At-Risk Youth Benefit from Relationship Education

“When are you gonna come back and talk more about that sex thing?”

The question is commonly asked of Community Day High School in Santa Ana teacher Michael Gonzales. This summer, Hispanic community healthy families organization, AMOR de Orange County (AOC) has been partnering with area youth programs to educate teenagers on vital information.

The program taught, Love U2, is a series of units that help young people acquire practical skills for emotionally healthy and ethically sound relationships. Some of the seven principles are “Don’t try to change someone into someone he or she is not.” “Don’t play games, be phony, or pressure someone.” “Expect respect. Have standards for what you expect.”

While participating, students discuss a scene or social issue, then work through healthy and productive ways to handle the situation.

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, high schools, and junior high schools have all held the seminars. One of the most successful events was held at the Community Day High School in Santa Ana troubled youth were 75% of the students are adjudicated. The full school of 110 students participated in the eight-classroom program. AOC executive director, Ariel Meza, states, “The kids have been kicked out of their schools, they are on their last leg. The next stop is juvenile hall. We get a chance to reach then in the midst of their hopelessness.”

At the six week Love U2 event, Friday evening provided a night of fun with music, bands, and even a car show. There are guest speakers ranging from gang intervention specialists to reformed convicts. Then the students have break out session. The next day is when the more intensive seminar was taught.

Gonzales, who has been working with at-risk students for seven years, said,

“It was a grand, beautiful event. The students responded positive were joyous about the occasion. They students really liked the content of the lessons. They didn’t realize the different dynamics of relationships and dating and the stuff that can get them in trouble. They accepted wholeheartedly the lessons and concepts. It was addressing their needs, issues, problems, traumas, and experiences in a safe environment. In the end, after the 8 lessons, it was a progressive learning experience for them, by the last lesson they were completely silent. Getting them to listen is how know you did something good their. I have calls from parents asking us to come back.”

For more information about AMOR de Orange County, visit AMORdeOC.org or contact MichaelG@oclfl.org.

RELATED ARTICLES:

>> Statewide Survey Reveals Hispanic Marriage Paradox: Want Marriage but Don’t Marry

>> Love for Youth Work Sparks AMOR de Orange County

>> Love U2 – Dating Smarts: A Bit More Than Friends

Announcing the Marketing M.E. Click-N-Print Site

The Marketing M.E. Click-N-Print Site is a resource provided by California Healthy  Marriages Coalition (CHMC). 

Customize and quickly order quality program marketing materials for various Marriage Education (M.E.) programs, including

   >> Mastering the Mysteries of Love (English and Spanish)

   >> 10 Great Dates (English and Spanish)

   >> World Class Marriage (coming soon)

   >> Healthy Marriages booklet series (coming soon)

 

>> Download the Marketing M.E. User ID and Password Request Form.

>> Download the Marketing M.E. Mastering the Mysteries of Love Pricing Sheet.

Save time, money and resources with these professionally-designed, full-color print pieces.  No designer costs to pay…no expensive stock photos to buy…no loss of time recreating the wheel…and no need to order more than you need!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Marketing M.E. Click-N-Print Site gives you:

    >> OPTIONS: Choose only what you need (brochures, posters, forms)

    >> PERSONALIZATION: Brand the materials with your logo and information.

    >> CONVENIENCE: Select the materials you need and the quantity you want.

 

The Marketing M.E. Click-N-Print Site is run by Verapax.   CHMC receives no revenue from the site. 

Request your User ID and Password for the Marketing M.E. Click-N-Print Site today.

Kingsburg Couple Wins $1,000 Super Date!

When Aaron Winslow of Kingsburg, CA received the phone call that he was the latest winner of the California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC) Outcome Evaluation drawing, he couldn’t believe it. It took at least ten minutes to convince him that he’d actually won.

“I never win anything!” said Winslow. Aaron had filled out the simple questionnaire after his “10 Great Dates” class and that set him up to have his entry drawn as the recipient of $1,000 cash! Now, that cash is being used to gift his wife with a super date!

Aaron and his wife, Denise, heard about the Marriage Education class through Kingsburg Community Church. The Winslows thought they would give it a try because it seemed fun, it fit perfectly within their schedule and to top it off, the church provided childcare. “Childcare was huge for us, “ said Winslow. Pastor Joe also added an extra benefit by offering weekly drawings for the couples that came to class.

“The best part of the 10 Great Dates class was that it got us to talk about different issues, kids, different feelings and all kinds of stuff,” said Winslow. Another direct benefit of the class was it gave the couple an opportunity to date each other again. “When I was single, I was always trying to take her out and now that I’m married, I rarely get a date,” Winslow said with a laugh. Now Aaron knows how to fix that problem!

