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California Marriage Organization Name Change Reflects Expanded Vision

camarriage — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:41:19 +0000

June 22, 2011—California Healthy Marriages Coalition is capitalizing upon its prominence as a national leader in Relationship and Marriage Education in a name change to Healthy Relationships California (HRC). “Since all relationships can benefit from the skills taught in Relationship Education classes,” says HRC’s president Dennis Stoica, “we hope our new name will inspire all Californians to bring these benefits to their relationships with their spouse, kids, family, friends, colleagues—everyone in their lives.”

“The skills taught in Relationship and Marriage Education courses are transformative,” says Stoica. “They help people get their needs met in relationships, they increase communication and cooperation. Everyone benefits from these skills, and with the name Healthy Relationships California we are communicating that these skills are for everyone and moving upon our expanded vision about the many social benefits that come from healthy relationships.”

While Relationship and Marriage Education are not yet household words, Stoica says society should invest in healthy relationships because there is much to be gained. The organization conducts an ongoing outcome research study on its programs which shows very positive results. “Our data show that Relationship Education is a smart, painless and highly cost-effective investment for individuals and couples of all ages and stages. And we know that healthy relationships bring numerous personal benefits—to health, work productivity, educational outcomes for kids—and reduced domestic violence, substance abuse, crime, poverty. Healthy relationships benefit everyone, in the family, in the workplace, in the community at large, and they even help reduce State and Federal budget deficits.”

The organization’s work with couples from all ethnicities, income levels, as well as marital and religious status continues through California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC) as HRC’s flagship division along with its statewide clearinghouse of Relationship and Marriage Education classes. The organizational expansion includes the Dads and Kids Initiative, focusing on the important role of a father in the lives of children, and Raising Kids TwoGether, an innovative program developed by HRC that combines the benefits of Relationship Education with Parent Education.

Visit the new Healthy Relationships California website.

Couple Learns to Stay Romantic Within Routine and a New Baby and Wins $1000!

camarriage — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:55:26 +0000

Emma Karina and Eduardo Vilchez have been married for 2 years and have one daughter, Leilani. At the encouragement of their pastor they signed up for a class held at West Coast Christian Tabernacle to “learn and be guided for solutions in (their) relationship and ways to have a healthy marriage.” They completing the Marriage Education class and filled out the outcome evaluation form they received.The Vilchezes are the latest couple to win $1000 in the California Healthy Marriages Coalition Outcome Evaluation drawing.

Karin and Eduardo took Matrimonio de Clase Mundial (World Class Marriage) through AMOR de Orange County in Santa Ana, CA. When asked about their experience Karina states, “I felt very familiar with all the topics spoken in the class and found solutions to most of the conflicts that I didn’t know how to deal with. I also learned how to accept my husband as is and that I had to accept our wide culture and family differences. Most of all, I learned how to work around most of the circumstances throughout our daily agendas and even stay attracted and romantic within routine. This was a great program to attend because it greatly helped our relationship and learn more how to accept each other.”

The Vilchez family will spend their prize money on a vacation to Yosemite National Park.

CHMC supports many quality relationship-building classes. To find out more information about World Class Marriage and other great classes available in your area, go to www.camarriage.com.

>> Love For Youth Work Sparks AMOR de Orange County

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

>> Hispanic Couples Flock to World Class Marriage

>> World Class Marriage

Couple Learns Skills to Help with Family Communication and Wins $1000!

camarriage — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:17:48 +0000

Jose Luis Eusebio and his wife, Maria, met on a mission trip in Mexico and have been married for 11 years. The Eusebios have two children and are expecting a third. The Eusebios are the latest couple to win $1000 in the California Healthy Marriages Coalition Outcome Evaluation drawing. They won the award by completing a Marriage Education class and filling out the outcome evaluation form they received.

Jose and Maria took a World Class Marriage workshop with Happy Families in San Diego.

Jose said they decided to attend a class because “when the opportunity was offered we realized that it was something we needed. We have not been married for that long and it’s always interesting learning something new. With these classes I learned more.”

When asked how the workshop affected their relationship, Maria explained, “It helped us in our communication and learning how to resolve problems. Before, it was difficult to resolve situations and get to a decision. Now we can reach a solution together. Now we learned how to have communication.”

