Gov to up spending on marriage programs - 7/21/06

[Smartmarriages]

- GOVT TO UP SPENDING ON MARRIAGE PROGRAMS
July 21, 2006 
Govt to up spending on marriage programs


By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press Writer
(c) 2006 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it.

McLain has applied for a $550,000 federal grant to hire counselors for
Marriage Mentoring Ministries Inc., a tiny business in Fresno County,
Calif., that helps couples before and after they exchange wedding vows.
He also has a bid in for a $250,000 grant to teach men to become better
fathers.

"The market is obviously very ripe for this with the divorce rate as
high as it is, and obviously couples want a good marriage," said McLain,
who oversees the organization along with his wife, Joan. They specialize
in training couples to mentor other couples, with many of the classes
taking place at local churches.

The grant money represents the latest shift in welfare reform in the
United States. For the next five years, Congress is setting aside up to
$100 million a year to promote marriage and $50 million a year to
produce committed fathers. This year's allotment goes out before Sept.
30.

Supporters say that if the government can get more low-income parents to
tie the knot and help them work through the rough spots that inevitably
occur, then those families are less likely to need federal assistance in
later years.

"Children who grow up in healthy, stable, married households don't wake
up one day and decide they want to run away to Hollywood and become
street prostitutes," said Wade Horn, the Bush administration's point man
for welfare reform. "Couples in a healthy, stable married relationship
don't come home one day and decide they want to abuse their children.
This, in my view, is an exercise in limited government."

Others see the government as engaging in a social experiment with scarce
resources they say would be better put elsewhere.

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., says the Republican-backed program is like
a city filling potholes right before the next mayor's race. Only this
time, the administration is reaching out to religious groups.

"This is one of those real strange things they get involved in where
they say they want small government and they say they want to get
government out of people's lives. Then they go try to find two high
school kids and use some money to encourage them to get married,"
McDermott said.

But Rep. Wally Herger, R-Calif., said children in one-parent households
are seven times more likely to live in poverty than those in two-parent
households. Yet, more and more children are being raised in broken
homes, which leads to more spending on welfare and other government
programs, he said.

"It's amazing to me how anyone can find this controversial," Herger
said. "Being a parent of nine children myself, it's tough enough to
raise children when there's two parents, let alone when there's just one
mother, totally alone, trying to raise a child."

David Fein, a demographer who has conducted extensive research on
marriage and the poor, said getting low-income couples to marry is not
the hard part.

"They actually marry at the same rate as more affluent people. The
problem is, subsequently, their marriages are much more fragile," he
said.

There are various reasons for that fragility, but financial stresses and
strains play a part. At the same time, the poor don't have the same
ability as wealthier Americans to get help when their marriage needs it,
he said.

But Fein's point underscores that seminars on conflict resolution and
learning to say you're sorry won't solve the problem entirely.

"Fortunately, the people who have developed these policies are not
arguing that all you have to do is help people learn better relationship
skills," he said.

The federal government has provided some money in recent years to
promote marriage, an average of about $14 million annually during the
past four years, said Horn, the assistant secretary for children and
families in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Marriage Mentoring Ministries, which works with church groups, already
has obtained one grant for $50,000, which McLain used to hire a
part-time employee and to purchase a computer and printer as well as
other supplies. He used the equipment to make thousands of leaflets
about the benefits of marriage.

McLain hopes the larger grants will allow his organization to reach
minority communities. He likes welfare's expanded emphasis on marriage,
especially what it can do for children.

"When they watch mom and dad ... resolving their conflicts and having a
normal relationship, they'll be better able to carry that on in their
relationship when they start dating and get married," he said.

___

On the Net:

Administration for Children and Families: http://www.acf.hhs.gov

________________________________

 

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Bill Coffin

Special Assistant for Marriage Education

ACF/HHS

(202)260-1550(o); (301)526-6221(c)

Bill.Coffin at acf.hhs.gov

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

 

The current marriage crisis in our culture is the result of a major
transition from the institutional to the companionship marriage. Our
failure to support and guide this transition by providing couples with
training in  interpersonal competence  is due to our total lack of a
formulated social policy concerning marriage. New understanding of the
situation, together with new approaches and new resources, may now
enable us to provide more effective services and to develop an
appropriate policy.      David Mace, 1977

 

