach their target population with strategies that enhance children's welfare by helping their parents build stronger relationships.