Coffin Corner

…We, Government Leaders, invite colleagues and citizens from every political party to engage in renewed

efforts to pursue laws and public policies that promote the well-being of marriages and families…(Excerpt from http://www.hamptonu.edu/ncaamp/proclamation/)

A Guide to Low-Cost Curricula and Resources: Marriage and Relationship, Fatherhood and Parenting,
and Financial Education available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/pdf/curricula_resources_guide_121509.pdf

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/doc/ACF_Curriculum_Assessment_Guide.doc

Why Marriage Matters, 26 Conclusions from the Social Sciences

#1 Marriage increases the likelihood that fathers and mothers have good relationships with their children.

#26 A child who is not living with his or her own two married parents is at greater risk for child abuse.

*Father Facts Fifth Edition

From: NHMRC Webinar [info@healthymarriageinfo.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 5:00 AM
To: Coffin, Bill (ACF)
Subject: [MARKETING EMAIL]JOIN US TODAY! September 29th Webinar: State Legislative Efforts to Combat Divorce

Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Red

National Healthy Marriage Resource Center

Dear Bill:

Join Us Today!

The National Healthy Marriage Resource Center (NHMRC) will host a webinar entitled, "State Legislative Efforts to Combat Divorce" on Wednesday, September 29, 2010, from 1:00 2:30pm (Eastern Daylight Time).

Minnesota is among the states leading the pack in efforts to discourage divorce. On May 21, 2010, Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law the "Couples on the Brink" project, which will offer a range of reconciliation services, at state expense, to couples considering, or who have already begun the process of filing for, divorce. After short-term counseling if a couple decides that they want to rebuild their marriage, the project will develop a reconciliation plan for them. Speakers at this webinar spearheaded this legislation and will discuss the portion of troubled couples in the state whom they believe could benefit from this initiative, the family court perspective on reconciliation services, services offered through this initiative as well as how it will be implemented.

Judge Bruce Peterson, Family Court Judge, Hennepin County, , will describe the impetus for the legislation, and his view, from the perspective of a family court judge, of its potential for success. Judge Peterson has served as a judge since 1999, including six years on the family court in Hennepin County, MN., where he has provided leadership for innovation in the divorce process and in ways to serve the special needs of non-married parents seeking help from the court. Along with William Doherty, he developed the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project.
William Doherty, Ph.D., Director, Marriage and Family Program, University of Minnesota, will describe the services available through the Couples on the Brink project, as well as the role that lawyers, clergy, and other parties will play in helping to implement it. Professor Doherty is also Director of the Citizen Professional Center at the University of Minnesota. He has been a researcher, teacher, and practitioner of family studies and therapy for over 30 years, and in recent years has developed the Families and Democracy Project to engage communities in solving social problems. He currently directs the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project at the University of Minnesota. He is past President of the National Council on Family Relations, the oldest interdisciplinary family studies organization in the United States.
Rich Batten, Program Manager, National Healthy Marriage Resource Center (NHMRC), will moderate this session. Mr. Batten has more than 20 years of experience as a collaborative and strategic leader committed to improving the well being of marriages, families and communities. Most recently, he served as a Family and Fatherhood Specialist with the Colorado Department of Human Services. In this role, he developed collaborative relationships between healthy marriage programs, domestic violence programs, fatherhood programs, child welfare, child support enforcement, and the Department of Corrections. Batten has been a Certified Family Life Educator since 1998 and is an experienced instructor of numerous marriage and parenting curriculums. He earned a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Master of Education from Loyola University in Chicago.

Participating in the Webinar
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From: aahmi@lyris.acf.hhs.gov
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 10:15 AM
To: aahmi@lyris.acf.hhs.gov
Subject: "Make It Last Forever" Fall Ball

Dear Fellow African American Couples,

*As many of you may know African American couples are less likely to get married and more likely to get divorced if they do get married.

*Also children who come from homes where fathers are absent are more likely to be violent and commit violent crimes.

As a result the First A.M.E. Fatherhood Program along with Our Black Fathers has joined together to bring the 2010 "Make It Last Forever" Fall Ball on the evening of October 16, 2010 in support of African American Healthy Marriages and Responsible Fatherhood.

