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Families

A multigenerational group of people who share a close relationship and generally live in the same household, with one or more parents caring for biological or adopted children, families also include adult children who care for their elderly parents. RAND research on families spans various populations and socioeconomic backgrounds in developed as well as developing countries and addresses such topics as child welfare, fertility, marriage and divorce, and household economic security.

Essay
How the Child-Welfare System Could Protect More Kids and Save Billions of Dollars
It costs billions of dollars each year to investigate child abuse reports, counsel and support families, and provide foster homes for kids at risk. A greater focus on preventing abuse and neglect, and on placing children with relatives rather than strangers, could improve thousands of young lives.
Apr 25, 2018
Journal Article
The Feasibility of a Web Intervention for Military and Veteran Spouses Concerned About Their Partner's Alcohol Misuse
It is feasible to deliver a web-based intervention to help concerned partners of military service members and veterans who suffer from alcohol misuse; partners found the program useful and acceptable.
Apr 18, 2018
Report
Air Force Sexual Assault Situations, Settings, and Offender Behaviors
To assist Air Force efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault, this report focuses on providing a better understanding of sexual assaults committed by airmen, including suspect characteristics and behaviors and risky situations and settings.
Apr 10, 2018
Commentary
Tackling Gender-Based Violence Among Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
Increased poverty and major shifts in traditional gender roles for Syrian refugees have worsened interpersonal tensions, increased the risk of domestic violence, and caused challenges for aid workers.
Mar 22, 2018
Journal Article
Fertility Behaviors in South Korea and Their Association with Ultrasound Prenatal Sex Screening
Using the 1985, 1995, and 2005 Korean Censuses, we find significant period effects suggesting that sex ratios at birth became unnaturally imbalanced when ultrasound technology became available..
Mar 14, 2018
Journal Article
Fertility, Gender Preference, the Birth Planning Policy and Life Satisfaction in China
Investigation of Birth Planning Policy effect on parity-specific birth continuation probabilities and parental life satisfaction as a function of the numbers and gender composition of children both before and after the implementation of the BPP.
Mar 14, 2018
Report
How Does Deployment Experience Compare Across the Services?
Deployments are a key aspect of U.S. military service. Since 9/11, 2.77 million service members have served on 5.4 million deployments. Accrued time deployed is a relevant metric for measuring military experience, but also for measuring service member and family well-being.
Mar 6, 2018
Periodical
RAND Review: March-April 2018
This issue features a Q&A with Michael Rich, Soledad O'Brien, and Francis Fukuyama on the perils of truth decay, and a story on the trend toward unretirement among U.S. workers. The Voices column features Gulrez Shah Azhar on environmental refugees.
Mar 5, 2018
Report
An Assessment of the Military Survivor Benefit Plan
This report assesses the Survivor Benefit Plan in terms of participation and benefits, compares it with similar plans in public and private organizations, and considers the feasibility of having the plan provided by commercial sources.
Feb 26, 2018
Testimony
Supporting Military and Veteran Caregivers from All Eras
Research suggests ways to improve federal programs that support military and veteran caregivers. Notably, programs should be tailored to the needs of different populations, such as pre-9/11 and post-9/11 caregivers.
Feb 6, 2018
Research Brief
Evaluating Global Family Planning Programs
In 2013, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched two programs to help track progress toward a global goal to increase modern contraceptive use by 2020. Evaluating these programs, researchers found opportunities for improvement in four areas.
Feb 5, 2018
Report
Evaluation of Two Programs Supporting Global Family Planning Data Needs: Assessing Achievements, Informing Future Directions
This evaluation of two programs that help monitor progress toward a global goal to increase modern contraceptive use by 2020 is based on qualitative and quantitative data from interviews with more than 260 stakeholders in 16 countries.
Feb 5, 2018
Report
Evaluation of Two Programs Supporting Global Family Planning Data Needs: Summary
This report summarizes an evaluation of two programs that help monitor progress toward a global goal to increase modern contraceptive use by 2020.
Feb 5, 2018
Journal Article
The Effect of a Supreme Court Decision Regarding Gay Marriage on Social Norms and Personal Attitudes
Institutions such as the Supreme Court can shift perceptions of social norms, and therefore behavior such as support for gay marriage, without changing personal opinions.
Jan 31, 2018
Journal Article
Alcohol Use Among Concerned Partners of Heavy Drinking Service Members and Veterans
An intervention to improve mental health and communication among military spouses worried about their partners' drinking reduced depression more effectively for spouses who also drank heavily.
Jan 30, 2018
Journal Article
Obesity May Be 'Socially Contagious'
People who move to a high-obesity area are more likely to become overweight or obese. This may be due, in part, to “social contagion.” Living in a community where obesity is more common may make inactivity, poor diet, and being overweight or obese more socially acceptable.
Jan 25, 2018
Infographic
Helping Military Families: A Look at Non-Medical Counseling Programs in the U.S. Military
A recent evaluation of the military's non-medical counseling programs suggests that they help military personnel and their families. Participants gave the programs favorable ratings, and most reported improvement over a three-month period.
Jan 16, 2018
Multimedia
Countering Violent Extremism
A series of brief videos introduces important elements of the RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE). The toolkit helps community-based CVE programs design an evaluation that is appropriate for their program type, resources, and expertise.
Jan 10, 2018
Essay
High-Quality Early Childhood Programs Can Change Lives
The most comprehensive look to date at the benefits of early childhood education found that 102 of 115 programs improved at least one outcome for children beyond a statistical doubt. And the economic and social benefits continue to pay dividends, sometimes well into adulthood.
Jan 3, 2018
News Release
RAND Administering 2018 'Today's Army Spouse' Survey
Researchers from RAND will administer a U.S. Army-sponsored survey to provide spouses of soldiers an opportunity to speak out on the challenges they face and the services they find most helpful.
Jan 2, 2018

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RAND Topic:
Families

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