Aaron adds that not only has the class helped his 7-year marriage, but learning ways to talk things out has also helped him grow at his work and with his 4 year-old son, Ethan. “The more information you can get the better!” said Winslow.

Kingsburg Community Church worked with the Healthy Marriage Coalition of Fresno-Madera County (HMCFMC) to launch the “10 Great Dates” program.  HMCFMC is part of the California Healthy Marriages Coalition which supports many quality relationship-building classes.

To find out more information about 10 Great Dates and other great classes, go to www.camarriage.com.  For classes and activities in the Greater Fresno and Madera County area, check out www.growyourmarriage.com.

El Dorado Hills Couple Enhances Communication and Wins Family Vacation!

Desiring to enrich their marriage and enhance their communication, Roberta and Steve Kubes enrolled in a Mastering the Mysteries of Love (MML) class held at a local church in El Dorado Hills.  By participating in the California Healthy Marriages Coalition’s Outcome Evaluation survey during the class, the Kubeses won the raffle drawing and received $1,000 cash, which allowed them to take a family vacation to Santa Barbara with their children!

Offered through the Healthy Marriage Project of Greater Sacramento, MML is an interactive, hands-on Marriage Education program that spotlights ten essential relationship skills that change how people listen, talk, solve problems, and relate to one another.  Through live demonstrations, teaching, and skills coaching, Roberta and Steve learned skills that have helped them build trust and work as a team to enhance their relationship.

Roberta reports that the class helped them realize that they were not alone in seeking to improve their marriage.  According to Roberta, “There are always other people who have the same issues,” and now the Kubeses have skills that help them work through those issues successfully.

For the Kubeses and many other graduates of Mastering the Mysteries of Love, the communication skills they learned extend benefits beyond the marriage relationship.  Roberta says her improved communication skills enable her to “connect with others in a more understanding way,” and as a result, others have begun to view her differently.  “The greatest parts of the course for me”, says Roberta, “were the demonstration videos.  They were great!”  Roberta’s only complaint?  She wishes the 16-hour MML class had been longer!

Mastering the Mysteries of Love classes are occurring throughout California.  Find a class near you at www.camarriage.com.

New Survey Shows Majority of Californians Support Change in Marriage Policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 30, 2008— Despite contentious debate surrounding gay marriage in California, a new statewide survey reveals that most Californians are ready for a change in our state’s marriage laws. The newly-released State of California’s Unions survey found that most Californians (62 percent) do not feel that either spouse should be allowed to terminate marriage at any time for any reason. This revelation directly contradicts the Family Law Act of 1969 that put California on the map as the originator of “no fault” divorce.  

This recent survey commissioned by the California Healthy Marriages Coalition reveals that more than eight-out-of-ten Californians see divorce as a serious national problem and believe that when a divorce is contested, a couple should attend Marriage Education or couples counseling.

Furthermore, 83 percent of Californians surveyed stated that when a married couple with children is contemplating divorce, they should be required to attend Marriage Education before such a decision is finalized.  

The State of California’s Unions: Marriage and Divorce in the Golden State also found compelling evidence that most Californians (81 percent) believe that relationship skills should be taught to teenagers as part of their high school education. Eighty-seven percent of Californians believe that all couples considering marriage should be encouraged to go through premarital education and 66 percent say that couples completing premarital education should be rewarded with a discount on their marriage license fee.

This survey, the most expansive survey ever conducted on the state of marriage in California, also found that the majority (58 percent) of Californians supported the idea that state and local government should provide additional resources to help strengthen families.

In the past three years, the California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC) has been working to raise awareness about healthy marriages and to increase access to these skills-based classes throughout the state.  The nonprofit organization was awarded 2.4 million dollars a year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Dennis Stoica, President of CHMC said, “Of those surveyed who have taken Marriage Education classes, ninety-four percent found them helpful, and the majority (78 percent) reported that the experience strengthened their relationship. We have the ability to change our culture as we know it,” says Stoica. “If we can raise awareness about Marriage Education and Relationship Skills Training and make it convenient for every Californian, we will change California’s culture in ways that lower divorce rates, improve health, increase wealth, stabilize communities and that enable our children to thrive.”

The State of California’s Unions survey was conducted in January 2008 by telephone with 2,005 California adults by Interviewing Services of America and Gomez Research. The margin of error is ±2.2%.

First National Hispanic Marriage Day Oct 12th!

First National Hispanic Marriage Day Oct 12th!

