Ohio Ranked 29th in New Family Structure Index
Center for Christian Virtue’s Hope and a Future report dives deep into how the breakdown of family is driving child poverty, addiction, violence, and worsening educational outcomes
COLUMBUS–A new report measures how the decline of marriage and the rise of homes without married fathers has led to dramatic increases in child poverty, violence in our communities, and crashing educational outcomes. The report also proposes practical and attainable solutions for lawmakers, churches, and marketplace leaders to help right the course.
The 2025 Hope and a Future report from Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) reveals the disastrous effects the decline of marriage and the collapse of the family has had on Ohio and America.
The report includes the first edition of the Family Structure Index by CCV and the Institute for Family Studies, which ranks all 50 states according to the health of their family culture.
The Index analyzes demographic and fertility data to investigate which states are home to the strongest, most stable, and most sustainable families–thereby increasing the prospects for happy and healthy children.
Ohio ranks below national average at 29th on the new Family Structure Index from CCV and IFS, while Utah ranks at the top, and Rhode Island ranks last.
The full Family Structure Index is available at CCV.org/FamilyIndex.
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Wednesday, February 19, 10:00 to 11:00 am
Join the livestream with CCV President Aaron Baer, CCV Policy Director David Mahan, CCV Senior Fellow for Strategic Initiatives Peter Range, and Report Author Brad Wilcox!
CCV commissioned the Institute for Family Studies and Professor Brad Wilcox, the Melville Foundation Jefferson Scholars Foundation University Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, to conduct the research in the report.
The full Hope and a Future report is available as a free digital download at CCV.org/Hope. You can also read CCV's press release here.
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@ccv.org.
As Ohio's largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
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