John Hoffmire: How family fragmentation impacts poverty in America

John Hoffmire: How family fragmentation impacts poverty in America

In the last 50 years, family structures have changed dramatically. Just half a century ago, 75 percent of children lived in a home with two married parents in their first marriage. Today, less than half of children are raised in such a traditional situation, and more than a third are raised by single parents. This dramatic shift from the traditional family structure to these fragmented families has gathered the attention of numerous researchers and now, after decades of research, some of the effects are becoming clearer.