Jose added, “Sometime we live stagnate, but this class helped us to dust off our marriage. We easily fall in a routine. Now we have even more communication with each other and our kids. This class changed us.”

The Eusebios plan to put the money they won towards a much needed vacation.

CHMC supports many quality relationship-building classes. To find out more information about World Class Marriage and other great classes available in your area, go to www.camarriage.com.

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

>> Hispanic Couples Flock to World Class Marriage

>> World Class Marriage

Community Leaders and ME Advocates are Latest Winners of $1000 From CHMC!

camarriage — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:32:46 +0000

Pastors are known for their charitable gifts of time and energy to help their communities; you don’t hear much about their receiving gifts, but in this case, Pastor Bryan Harris and his wife Kelly are the latest couple to win $1000 in the California Healthy Marriages Outcome Evaluation drawing. The Harrises were excited to hear that simply by spearheading something to help marriages in their church and filling out the CHMC outcome evaluation form they received this exciting win.

The Harrises have attended many marriage seminars and classes before but Kelly Harris reports: “This class (Mastering the Mysteries of Love–MML) has been the one with the most impact on my life. We learned skills that taught us how to communicate with each other in ways that we had never experienced before. (MML) taught us about the importance of non-verbal messages and how they can hurt your spouse.” The Harrises attended MML through their church, Emmanuel Temple.

Kelly and Bryan also really appreciated how much the class helped other couples open up to each other. Kelly said: “It was powerful to see all the issues that couples were facing such as the chaos that comes with babies being born and financial crises, yet the couples were working through those tough issues together. Older couples were also helping the younger ones with their own stories of how the skills helped them. It was a meaningful experience for us to discuss these pressing issues and help each other.” Pastor Harris loved the class so much that he will also be bringing the skills to the singles ministry.

The Harrises will have been married for 14 years in February and have two children. Of the win, Kelly said, “We will use our winnings to pay off some bills and it is coming at a perfect time.”

CHMC supports many quality relationship-building classes. To find out more information about Mastering the Mysteries of Love and other great classes, go to www.camarriage.com.

After 39 Years of Marriage, Couple Seeks Improvement and Wins $1,000!

camarriage — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:22:51 +0000

Sandy Tripple had been married for 39 years and yet was still interested in improving her marriage. When she first heard about the class Mastering the Mysteries of Love from her co-worker, she and her husband, George, signed up immediately. “My friend told me about this class that was helping her marriage. It sounded so great! I told my husband and we went to the next class. It helped us so much, we signed up for a second class,” said Sandy. Now, the Tripples are the latest recipients of the $1,000 outcome evaluation drawing.

The Tripples sought help for their 39 year marriage when they realized they needed more help communicating with each other. “My husband had a hard time opening up to me and this class helped us share our feelings privately, but in a class setting,” said Sandy. “It was great to see other couples in the class that were experiencing the same communication issues.”

Both George and Sandy benefited from Mastering the Mysteries of Love. Sandy said, “ I think there is something so powerful about sitting knee to knee and holding each other’s hands; then when you begin repeating what your partner is saying you start to see insights into your partner that you have never seen before, even after 39 years of marriage.” The Fresno based couple have experienced growth in their communication skills within their relationship, but also with other people. Tripple said, “These skills have helped us to relate to our children and our parents.”

The Tripples are grateful for winning the $1,000 prize. “This past year has been really difficult for us because of medical complications with George,” said Sandy. “This money will be a welcome windfall and be used to pay some of the bills that have resulted from George being sick.”

CHMC supports many quality relationship-building classes. To find out more information about Mastering the Mysteries of Love and other great classes, go to www.camarriage.com

OE winners Sandy and George Trippel with Ron and Joan McClain from Healthy Marriages Coalition of Fresno/Madera County

Mastering the Mysteries of Stepfamilies Success Story

camarriage — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:18:35 +0000

Mastering the Mysteries of Stepfamilies (MMS) is a 24-hour course teaching the communication skills and stepfamily guidelines needed to build and maintain a successful, satisfying step-marriage and stepfamily. Why should couples in a stepfamily attend a program like MMS? The divorce rates for stepfamilies is upwards of 65%. The main reason cited is because stepfamilies have significantly more stress than first families. Stepfamilies have to deal with multiple sets of expectations, stepparent/child relationships, compromising on traditions, and extremely sensitive boundaries in addition to normal marital strain.

