Although there is obviously much work to be done in the Great Land regarding the traditional building block of the family, some good news has surfaced.
A newly released report shows that Alaska has the 11th-ranked strongest family culture in the country.
The Family Structure Index, designed in collaboration with the Center for Christian Virtue, our sister group in Ohio, and the Institute for Family Studies, measures which states have the most stable and sustainable families, highlighting the importance of strong families for the future of our state and nation.
The Index analyzes demographic and fertility data to determine which states are best situated to improve the prospects for happy, healthy children and economic well-being. Utah ranks at the top, and Rhode Island ranks last.
Developed by Sociology Professor Brad Wilcox, of the National Marriage Project of the University of Virginia, in partnership with Center for Christian Virtue and The Institute for Family Studies, the Index focuses on the share of adult residents who are married, have children, and raise those children together through the child’s high-school years.
The index is specifically made up of three components:
— The percentage of adults aged 25 to 54 who are married.
— The average number of lifetime births per woman in the state (the Total Fertility Rate).
— The percentage of children in the state who are living with their married, birth or adoptive parents at ages 15 to 17.
Unsurprisingly, we see a connection between healthy and stable families and economic well-being. Seven of the top 10 states in the Index are also in the top ten in the American Legislative Exchange Commissions Laffer State Economic Outlook Rankings of 2024, analyzing the states with the lowest tax and regulatory policies.
Alaska Family Council will be working with the creators of the Family Structure Index to ascertain more details about our 11th place ranking and strategize how we can use these valuable data points to advance policies and public education campaigns to create an even better pro-family state.
Click here for solutions that have been recommended by the Family Structure Index creators for state and church leaders to implement.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
2 Comments
Perhaps the least scientific “study” ever conceived.
This “study” is just another propaganda feat by the ultra right-wing Xtian nutjobs. They have obviously not looked at Alaska’s crime rate, alcohol abuse rate, sexual assault rate nor incest and child molestation statistics. Further, this study flatly ignores families who chose to not have children, not marry and doesn’t account for families that embrace multiple partners within the unit. I will never allow my definition of “Family” to be determined by Christian extremists and the greatest abomination in human history, the Roman Catholic Church.