“Leave a strong legacy … have a strong marriage!”
The first National Hispanic Marriage Day/Festival Nacional del Matrimonio Hispano-Latino (Sunday, October 12, 2008) will raise awareness of the greatest heritage Hispanics can leave … a strong marriage and family with strong values.  National Hispanic Marriage Day will be the closing celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15) in many cities. 

Get involved by planning or participating in a Hispanic Marriage Day in your community!

It’s easy to get something started!  Any entity interested in celebrating the joy of marriage in the Hispanic-Latino community can host a Hispanic Marriage Day event.  Faith-based organizations and community-based groups are hosting special events that celebrate marriages.

Here’s what’s happening in Sacramento:
>>Hispanic Couple of the Year & Honoring of Couples Married 50+ Years – Saturday, October 11th at Rio City Cafe (go to www.sacmarriage.org for more details).
Other ideas include:
>> Attend a Marriage Education class (find Spanish and English classes at www.CaMarriage.com).
>> Strengthen your own marriage by reading a relationship-strengthening book or watching a marriage-enriching video.
>> Honor members or your extended family or community whose marriages have impacted your life.
>> Send a thank you card, letter or email to married couples who have modeled a healthy marriage to you.
>> Encourage your pastor to speak about marriage or honor marriages on Sunday, October 12th.
>> Organize a celebration of marriage that honors those married 25 years or longer.
>> Watch the kids of a married couple you know that needs a “date night”.
>> Start planning for next year’s National Hispanic Marriage Day (check out www.nationalhispanicmarriageday.com for more ideas).

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
News Release from California Healthy Marriages Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Statewide Survey Reveals Hispanic Marriage Paradox:  Want Marriage but Don’t Marry

October 8, 2008—Most Hispanic Californians hope for marriage someday, but for many, this hope is not being realized, according to the results of a statewide survey released in anticipation of the 1st Annual Hispanic Marriage Day this Sunday, October 12, 2008.
From the historic California Marriage Baseline Survey commissioned by the California Healthy Marriages Coalition—the largest, most comprehensive survey ever conducted about the state of marriage in California—seventy-five percent of Hispanics surveyed reported they would like to be married someday. Yet, the gap between hopes and reality is vast, with one-third of Hispanic adults having never been married, which is twice that of non-Hispanics.  

One reason for this may be that almost half of Hispanics in California regard marriage as an uncertain venture.  Nearly three times as many Hispanics (48% vs. 17% for non-Hispanics) report that marriage is too risky because of what they see as a high chance of divorce. 
How do Hispanics bridge this gap between marital hopes and reality?  Ninety-eight percent of Hispanic respondents who have taken a Marriage Education or Relationship Skills Training course say the information was helpful, and 85% reported the courses strengthened their relationship.  Studies show widespread benefits from Marriage Education, including reduced concern about marital stability  This survey revealed that more than two-thirds of California’s Hispanics would consider attending a Marriage Education class if it were available at little or no cost, and 80% would be interested in taking a Premarital Education class. 
AMOR de Orange County is a nonprofit organization in Santa Ana that works to address those needs.  “Hispanics really take to Marriage Education and they learn important skills in communication and conflict resolution that help their marriages, and that really bring joy to their lives,” says AMOR’s Executive Director Ariel Meza.  AMOR has a grant from the California Healthy Marriages Coalition that helps the organization make these classes available for very low cost.  “Plus, we have additional support from within the Hispanic community because these programs really serve important needs of our people,” says Meza.   

Upon this historic 1st Annual Hispanic Marriage Day, the California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC) website is featuring many resources for strengthening Hispanic marriages, including online links to Relationship/Marriage Education classes in Spanish and English around the state, a variety of resource materials about how to create healthy marriages, and fun ideas to celebrate Hispanic Marriage Day in your own family.  These are available at www.CaMarriage.com

The California Marriage Baseline Survey was conducted in January 2008 by telephone with 2,005 California adults by Interviewing Services of America and Gomez Research. The margin of error is 2.2%.

###

Contact:
Tracie Donahue, Public Relations
TEL:  916-409-0206    CELL:  916-712-2781
EMAIL: Tracie@CaMarriage.com

Couple Builds Their Marriage & Wins $1,100 to Build Their Home

CHMC VP Patty Howell presents Karen and Tim Jobe with $1,100 prize

 

Married for 36 years, Karen and Tim Jobe stepped in to the World Class Marriage workshop in San Diego hoping to gain insights that would provide new direction for their struggling marriage.  They walked out with the insights they had hoped for, plus a cash prize of $1,100 at Home Depot!