What we give light to grows. So p lease help us give light/promote African American Healthy Marriages and Responsible Fatherhood by spreading the word of this event for married and/or seriously dating couples, and if you are married or seriously dating we hope to see you there!

We are not selling tickets, and asked you kindly consider a donation of $50/person. Please contact Marcee Jones (email: info@ourblackfathers.com or (206) 851-8644) or Terrence Lewis ( terrence.lewis@comcast.net or (206) 892-8889).

Terrence Lewis

HM Links & Clips (9/28/10) #118

10) http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/27/wetzstein-poverty-studys-flip-side-is-telling/

9) Yearly releases of American Community Survey data can be found on American FactFinder, the Census Bureau's data website.

2009 released Sept. 28 http://www.census.gov/acs/www/ and Census data: Marriages in 2009 at record low level - Yahoo! News

and Household income plunged in 2009

8) http://www.myrelationshipcenter.org/

7) http://familyscholars.org/2010/09/26/strong-fathers-strong-daughters/ and

http://familyscholars.org/2010/09/24/roger-and-nancy-on-the-meaning-of-marriage/

6) Children of divorce vow to break cycle, create enduring marriages
CNN International
But coming from a family that suffered marital discord can present challenges to the relationships of adult children of divorce, marriage experts say. ...

5) Relationship coaching is vital, says Fatherhood Institute
Children & Young People Now
The Fatherhood Institute is urging the government to provide couples with better relationship and parenting coaching before starting a ...

And http://thirtymag.com/30-things/30-things-the-new-dad-needs-to-know/

4) HHS announces the launch of HealthCare.gov on Facebook and Social Media: Staying Connected

SAMHSA’s Facebook and Twitter pages offer ongoing updates to the oil spill response.

3) The Fall 2010 issue of The Child Indicator

2) Dear California Relationship and Marriage Education supporter,

CHMC has developed a wide range of valuable and highly-touted resources to support your work with individuals and couples and these are available through our website. Check the link below to check out what's available and to bring their power to your work.

http://www.camarriage.com/research/index.ashx?nv=8&pg=30

1) http://achmi.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/a-house-divided/

Bill Coffin

Special Assistant for Marriage Education

ACF/HHS

370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW Washington, DC 20447

(202)260-1550(o);

…We, Government Leaders, invite colleagues and citizens from every political party to engage in renewed

efforts to pursue laws and public policies that promote the well-being of marriages and families…(Excerpt from http://www.hamptonu.edu/ncaamp/proclamation/)

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/doc/ACF_Curriculum_Assessment_Guide.doc

Why Marriage Matters, 26 Conclusions from the Social Sciences

#1 Marriage increases the likelihood that fathers and mothers have good relationships with their children.

#26 A child who is not living with his or her own two married parents is at greater risk for child abuse.

This Week: The World Has its Share of Jerks...

For previous editions of HM Links & Clips see http://billcoffin.org

From: Ozarks Marriage Matters [phyllis@forest.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ozarks Marriage Matters [newsletter@ozarksmarriagematters.org]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 5:32 AM
To: Coffin, Bill (ACF)
Subject: [MARKETING EMAIL]OMM News & Notes - September 28, 2010

In This Issue:

Do Shoes Really Make the Player?
Straight Talk from Real Dads
Getaway Together Marriage Retreat - Novermber 12-13, 2010
Comedy Event for Couples - Stand Up 4 Marriage
Hitched & Happy - 7 Different Locations Starting in September
Ask Your Relationship Questions

OMM News & Notes: Promoting Healthy Relationships September 28, 2010

Do Shoes Really Make the Player?

by Dr. Jennifer Baker

Our son was mesmerized by the phenomenal qualities of a specific basketball shoe when he was in junior high school. According to the manufacturer, players who wore this shoe would run faster, jump higher and shoot straighter. In fact, if you believed the marketing, it was unlikely someone could be successful without such a shoe. Surprisingly, even though our son spent most of his discretionary income on those shoes that year, the team was average at best. Maybe their lackluster performance was related to something more than footwear. Maybe if the other players on his team had worn the exceptional shoes that would have made a difference. Maybe a different or better coach would have meant our son spent less time on the bench. What about a new gymnasium?

