Family Structure Index is a positive for our state
I love New Jersey, its diners, and its boardwalks. Despite my proud Jersey roots, the fact remains that when national studies on education and affordability are released, New Jersey often ranks near the bottom of the list.
Just this week, New Jersey was identified as having the highest real estate taxes in the country. Last week, New Jersey schools were ranked near the worst in the country for helping kids recover from the learning loss due to the Covid lockdowns.
But there is hope!
Our allied organization, The Center for Christian Virtue in Ohio, in partnership with Dr. Brad Wilcox, Professor of Sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, released a groundbreaking report this week titled ‘The Family Structure Index.‘ This report measures which states have the most stable and sustainable families using key statistical data.
New Jersey is ranked at number 15!
Not bad at all, especially considering the states surrounding us: New York is ranked 48th, Connecticut 40th, Pennsylvania 34th, and Delaware 33rd.
The Garden State stands out as an outlier in the Mid-Atlantic Northeast region!
You might be asking, “What does the Family Structure Index take into account for their findings?” The index uses demographic and fertility data to calculate how many primed aged adults are married, the average number of births per woman, and the percentage of children aged 15-17 who live with married parents.
Our team is excited about this positive news, but the work is far from done. In the months ahead, the New Jersey Family Foundation, our 501C3 educational organization will be releasing our Thriving Families Initiative – a long-term investment of time and resources to provide educational workshops, materials, and digital products to partnering organizations to strengthen marriage and to nourish and build thriving families.
We need you to financially partner with us to strengthen the family unit here in our state. Through your tax-deductible gift to the New Jersey Family Foundation, we can help parents and children to live in spiritually healthy homes built upon eternal Judeo/Christian principles. Donate today to help us offer these resources and materials to churches, college ministries, and community outreaches.
Allan F. Wright
Executive Director
Thriving Families Initiative!
Thought of the week
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10
I overheard someone say, ‘I don’t wash the dishes because I love washing dishes. I wash the dishes because I love the person who will use them next.’ Thriving Families develop this mindset in the home. Where can you serve in small yet significant ways in your home?