 

Offered in partnership by the San Diego North County Latino Marriage and Family Resource Center and the California Healthy Marriages Coalition, the workshop teaches “16 Pillars” of a World Class Marriage, which are built upon the foundation of empathy, acceptance, and genuineness.  The course covers the skills of empathic listening, non-blameful confrontation, win-win conflict resolution, plus skills for avoiding blame, handling hot topics, love languages, and commitment.

 

According to Karen, before taking World Class Marriage, the couple’s 36-year long marriage had fallen upon hard times.  “When we went to that workshop,” she says, “I was ready to walk out.  I was committed to the relationship, but I just did not know what direction to go next.” 

 

By the end of the two-day workshop, the Jobes had new hope for their relationship and had learned skills to make good on that hope.  “It amazed me how quickly we could go from feeling completely hopeless to feeling like we had the key to moving on with our marriage and making the effort to make it work.  Taking this class helped us to know that if we really want to have a great marriage, we can do it!” says Karen. 

 

The Jobes credit the World Class Marriage workshop with improving their communication skills and giving the pair a newfound sense of clarity, direction and purpose for their relationship.  Learning better communication skills has helped the Jobes to feel more comfortable speaking up about their feelings without the fear of causing painful conflict.  They even posted the “Defective Communication Tools” handout from the class in their home, saying, “Having it there helps us to realize when we’re using harmful communication patterns, and also allows us to use humor when that happens, because we can go to the list and catch ourselves.” 

 

What really impressed this couple about World Class Marriage was the “universality of what was presented.”  According to the Jobes, the skills taught in the class are valuable to any couple, “whether you are someone like us who had been married for 36 years, or 20 years, just married, or engaged.  [We] wish a class like this would have been available earlier in our marriage.” 

 

In addition to learning the skills to better succeed in their marriage, the Jobes also entered into a prize drawing by completing Outcome Evaluation surveys for the California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC).  CHMC’s Outcome Evaluation study is the first broad, statewide evaluation of Marriage Education programs, and studies the comparative effectiveness of different programs.  The Jobes chose their $1,100 Home Depot gift certificate from four available prizes.  Other prize options include $1,000 cash, $1,100 at Walmart, or a 43” High-Definition TV.

Fresno Rocks! From Baseball Champions to Marriage Champions!

Friday, August 1st is Celebrate Marriage Night at the Ballpark with the Fresno Grizzlies!

Order tickets at http://www.growyourmarriage.com/pdf/marriage_appreciation_flyer.pdf

Let’s celebrate healthy marriages by rockin’ the Grizzlies stadium on Friday night, August 1, at 7:05 pm.

Dear Couples, Businesses & Marriage Champions:

We want to show our community that we care as much about our “Marriage Champions” as we do our national Bulldog champions! Join us on Friday night, August 1st for “Celebrate Marriage Night” at the Grizzlies game at 7:05 p.m.

Many churches are buying blocks of tickets and we hope to have thousands of people show up to support healthy marriages in the Central Valley! Download the order form (http://www.growyourmarriage.com/pdf/marriage_appreciation_flyer.pdf) to order a single ticket, a pair of tickets or dozens of tickets. We would love to have you there!

Ron & Joan McLain
Don & Beth Anderson
Marriage Mentoring Ministries
Healthy Marriage Coaliton of Fresno/Madera County

Call with your questions: 559-322-0533

ALSO A Free Drawing will be held at this game for the following.  You could win:

• Diamond earrings
• An overnight stay for a married couple at a luxury hotel
• A $100 gas card.
• and much, much more!!!

KCCD Announces Healthy Marriage PSA Campaign to Reach Korean Americans

“PSA Campaign to Promote Healthy Marriages during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Korean American Family Month”
Los Angeles – May 1, 2008 – KCCD hosted a press conference to announce their PSA Campaign to promote marriage education and to strengthen marriages in the community during Asian American Heritage Month.
 
Hyepin Im, President of KCCD, stated, “We’re pleased to be announcing this PSA campaign during May which is not only the Asian American Heritage Month but also Family Month in the Korean American community. As family is so important in all our communities, we thought that May would be timely in raising awareness of marriage education as a tool to strengthen their family and marriage.”
 
“According to our research, so many Korean Americans have such strong negative perceptions about marriage education that we felt it was important to have a broad based campaign to educate the community on the value of marriage education as a tool to strengthen marriages. We are hopeful that these PSA’s will encourage more Korean Americans to take advantage of the Marriage Education classes being offered,” stated Jin Kim, Executive Director of KCCD.
 
Three PSA’s were produced around common marital and family challenges in the Korean American community including retirement loneliness faced by particulary men (“Golden Years”), conflict created by many couples working together (“In Sync”) and the impact marriage health has upon children (“Parental Bliss”).
The PSA’s which have English and Korean voiceovers will be aired on various tv stations as well as posted on Youtube (www.youtube.com/user/kccd3300) and our KCCD website (www.kccd3300.org).
 