Click To Read The Rest

For More Information and to Register Click Here

For More Information and Tickets

Coming September 2010: Hitched & Happy workshops will be available in 7 different locations in Springfield, Aurora, Branson, Joplin and West Plains. Visit the Operation Us online calendar for more information.

Have Questions About Relationships?

Check out our new Ask A Question web page where you can send Dr. Baker a question that she just might answer the next time she's on the air with Andy Taylor and Sherry Farmer, November 12. -->

And don't forget to visit our podcast archive, where you can listen to earlier appearances.

Subscribe to News & Notes

No need to forward, just click on the link to subscribe to the weekly e-newsletter.

http://www.ozarksmarriagematters.org/subscribe.html

Forward email

This email was sent to bill.coffin@acf.hhs.gov by newsletter@ozarksmarriagematters.org.

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Email Marketing by

From: Ron McLain [ron@growyourmarriage.ccsend.com] on behalf of Ron McLain [ron@growyourmarriage.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 10:37 AM
To: Coffin, Bill (ACF)
Subject: [SUSPECTED SPAM]Wow! Check out these marriage classes!

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

HM Links & Clips (9/27/10) #117

10) Statewide Healthy Families Initiative Focuses on San Bernardino ...
This innovative approach for strengthening families offers a Parenting Education program, "1,2,3,4 Parents!" along with a Marriage Education program, ...

9) Fighting For Your Marriage | Pdf Search Engine Free Ebooks
How to Use the Money HabitudesTM Cards in Marriage Education ... To learn more specifics about the content of the S/LT, you should read either Fighting for ...

8) Loveland Relationship: 9 Ways to Reinforce the Enrichment of Your ...
By Alfred and Lucinda Loveland
The Lovelands have been involved in marriage education since 2005. They currently facilitate and mentor couples with a research-based curriculum, Mastering the Mysteries of Love, to many couples.

7) http://marriage.com.au/blog/ and http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/marriage-and-women-over-40/

6) Cohabitation before marriage risky
Arizona Republic
For the more than 60 percent of Americans who live together before their first marriage (some experts say it's closer to 85 percent), it seems like a ...

5) Healthy Families, Healthy Children Wine & Cheese Fundraiser ...
Nationally recognized Healthy Marriage Project is announcing the changing of its name to Relationship Skills Center at their Healthy Families, ...

4) Making marriage work for the modern day Marine
Marriage in the military has a combination of stressors unique to service members ... and supporting your Marine is vital to maintaining a healthy marriage. ...

3) Projects to Develop Programs to Strengthen Marriages Final Evaluation Report.
Published: 2007
Sponsoring Organization: Children's Bureau
View Printable Version: Download
This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a 3-year federally funded project designed to strengthen marriages of adoptive couples. The Project to Develop Programs to Strengthen Marriages provided the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) with an opportunity to strengthen post-adoption services and supports and incorporate a strong marriage education component.

And Evaluation of Marriage Education Servant Leadership Development ...
"Evaluation of Marriage Education Servant Leadership Development (MESLD) Healthy Marriage Program" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the 34th Annual ...

2) Lasting marriages combine commitment, passion: Researchers
Montreal Gazette
Putting the 'hopeless' in hopeless romantics, a new study of more than 1400 spouses concludes that one of the flimsiest foundations for a marriage is, ...

And Two-thirds of Americans believe in soul mates: study

Chicago Sun-Times - ‎Sep 22, 2010‎

Do you believe in soul mates? You might believe that this concept has a role only in cheesy rom-coms, but it turns out that Edward and Bella aren't the only ...

1) The National Campaign and The Dibble Institute are pleased to announce the launch of My Paper Boyfriend. The game focuses on relationships and is designed for teen girls. After customizing the ideal boyfriend the user will encounter challenging scenarios, and their selections will determine how healthy the relationship is. Tell the teens in your life to test their relationship smarts by playing My Paper Boyfriend.*

Bill Coffin

Special Assistant for Marriage Education

ACF/HHS

370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW Washington, DC 20447

(202)260-1550(o);

…We, Government Leaders, invite colleagues and citizens from every political party to engage in renewed

efforts to pursue laws and public policies that promote the well-being of marriages and families…(Excerpt from http://www.hamptonu.edu/ncaamp/proclamation/)

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/doc/ACF_Curriculum_Assessment_Guide.doc

Why Marriage Matters, 26 Conclusions from the Social Sciences

#1 Marriage increases the likelihood that fathers and mothers have good relationships with their children.