Jim and Sheri are just one couple who have the opportunity to see their relationship and stepfamily transform with the help of MMS. This is the fourth marriage for both, whom have been married for ten years.

They have spent years struggling with the same problems many stepfamilies deal with: frustration with step-related issues, disillusioned with the marriage, and locked into their own positions on issues. Over time, they built a wall of distance and distrust. Research indicates lack of empathy as one of the key factors in stepfamily failure.

Jim and Sheri recently participated in a Mastering the Mysteries of Stepfamilies class where they learned how to “become” their partner in order to think and feel the concerns and desires of the other partner. Empathy has brought about a softening in Jim and Sheri’s positions enabling them to work on solutions that seemed impossible at one time. Learning and practicing better communication methods as well as recognizing some of the stepfamily guidelines that were being violated, brought renewed hope for the lifetime success of their marriage and family.

Jim states, “This is communication on steroids!” Sheri adds, “When I sense that Jim really gets me—hears and understands my needs—I relax…and feel a rush of love for him. In addition, the skills I’ve learned have helped to improve my relationship with my step-children.”

Since learning and using communication skills and stepfamily guidelines, Jim and Sheri’s marriage is becoming the happy marriage they had always hoped for but did not know how to create.

RELATED ARTICLES:

>> Mastering the Mysteries of Stepfamilies (MMS)

At-Risk Youth Benefit from Relationship Education

camarriage — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:12:38 +0000

“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

Hispanic Couples Flock to World Class Marriage

camarriage — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:12:23 +0000

Connecting Marriage Education with the Hispanic community is a challenge.

“The English-speaking community is more used to going to conferences with a workbook and pen. With the Hispanic community, they want something fun and fast-paced,” says David D’Leon, minister, husband for 30 years, and Executive Director of Happy Families, a San Diego-area family strengthening organization.

After searching and researching, D’Leon has found what he thinks is the winning ticket. “I’ve read a lot of books trying to find a curriculum. With World Class Marriage, I think it covers concepts from The Five Love Languages and Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus all in one. And since World Class Marriage teaches couples 16 pillars of a healthy relationship, each one is basically like its own book.” In 2002 World Class Marriage was translated into Spanish, and has been translated in ten different languages.

Happy Families has been holding World Class Marriage/Matrimonio de Clase Mundial workshops since 2008. The brand new organization has already served more than 1,250 Hispanic couples and has no plans to slow down anytime soon. In order to accommodate the lively culture, David says, “Our workshops are very, very active. We all work together to get a better marriage for everyone. There’s examples, jokes, laughter. It’s an experience everyone remembers.”

All types of couples and families have attended the workshops: young and seniors, relationships in distress, happily married couples, dating and engaged coupples, and even singles. Alba Jose who recently completed the workshop states, “World Class Marriage changed me. I saw things in my relationship from a different perspective. It brought light to and it opened up a better understanding about my where my husband is coming from. That’s for sure.”

D’Leon seems to have overcome the challenge because the Hispanic community is attending his Marriage Education programs in droves.

RELATED ARTICLES:

>> World Class Marriage – A Program for Couples Who Want More

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

Fresno Couple Begin as ME Participants, Progress to ME Teachers, and Win $1000.

camarriage — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:28:13 +0000

Stop the presses! How did Marriage Education (ME) teachers win the Outcome Evaluation drawing for $1,000?

Well, these teachers, John and Maryalice Pickens of Fresno, first learned about Marriage Education from the Healthy Marriage Coalition of Fresno/Madera County (HMCFMC). “My husband and I were on the verge of divorce,” said Maryalice. “We wanted to do everything possible to save our marriage. We attended a class and it was so good we wanted to go to more classes. It has worked wonders for my marriage!” After the class was over they submitted the outcome evaluation form to California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC).

The first program the Pickens’ attended was a Mastering the Mysteries of Love (MML) class. “After taking MML, our relationship became much more intimate and connected. My husband and I have learned to really listen and understand each other. We made a complete turn around in our marriage.” Maryalice and her husband, John have benefited so much from Marriage Education that they thought the next logical step was to teach it to others.