“We’re very grateful to our various sponsors including our anchor sponsor, California Healthy Marriages Coalition, for their support. Other partners who provided signficant in-kind contributions of time, expertise and labor include Cathleen Alexander (Director & Producer), Monica Macer (Writer), Pancom, On-Dal Restaurant, Yuna Kwon and many others,” stated, Hyepin Im.
 
The Press Conference was covered by KBS, TVK24, Korea Times, Korea Daily, Koreatown Daily, Christian Herald, and JSTV.
 
Special thanks to the following Media Sponsors will be airing the PSA’s during May and June: JSTV, KBS America, LA 18, CTS, Christian Herald.

Orange County Clergy to Sign FIRST-EVER Marriage Education Agreement on May 20th

Lower divorce rate!  Strengthen marriages!  Increase the health of family relationships!

Orange County clergy believe Marriage Education will make these three goals a reality! 

On Tuesday, May 20, 2008 (11am-1pm), pastors and church leaders will meet at Eastside Christian Church (2505 Yorba Linda Blvd – Fullerton) to sign the Orange County Marriage Education Agreement (OCMEA). 

According to the OCMEA, clergy are committing to

(1) PROMOTE Marriage Education programs and services in the community by informing people about its importance.

(2) RECRUIT & TRAIN healthy married couples, volunteers and staff to facilitate expanded Marriage Education programs.

(3) PROVIDE Marriage Education including pre-marriage, marriage enrichment and for troubled marriages.

(4) INVITE others to Marriage Education and help them feel welcome regardless of their church involvement or affiliation.

(5) SUPPORT Marriage Education by encouraging married couples to regularly invest in their relationship, including participating in Marriage Education activities at least once a year.

Orange County pastors and church leaders will hear Dennis Stoica, California Healthy Marriages Coalition president and other speakers.  In addition, every attendee will receive a free marriage resource kit, OC marriage and divorce data, and lunch.  Also, information booths featuring local marriage-strengthening resources and organizations will allow pastors to find low-cost (and no-cost) training opportunities to impact marriages in their congregation and community!

If you are an Orange County pastor or church leader and would like to take part in the May 20th luncheon and Marriage Education Agreement signing event, RSVP by contacting Laura Quines (714.871.6844 x307 or lquines@eastside.com). 

The Orange County Marriage Education Agreement has been a cooperative effort of Orange County Marriage Resource Center’s Orange County Marriage Education Initiative, AMOR de Orange County, KCCD, Family Savers, Married 4 Keeps and California Healthy Marriages Coalition.  View the Orange County Marriage Education Agreement.

To date, committed partners include: Yorba Linda Friends Church, First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, Eastside Christian Church, Mariners Church, Grace Church of Orange, Rock Harbor, Crossroads Christian Church, Welcome Christian Church, Married 4 Keeps, AMOR de Orange County, West Cypress Church, Calvary Church, San Clemente Presbyterian Church, Mission Hills Church, West Anaheim Church of Christ, Santa Ana Spanish SDA Church, Ocean Hills Community Church, South Coast Christian Assembly, Kings Harbor Church, Zion Christian Center, Garden Grove Korean Church, Capo Beach Calvary Church, The Apostolic Pente Church, Orange Villa Bible Church, Anaheim Vineyard Church, Shoth Shores Baptist Church, The Shoreline Church, Orangewood Academy, Lakewood Life Center, Zion Lutheran Church, LaCathedral De Amor, Victory Outreach, Newport Mesa, Calvary Lutheran Church, Southcoast International, Capistrano Valley Church, Talega Life Church, Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, Anaheim Adventist Church, Richfield Community Church, Anaheim SDA Church, Grace Church of Garden Grove, Danish Lutheran Church, Mount of Olives Church, Iglesia Fuente de Amor, River 47, Korean-American Healthy Marriage Network, Calvary Chapel Anaheim Hills, Iglesia Bautista Vida Eterna, Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Jesus Christ, Orange Seventh Day Adventist Church, North Hills Church, Rock on Orangewood Avenue, Canyon Hills Friends Church, Communion Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Brea Church of Christ, Cornerstone United Methodist Church, Creekside Christian Fellowship, Yorba Linda Church of Christ, Montebello and East LA Family Support Center, M.U.M.C., Santa Ana Edinger SDA Church, Anaheim Foursquare Church, Heritage Christian Fellowship, Relationship Research Foundation, San Nicholas Santiago de Compostela, and more.