#26 A child who is not living with his or her own two married parents is at greater risk for child abuse.

Welfare Reform: A New Conversation on Women and Poverty

From: Family Bridges [sarah@familybridgeschicago.ccsend.com] on behalf of Family Bridges [info@familybridgeschicago.org]
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 10:36 AM
To: Coffin, Bill (ACF)
Subject: [MARKETING EMAIL]News from Family Bridges

In This Issue Upcoming Facilitator Trainings New Board Members More Than a Statistic A Family Celebration Three is a Crowd

Family & Marriage Conference

February 5, 2011

Join us for our 4th annual Family & Marriage conference. Our guest speaker is Dr. Nancy Alvarez, host of the Univision talk Show "Quien Tiene La Razon?"

Click here for more information.

Share your picture perfect moments with us and tell us what makes your family, marriage or relationship perfect to you.

Click here to share your picture.

Upcoming Facilitator Trainings

For detailed information on our upcoming facilitator trainings or if you have any questions, please call us at 877-412-7434. We look forward to seeing you.

__________________

Corporate Curriculum Training

Date: April 4-5, 2011

Time: 9am - 4pm

Cost: $400/person

Click here for more information or call us at 877-412-7434.

September/October 2010

Dear Friend,

We're heading into our fifth year of serving our community and are excited at the new opportunities and developments occurring within our organization. We continue to hear amazing stories from our past and current program participants, and have included them in our latest documentary, which you can view by clicking below.

Welcome to Our New Board Members

Family Bridges is honored to welcome the following community and business leaders to our board of directors:

Noel Castellanos is the Chief Executive Officer of Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) which equips emerging church leaders in the philosophy of community development.

Ruth Donahue is a Benefit Consultant at The Segal Company. an independent benefits, compensation and human resources consulting firm.

Judge Michele Lowrance is a domestic-relations judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County and has been presiding since 1995. She is also the author of the book "Divorce Kharma".

Rick Rivero

is President of Connections Marketing, an advertising agency and web development firm in Illinois.

Welcome to Family Bridges!

More Than a Statistic

Each year, almost one third of all public high school students fail to graduate from public high school with their class. A study by Civic Enterprises notes several reasons for why students do not complete high school, however, one reason accounted for one third of them dropping out - the weight of real world events.

26% said they became a parent

Many teenage girls who became pregnant were unable to juggle the responsibilities of motherhood and school, so they dropped out.

22% said they had to care for a family member

Others had personal circumstances in the home that impaired their ability to focus on school, such as needing to take care for siblings or take care of other tasks because parents were working or otherwise unavailable.

According to the study, these teens were doing well in school and believed they would have graduated had they stayed in school.

What are we doing to ensure that our teens don't become another statistic?

This report brings to light that school systems are not the only factor in why teens are dropping out of high school, but that family and relationship dynamics play a role as well. It's evident that teaching healthy relationship skills is increasingly important if we're to combat the growing epidemic of high school droupouts.

To-date, Family Bridges has served over 5,000 teens by providing them with skill sets in communication, conflict resolution, understanding risk and safety in relationships, identifying self-destructive behavior, career exploration, expenditure decision making, money management and choice evaluation. And it's working. Here's just one example...

After attending a Family Bridges workshop for teen moms, one of the participants shared her story with us. About a year before attending the workshop, she had learned that she was pregnant and, like most teens, was terrified to tell her parents because she was afraid of what their reaction would be. She kept it from them for as long as she could, but the time came where she could no longer keep it a secret. She sat them down and told them she was indeed pregnant and her worst fears came true - her father kicked her out of the house. For months she had been staying with friends until she attended the Love U2 workshop. There she learned how to better communicate and picked up applicable tips on how to resolve conflicts. She decided to put them to practice and see for herself how effective they were. After months of not speaking to her parents, she went home to talk to them. Using the skills she learned at the workshop, she was able to speak to her father and shortly thereafter, they reconciled. She was able to move back home with her parents and with their support go back to high school and graduate.

