--- title: "A New Look at Marriage: 2 Resources that May Change Your Mind and the Minds of the Families You Serve [Free Resource + New Book]" description: Take a new look at the benefits of marriage for families and society at large. Two valuable resources that will inform your perspective. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_new-look-at-marriage.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/a-new-look-at-marriage-2-resources#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [fatherhood program planning](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/fatherhood-program-planning) # A New Look at Marriage: 2 Resources that May Change Your Mind and the Minds of the Families You Serve [Free Resource + New Book] 2 min read ![Melissa Byers](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/melissa_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=melissa_circle_icon.png) [** Melissa Byers ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/melissa-byers) Melissa is the Chief Marketing Officer at National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI). Melissa oversees the organization's marketing, communications, graphic design, and product fulfillment functions. ![NFI_Blog_new-look-at-marriage](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/NFI_Blog_new-look-at-marriage.jpg?width=500&height=333&name=NFI_Blog_new-look-at-marriage.jpg) Marriage can be a tricky subject in this day and age. With society and Hollywood touting the benefits of singleness and self-preservation, we can fail to remember that there are many research-backed benefits to marriage. Not only that, but marriage—when combined with other important choices in life—can increase the chances of achieving economic self-sufficiency and reduce the likelihood of children living in poverty. To that end, I present you with the following two marriage-related resources. **FREE eBook from National Fatherhood Initiative®** If you follow our blog, you may remember two blogs I posted about the Success Sequence last year. You can read them anytime [here](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/new-data-finds-the-success-sequence-effective-across-every-demographic) and [here](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/free-resources-share-the-success-sequence-with-the-families-you-serve). As a refresher, the “[**Success Sequence**](https://www.brookings.edu/book/creating-an-opportunity-society/)” formula involves three steps for young adults: - get at least a high school education - work full time - and marry before having children. While the two blog posts I previously shared go deeper into this formula and how it positively impacts every demographic, in this post, I’d like to share a brand-new FREE resource from National Fatherhood Initiative® for fatherhood and family practitioners. It’s called [The Success Sequence: What it Is and Why You Should Share it with the Families You Serve](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Miscellaneous%20Documents/Sharing-The-Success-Sequence.pdf?hsLang=en). In this ebook, you’ll learn more about the Success Sequence, the benefits it offers families, the research that supports it, and why and how you can share it with the dads and moms you serve. It even includes step-by-step ideas for how to share it and a handy conversation guide for sharing it. [**Download the FREE eBook**](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Miscellaneous%20Documents/Sharing-The-Success-Sequence.pdf?hsLang=en)** now! ** **New Book [Pre-Order]: *[Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization](https://www.amazon.com/Get-Married-Americans-Families-Civilization/dp/B0B3S6G7XH/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Get+Married&qid=1706018595&sr=8-1) *by Brad Wilcox** Brad Wilcox is an American sociologist who serves as director of [the National Marriage Project](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_National_Marriage_Project), [professor of sociology at the ](https://sociology.as.virginia.edu/people/w-bradford-wilcox)[University of Virginia](https://sociology.as.virginia.edu/people/w-bradford-wilcox), senior fellow at the [Institute for Family Studies](https://ifstudies.org/), and a visiting scholar at the [American Enterprise Institute](https://www.aei.org/). His new book [*Get Married *](https://www.amazon.com/Get-Married-Americans-Families-Civilization/dp/B0B3S6G7XH/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Get+Married&qid=1706018595&sr=8-1)shares a mountain of data, surveys, and stories in a clear argument that defies many—in Wilcox's opinion—false messages coming out of Washington, Hollywood, the media, academia, and corporate America about marriage. According to Wilcox, America is in crisis. Happiness is falling, loneliness and despair are rising, too many schools are riddled with fights and failure, crime is unacceptably high, and the American Dream is out of reach for millions. Further, he says the problems are visible to us all, but virtually no one talks about the solution that Wilcox says matters most: Marriage.   [*Get Married* ](https://www.amazon.com/Get-Married-Americans-Families-Civilization/dp/B0B3S6G7XH/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Get+Married&qid=1706018595&sr=8-1)is described as “a serious dose of reality and encouragement to counter many misunderstandings and hang-ups about marriage.” New research by Wilcox shows that Americans who get married and have children today are leading happier and more prosperous lives, on average, than men and women who are single and childless. In fact, nothing predicts happiness in life better than a good marriage—not even a hefty bank account or a great career. And kids and communities—not to mention our civilization as a whole—are much more likely to flourish when the state of our unions is strong, according to Wilcox. [***Get Married***** **](https://www.amazon.com/Get-Married-Americans-Families-Civilization/dp/B0B3S6G7XH/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Get+Married&qid=1706018595&sr=8-1)**will be released on February 13, 2024. Pre-order now!**   [![Cutting Edge Tips for Running an Exceptional Fatherhood Program (On Demand)](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/135704/e25050e7-67c7-4517-aadd-e63e58a7004a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/135704/e25050e7-67c7-4517-aadd-e63e58a7004a) Date Published: 01/24/2024 Last Updated: 02/02/2024 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/never-doubt-the-long-term-impacts-of-serving-dads) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/press-release-children-living-with-a-father-in-the-home-reaches-34-year-high) ## Related Articles ### [How to Help Dads Thrive through Father-Inclusive Programs and Services Dads are irreplaceable and essential for child well-being. Whether teaching them life skills, providing emotional support, or simply being a steady presence, dads’ profound impact ... 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