Naming the Opportunity

What if we could move toward zero preventable birthing related deaths and guarantee a 173% increase in household incomes; a 79% decrease in depression; and that our children would graduate high school and pursue higher education at the highest rates, have better mental health and engage in fewer risky behaviors? What we know is while marriage and involved fatherhood are positively correlated with these favorable outcomes, couples experience external barriers that strain their romantic and parental partnerships.

Detroiters love hard. Many co-parents conceive children as an expression of commitment, while others develop strong affection during pregnancy and birth. Detroit Marriage Movement understands that disruptions to these relationships are driven primarily by economic, policy, and counter cultural influences along with mental health stressors rather than a lack of care or intention. To address these barriers, Detroit Marriage Movement operates through four integrated pillars:

Cash: Direct financial supports that reduce financial and structural barriers to marriage and stabilize families during pregnancy and the first year of a child’s life.

Coaching: Evidence-based relationship tools that help parents navigate stress, conflict, and major life transitions.

Community: Group-based programming that normalizes commitment, shared responsibility, and mutual support among parents.

Championing: Advocacy and community education that build the field for supporting fathers, strengthening marriages, healing co-parent relationships, and advancing maternal, infant, and family health statewide.