One Family Bridges workshop can be the difference between a teen achieving a dream and living in the shadow of one.

Click here to read more about the cost of high school dropouts and teen pregnancy and what can be done to avoid it.

HM Links & Clips (9/21/10) #116

10)

Full Committee Hearing

09/21/2010

And

Children of Immigrants Drive the Increase in America's Youth Population, but Almost Half Live in Low-Income Families (Press Release)

The Urban Institute

Availability: HTML --->

Updated with 2007 and 2008 American Community Survey data, the Children of Immigrants Data Tool can generate customized graphs and charts for every state and the District of Columbia. Statistics on 26 indicators include citizenship and the immigrant status (foreign vs. native-born) of children and their parents; children's race, ethnicity, and school enrollment; parents’ education and English proficiency; and family composition, income, work effort, homeownership, and food stamp receipt.

Posted to Web: September 16, 2010

9) Marriage makes a comeback
Marriage makes a comeback. Marriage rates are on the rise, and divorce rate on the slide. However, a marriage is still quite a challenge so you'll need all the help and advice you can get. Our 99 essential tips at womenrepublic.co.uk ...

8) Fort Polk chaplain leads LNG marriage retreat
Leesville Daily Leader
It's worth it to work on your marriage and let them have something good," said Lt. Col. Dixey R. Behnken, Fort Polk, chaplain and keynote speaker at a ...

7) http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/20/why-we-need-to-reimagine-masculinity.html

And New York State Fathers Encouraged To Participate In "Dads Take ...
Dads and father figures are urged to accompany their children to school on Tuesday, September 21, as part of national healthy families and responsible fatherhood initiatives.

6) http://www.frc.org/eventregistration/the-advantages-of-faith-and-traditional-family-values-for-children# (9/23)

5) Adorable, Short Video for St. Louis Healthy Families | Slay and ...
By akordus
Video debuting at the Champions of Strong Marriage & Community event on September 16, 2010. Watch to see the importance of healthy relationships and the work St. Louis Healthy Families does to promote this in the community.

4) NWA Healthy Marriages | Greatest Hits for the Heart with Gary Smalley
Event Registration · Event Calendar · NWA Marriage Adventures. NWA Healthy Marriages. Events. Gary Smalley's Greatest Hits for the Heart ...

3) http://familyscholars.org/2010/09/18/the-marriage-gap-could-fewer-date-nights-mean-more-divorce/

2) Reversing the Ripple Effect

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010
A Relationship Skills Education Program for Fathers, Couples and Families; Philadelphia , PA
Click for details and Register today!

1) Help Children Born into Poverty (Commentary)

Caroline Ratcliffe, Signe-Mary McKernan

Availability: HTML --->

In this commentary for Spotlight on Poverty, the authors address the issue that poverty often starts at birth, leading to unstable housing, schooling, and nutrition. As young adults, these children are more likely to drop out of school, have a child as a teen, and be underemployed. Taking action before the consequences of poverty accumulate is imperative. Health reform provides an opportunity for hospitals to connect poor families to insurance when a child is born. The United States can invest in poor children through social services as we invest in higher-income children through tax subsidies for homeownership and college.

Posted to Web: September 16, 2010

And The Corner
National Review Online
There are two steps that the United States can take to help low-income couples build healthy marriages, and by so doing, break the cycle of poverty. ...

Bill Coffin

Special Assistant for Marriage Education

ACF/HHS

370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW Washington, DC 20447

(202)260-1550(o);

…We, Government Leaders, invite colleagues and citizens from every political party to engage in renewed

efforts to pursue laws and public policies that promote the well-being of marriages and families…(Excerpt from http://www.hamptonu.edu/ncaamp/proclamation/)

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/doc/ACF_Curriculum_Assessment_Guide.doc

Why Marriage Matters, 26 Conclusions from the Social Sciences

#1 Marriage increases the likelihood that fathers and mothers have good relationships with their children.

#26 A child who is not living with his or her own two married parents is at greater risk for child abuse.

