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Problem Behaviors of Children by Parents Marital Status 2 Lied About Something Important Stole from a Store Damaged School Property Source: National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health Wave 2, 1996 Hurt Someone Enough to Need a Doctor Drunk 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 9 10 Had to Bring Parents to School Skipped School without Permission Divorce Intact Marriage

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Adolescent Cocaine Use By Family Structure Source Add Health Wave II 1996

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Source: C. Harper and S. McLanahan, Father Absence and Youth Incarceration, ASA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, August 1998. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.

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HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH

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Adolescents in Poor Health by Family Structure Source: The National Longitudinal Study of AddHealth, Wave II (1996) PA58

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SEXUALITY AND MARRIAGE

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THE CULTURE

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Rejection/Ambivalence Ratio for Every 100 Children Born 40 1950 Children Aborted Children of Divorce 50 60 70 Children born out of Wedlock 30 20 10 1954195819621966197019741978198219861990 Source: National Center for Health Statistics data and Alan Guttmacher Institute data

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Schema: Having Vs Belonging in the US

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Choice is the causation under our control Intergenerational consequences of choice in family issues and behaviors. Teaching our children to be their own cause Two paths on sexuality : Monogamy or Not The way we treat sexual intercourse structures society

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Marriage Makes a Difference Especially if children are to reach their potential But also for the familys income --- But income is endogenous to family structure On every outcome measured the cohort of children from intact married families does best..always, everywhere.

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The nation thrives to the degree families are intact. The nation pays to the degree they are not. Rejection weakens; belonging strengthens Especially rejection or belonging between mother and father.

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Congress saw the need to restore marriage in 1996 But punted to the states.. Oklahoma took it up Congress acted on teenage Out of Wedlock Births Introduced and financed Abstinence Education Programs Feds now have 2 sex education policies

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5 Tasks --- 5 Institutions Family / Sex Affection Church / Worship School / Education Government/ Citizen Marketplace/ Income

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WWW. FAMILYFACTS. ORG For Journal Research Findings

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WWW.HERITAGE.ORG For Maps of Family And Religion

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The End ----- Is To Belong