What is the Healthy Marriage Initiative?
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services is promoting the Healthy Marriage Initiative (HMI) through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). In 1996, Congress made very pertinent observations about the profound impact that healthy marriages have as the foundational building blocks of society. While healthy marriages hold definite, undeniable benefits for children, husbands and wives also reap many benefits. Research shows that married women in healthy relationships, are emotionally and physically healthier, are wealthier, less likely to live in poverty; less likely to commit suicide, do drugs, be abused, or contract STD’s. They are likely to have good relationships with their children and feel satisfied with their spouse. Married men gain the same benefits; but in addition married men also live longer, are often wealthier, earn higher incomes, and are less likely to commit violence.The ACF does not advocate marriage as a solution for every person in society, and recog