9) When The Troops Come Home and http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=60889

From: Family Minute [markmerrill@familyfirst.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 7:03 AM
To: Coffin, Bill (ACF)
Subject: [MARKETING EMAIL]Getting Your Spouse to Talk

To view this email as a web page, go here.

September 21, 2010
Today's Family Minute

Listen To Today's Broadcast
How do you get your spouse to really talk?
I know couples who have been married for decades and they have a hard time talking about anything intimate. Maybe it's fear of getting close, a lack of trust, or maybe they've just slowly grown apart. Sound familiar? What do you do? Be careful not to say things like, "You never talk to me." Instead, do something positive to get your spouse talking again. Pull out their high school yearbook, your wedding album, or family videos and look at them together. Ask easy questions like "What was your favorite memory?" or "What did you like most about that?" Start talking. To learn more about fostering good communication with your spouse, go to my blog.

Remember, your family first,
marksig

Mark Merrill

Comment on today's Family Minute.

Young couple turned away from each other

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From: St. Louis Healthy Families [vista@stlouishealthyfamilies.ccsend.com] on behalf of St. Louis Healthy Families [slhmcvista1@att.net]
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 4:12 PM
To: Coffin, Bill (ACF)
Subject: [MARKETING EMAIL] Give yourself the best wedding present by attending our Marriage Prep Workshop!

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Marriage Prep Workshop

Where:St. Louis University
DeBourg Hall, Room 157
221 North Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63103

Driving Directions

When:
Saturday October 16, 2010 from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM CDT
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HM Links & Clips (9/20/10) #115

10) ManringEN: Marriage Matters. It's Important!
By Edward Manring
A meta-analysis of over 100 studies on the impact of marriage education found clear evidence that marriage education programs work--"to reduce strife, improve communication, increase parenting skills, increase stability, ...

And Salem YMCA Supports Military Families as part of $31 Million ...
Salem-News.Com
Armed Services YMCA and Department of Defense partnership gives military families access to youth development, family strengthening, and health and ...

8) Study breaks down divorce rates by occupation
Washington Post
By Ellen McCarthy If you marry the charming dancer who asks for your hand, are you more likely to wind up in divorce court than if you'd picked the sensible ...

And Stepfamilies on rise but relationships difficult / New partners face ...
The Daily Yomiuri
With divorce and remarriage not as uncommon as they once were in Japan, stepfamilies--families in which one or both parents already have children from a ...

Alpha, Beta, Soulmate?: Irrelevant | Psychology Today

And Marriage Proposal At Halftime
Nation of Blue
It's often difficult to find that special someone who truly understands your passion for the CATS. If you find someone who understands or shares your ...

6) 6 Biggest Shockers About Being Married
Couples reveal what they wish they'd been warned about before saying 'I Do.'

And Wedding plans distract from preparing for marriage
Cherry Hill Courier Post
"We won't have any conflicts," couples tell him. Jasko tries to set them straight. "A marriage without conflict is not a healthy one," he said.

And http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/08/six_keys_to.html

5) Family breakdown
Times of Malta
Some years ago, the state of Texas, for example, allocated $15 million over two years for marriage education and other programmes. ...

And http://challenge.gov/HHS

4) 'Great Dates' series
Casper Journal
23, sponsored by the Wyoming Healthy Marriage Initiative. The nine weekly classes begin with marriage education, after which couples are encouraged to put ...

And On Love: 'Everything he does makes me feel special' (the quote said often when engaged but not so much when married?—BC)

3) http://www.milwaukeefatherhood.com/workshops.html

And Will your community make this list?—BC

100 Best Communities for Young People

http://www.americaspromise.org/Our-Work/Community-Action/100-Best-Communities.aspx

2) At the Intersection of Marriage and Inequality: College-educated ...
School-Based Marriage Education: An Evaluation of Florida's High School Relationship Education Requirement · Mate Selection in Nontraditional Romantic ...