HMCFMC helped the Pickens through the process of getting the training they needed to become MML Facilitators. “First we thought this class could help other couples at our church, then we realized couples everywhere would benefit from this class so we began teaching for HMCFMC. In our last class we had a couple reconcile their marriage. It feels good when we can impact the lives of others.” said Maryalice.

The Pickens’ will be celebrating their 25th anniversary next year. They plan to use their $1,000 winnings to help fund their trip! CHMC supports many quality relationship-building classes.

To find out more information about Mastering the Mysteries of Love and other great classes taking place in California, go to CaMarriage.com.

Hey Fresno! Grow your marriage, renew your vows, and make history!

camarriage — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:56:55 +0000

WORLD CLASS MARRIAGE WORKSHOP

[& a Guinness World Record Breaking Vow Renewal Ceremony]

Fresno Convention Center
Valdez Hall
Saturday, August 1, 2009
8:30 am to 5:30 pm

GET MORE INFO OR REGISTER

at RelationshipEvents.com

“To have World Class Marriage Workshop come to Fresno is an incredible opportunity for couples to attend a premier marriage strengthening event. I am very excited to work with other local marriage groups to bring this seminar to the Greater Fresno area.”
Ron McLain, Executive Director
Healthy Marriage Coalition of Fresno/Madera County

Create the Relationship You Always Wanted with the Partner You Already Have!

The World Class Marriage Workshop combines fun and interaction with personal privacy and safety.

Learn the 16 Pillars of World Class Marriage – how to increase behaviors that nurture a relationship and avoid those that damage it. World Class Marriage

Workshop topics include:

Using Power Listening
Changing Behaviors, Not Your Partner
Giving Caring the Way It Matters
Handling Hot Topics – Sex & Money
Growing Together
Forging a Bond
Nurturing the Honeymoon
…and much more!

The Workshop is based on the book World Class Marriage: How to Create the Relationship You Always Wanted with the Partner You Already Have by internationally acclaimed authors and relationship trainers, Patty Howell, Ed.M., and Ralph Jones. Howell and Jones have been married for 30 years.

Don’t Miss This Fantastic Day!
Grow your marriage, renew your vows, and make history!

More Information or to Register:

Call 559.322.0533
Go to RelationshipEvents.com
Visit any Ticketmaster Outlet
Convention Center Box Office

Pricing:

Early Bird Discount (deadline July 27): $38 per couple

Regular/Walk-in Price (after July 27): $48 per couple

Complimentary Registration: For newly unemployed workers and spouse (go to website for details)

What to Expect:

A day of fun activities and engaging teaching by internationally renowned marriage experts.
Catered lunch by Pardini’s
Receive World Class Marriage books and Participant Workbooks
Marriage stimulus package of savings from local eateries and merchants
and a special ceremony to renew your vows and break a world record*

*We will attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the number of married couples renewing their vows in a single meeting. Join us (with a photocopy of your actual marriage certificate)!

What Others are Saying about World Class Marriage:

“…a very fulfilling experience. I feel as though we have gained extremely valuable information and tools to nurture our relationship.”

“I was not looking forward to it, but I’m glad I went…we both grew as a couple.”

“…the skills we learned in this workshop fixed our relationship problems and gave us confidence that we can have a successful marriage.”

“Excellent workshop tailored to couples.”

“I liked that we had a lot of interaction with our spouse…and it wasn’t just listening to trainers.”

“I really enjoyed the mix of listening, individual, group and couple interactions…the combination of activities was engaging and enjoyable.“

Having a great marriage is within your reach…World Class Marriage will help you get there!

Four organizations are co-sponsoring the day-long event! (California Healthy Marriages Coalition, Healthy Marriage Coalition of Fresno/Madera County, Stanislaus County Healthy Marriage Coalition, and Saints Healthy Marriage Project)

“Couples in our area are going to really like what they will learn at World Class Marriage. Couples will love how the principles and skills help take their relationship to the next level!”
Jim Reyes, Executive Director
Central California Latino Healthy Marriage Coalition

GET MORE INFO OR REGISTER

at RelationshipEvents.com