Nationwide, more than 27 percent of children are born to unmarried parents, and more than 80 percent of unmarried couples split up by the time their child is 3 years old, said Lee, a counselor with the Fairfax branch of Bethany Christian Services (www.bethany.org). She coaches expecting couples and those with newborns as part of the federally funded Bethany Connections program to strengthen fragile families so that children can grow up in stable, loving homes.