And handout320staton Health
References for Marriage Education and Health Care Reform: What's the Connection? Smart Marriages 2009, Orlando America‟s Families & Living

And more handouts here http://www.smartmarriages.com/handouts.07.html

1) Is this info universal?—BC 50 Things You Need to Know About Marital Relationships and http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/marriage

Bill Coffin

Special Assistant for Marriage Education

ACF/HHS

370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW Washington, DC 20447

(202)260-1550(o);

…We, Government Leaders, invite colleagues and citizens from every political party to engage in renewed

efforts to pursue laws and public policies that promote the well-being of marriages and families…(Excerpt from http://www.hamptonu.edu/ncaamp/proclamation/)

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/doc/ACF_Curriculum_Assessment_Guide.doc

Why Marriage Matters, 26 Conclusions from the Social Sciences

#1 Marriage increases the likelihood that fathers and mothers have good relationships with their children.

#26 A child who is not living with his or her own two married parents is at greater risk for child abuse.

Click here to read more . . .

From: First Things First [ftf@firstthings.org]
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2010 6:00 PM
To: Coffin, Bill (ACF)
Subject: [MARKETING EMAIL]Breaking Up is Hard to Do | Dad to Dad September 2010

September 2010 Issue No. 8

Fathering Tip

Potty Training:
Mind Over Bladder

Recognized as an expert in his field of neurosurgical medicine,
Dr. Blaise Baxter recently gave me a memorable and explainable tip on potty training that I will give back to you in layman's terms. As we discussed the trial and error of potty training, Dr. Baxter explained that kids don't wet their beds or themselves out of spite, anger, or disrespect. It turns out potty training is less about bladder control and more about mind control.

Poll Question

Tell Us What
You Think What fathering related classes would you like to see us offer?

Tell us what you think about Dad to Dad!

Email your comments and suggestions to Todd Agne at todd@firstthings.org

Breaking Up is Hard to Do
by Todd Agne
Fathering Coordinator

When it comes to break-ups, a scared girl is no match for an angry boy.

I was informed months ago by a group of ladies (and reminded recently) that breaking up with a boy is one of the scarcest things a girl will ever do. I was also told by these women who were recalling a decade-old memory that they wished their fathers had been closer either emotionally or physically when this moment occurred.

For those of you with boys who are tempted to stop reading, remember, it's your boys who are going to scare those girls so listen up.

Domestic violence is not just domestic. Every year we hear stories of teen and young adult dating violence and even murder that takes place when a dating relationship goes bad.

For more, click here

The Locker Room is a place where Dads can come for practical advice and fatherly support. Dad to Dad, Grandfather to Grandkids or father to child.

This month in the Locker Room:

Family, friends, acquaintances, and people I barely know--

On Thursday, September 30th, CHRIS GARDNER will be speaking at an event at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Gardner's real-life story was portrayed in the film "The Pursuit of Happyness" starring Will Smith. This is a rare opportunity to hear him speak so if you'd like to attend, please send your name and email address to Todd@firstthings.org. We have a limited number of free tickets, so you can request up to 4 tickets per person. We will hand tickets out on a first come first serve basis.

More than 20 years ago, Gardner was a homeless father raising his son, on occasion, in a San Francisco transit station restroom. Today, he is a successful broker and his inspiring rags-to-riches story is proof that dreams do come true. His extraordinary story illustrates the nurturing and sustaining power of positive role models. Gardner proudly acknowledges those who guided him-a mother who kept him grounded, uncles who served in the military, and Reverend Cecil Williams, who assisted he and his son at the Glide Soup Kitchen in San Francisco so many years ago. Gardner's belief in himself and his dreams, along with his refusal to give in to self-doubt, inspires audiences and confirms that life is full of possibility if you put your heart into it.

___________________

Have an idea for the Locker Room?
Send it to todd@firstthings.org.

Boot Camp For New Dads

A class for about to be dads. This is for men only! No women over two feet tall allowed. We will discuss the challenges new fathers face like uncontrollable crying (from baby and mom), in-laws and living on little or no sleep.

Click here for Boot Camp or to register

HM Links & Clips (9/17/10) #114

10) Marriage: America's Greatest Weapon Against Child Poverty | The ...
Provide marriage education programs in high schools with a high proportion ... Make voluntary marriage education widely available to interested couples in ...
www.heritage.org/.../marriage-america-s-greatest-weapon-agai...

