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Transitions to Engagement Among Low-Income Cohabiting African American Couples: A Family Perspective for Policy

With passage of the Welfare Reform Law of 1996, various national, state, and local programs were created to encourage marriage, particularly among low-income African American cohabiting couples with children. However, policy makers know little about the deterrents to marriage for members of this group. More specifically, there is a lack of data that address the narrative responses of low-income, cohabiting African Americans regarding their desire for and barriers to marriage. To address this paucity, interviews were conducted with 30 low-income African American couples to explore their marital status, their plans for marriage, as well as their perceived barriers regarding marriage. Using qualitative coding and analysis, implications and recommendations regarding how policy makers and programs can best encourage marriage, if it should be encouraged, among low-income African American couples, are also provided.