And Collapse of Marriage Spurs Explosion in Poverty
Heritage.org
Heritage also released a new paper by Rector on the topic along with “Marriage and Poverty in the US,” an online slide show in which he charts how marriage ...
See all stories on this topic »

And http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb10-144.html

9) Community Partnerships: Improving the Response to Child Maltreatment

This manual offers guidance on how diverse community agencies, organizations, and individuals can work together to form a web of support for families and create safe, healthy environments where children can thrive. The manual describes the benefits of community partnerships, outlines the steps for establishing and sustaining partnerships, and demonstrates how to measure results. In the appendices are valuable resources such as checklists, sample forms, and success stories. www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/partners

The entire User Manual Series is available at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanual.cfm

Senate Defeats Effort to Eliminate Prevention and Public Health Investment Fund

Senate affirms value of investing in evidence-based programs to help people live healthier lives

7) http://www.futureofchildren.org/

6) Fragile Families
Volume 20 Number 2 Fall 2010

Read the full Journal

5) Executive Summary (67.8 kb)

4) Policy Brief (262.6 kb)

3) Article Summaries ,e.g., Marriage and Fatherhood Programs
Phillip A. Cowan, Carolyn Pape Cowan and Virginia Knox
View Article Summary

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2) Anyone else ever argue about how to load the dishwasher? --BC

Shortcuts: For the Dishwasher’s Sake, Go Easy on the Detergent

1) http://earthalerts.manyjourneys.com/web/

Bill Coffin

Special Assistant for Marriage Education

ACF/HHS

370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW Washington, DC 20447

(202)260-1550(o);

…We, Government Leaders, invite colleagues and citizens from every political party to engage in renewed

efforts to pursue laws and public policies that promote the well-being of marriages and families…(Excerpt from http://www.hamptonu.edu/ncaamp/proclamation/)

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/doc/ACF_Curriculum_Assessment_Guide.doc

Why Marriage Matters, 26 Conclusions from the Social Sciences

#1 Marriage increases the likelihood that fathers and mothers have good relationships with their children.

#26 A child who is not living with his or her own two married parents is at greater risk for child abuse.

8) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ilana-kukoff/how-can-i-save-my-marriag_b_712376.html

HM Links & Clips (9/16/10) #113

10) Uncover the state by state Impact of Marriage on the Probability of Child Poverty by clicking on a state for more in-depth analysis and charts.

9) Census: 1 in 7 Americans live in poverty

7) marriage and premarital educators - Money Habitudes Asia ...
Marriage counselors and educators using the most well-known marriage education programs can improve their effectiveness by including a discussion of money

6) Intimacy: The Art of Relationships

5) Home - themarriagepartnership
Does Marriage Education work ? Early research from around the world has shown that programmes similar to this have had a marked increase in the success of

4) Native American resources: Sites for online research

Coll. res. libr. news September 2010 71:430-435

o Full Text

o Full Text (PDF)

3) The Community Alliance Summit brings together educational leaders, organizations, students, and citizens from various communities around the state of Alabama and the nation that are interested in growing and empowering a strong community towards authentic and ethical leadership for problem solving. The Community Alliance Summit is constructed around three program tracks that are shown to be consistently relevant in society: education, health, and community building/ empowerment. https://fp.auburn.edu/aci/men/Default.aspx

2) Protecting our fledgling families: A case for Relationship-Focused ...
Why marriage education can work and how government can be involved: Illustration from the ... An Asian perspective on relationship and marriage education.

1) NYT Article about Extended Transition to Adulthood Misses Critical Issues about Disadvantaged Young People

http://blogs.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/

Bill Coffin

Special Assistant for Marriage Education

ACF/HHS

370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW Washington, DC 20447

(202)260-1550(o);

…We, Government Leaders, invite colleagues and citizens from every political party to engage in renewed

efforts to pursue laws and public policies that promote the well-being of marriages and families…(Excerpt from http://www.hamptonu.edu/ncaamp/proclamation/)

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/doc/ACF_Curriculum_Assessment_Guide.doc

Why Marriage Matters, 26 Conclusions from the Social Sciences

#1 Marriage increases the likelihood that fathers and mothers have good relationships with their children.

#26 A child who is not living with his or her own two married parents is at greater risk for child abuse.