For info on marriage see

http://www.healthymarriageinfo.org

http://www.smartmarriages.org

http://fatherhood.hhs.gov/Marriage/index.shtml

http://center.americanvalues.org

http://www.bettermarriages.org

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/H/HE-0829/HE-0829.pdf

http://www.peerta.acf.hhs.gov/policies/family.htm#marriage

http://www.lewin.com/Spotlights/Features/Spotlight_Feature_CHMI.htm

 

http://www.wrconference.net/docs/2005/marriage_stanley.ppt#406,64,Basis
<BLOCKED::http://www.wrconference.net/docs/2005/marriage_stanley.ppt#406
,64,Basis> 

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2006-ACF-OPRE-OJ-0090.html (see
the links!)

http://www.afterschool.ed.gov/programs/opre/strengthen/compreh_frmwk/rep
orts/comp_frmwk/comp_frmwk_toc.html

 

 

________________________________

From: Norris, Jane (ACF)
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 10:06 AM
To: Horn, Wade (ACF)
Cc: Schneider, Daniel (ACF); Orrell, Brent (ACF); Squier, Sidonie (ACF);
Collins, Grant (ACF); Coffin, Bill (ACF)
Subject: AP pick-up on Freking story: Gov to up spending on marriage

 

 

 

________________________________

From: Weinberg, Scott (ACF)
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 10:03 AM
To: Wolfe, Kenneth (ACF); Norris, Jane (ACF)
Subject: pick-up on Freking story: Gov to up spending on marriage

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4062375.html>
Houston Chronicle, United States - 6 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press Writer. WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no
qualms about the federal government getting involved in marriage. ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.heraldnewsdaily.com/stories/news-00204411.html>
Herald News Daily, ND - 6 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Marriage programs to get a boost <http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13964621/>
Newsweek - 4 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. ...

 

Govt to Up Spending on Marriage Programs
<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-marriage-g
overnment-funding,1,7753057.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines>
Los Angeles Times, CA - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer. WASHINGTON -- Ron McLain has
no qualms about the federal government getting involved in marriage. ...


 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/15089796.htm>
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to Up Spending on Marriage Programs
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5965643,00.html>
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING. WASHINGTON (AP) - Ron McLain has no qualms about the
federal government getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting
on it. ... 

 

Govt to Up Spending on Marriage Programs
<http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/feeds/ap/2006/07/21/ap2894959.htm
l> 
Forbes - 6 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING , 07.21.2006, 03:50 AM. Ron McLain has no qualms about
the federal government getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's
counting on it. ...

 

Govt to Up Spending on Marriage Programs
<http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Jul21/0,4670,MarriageGovernmentFunding
,00.html> 
FOX News - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer. WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has
no qualms about the federal government getting involved in marriage. ...


 

Govt to Up Spending on Marriage Programs
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/07/21/national/w0
05030D98.DTL&type=politics>
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 6 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer. Ron McLain has no qualms
about the federal government getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's
counting on it. ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_Marriage_Government_Fundi
ng.html> 
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 6 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING. WASHINGTON -- Ron McLain has no qualms about the
federal government getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting
on it. ... 

 

Gov't. to Up Spending on Marriage Programs
<http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=116&sid=856430>
WTOP, D.C. - 2 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING. WASHINGTON (AP) - Ron McLain has no qualms about the
federal government getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting
on it. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.localnewswatch.com/benton/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&
id=204411> 
The Benton Crier, Iowa - 4 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.newsone.ca/hinesbergjournal/stories/index.php?action=fullnew
s&id=204411> 
Hinesberg Journal, Canada - 4 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.newsone.ca/ottawarecorder/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&
id=204411> 
Ottawa Recorder, Canada - 4 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Marriage programs to get a boost from feds
<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13964621/>
Standard-Speaker, PA - 4 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.newsone.ca/westfallweeklynews/stories/index.php?action=fulln
ews&id=204411> 
The Westfall Weekly News, Canada - 4 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.newsone.ca/piercelandherald/stories/news-00204411.html>
Pierceland Herald, Canada - 4 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.localnewswatch.com/skyvalley/stories/index.php?action=fullne
ws&id=204411> 
Sky Valley Journal,  USA - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/15089796.htm>
Kansas City Star, MO - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.localnewsleader.com/elytimes/stories/index.php?action=fullne
ws&id=204411> 
Ely Times,  USA - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/breaking_news/15089796.htm>
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to Up Spending on Marriage Programs
<http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-marriage-government-fu
nding,0,7085371.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines>
Newsday, NY - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING. WASHINGTON -- Ron McLain has no qualms about the
federal government getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting
on it. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/politics/15089796.htm>
Bradenton Herald,  United States - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/15089796.htm>
Contra Costa Times, CA - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.localnewsleader.com/kindred/stories/index.php?action=fullnew
s&id=204411> 
The Kindred Times, Utah - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.localnewsleader.com/olberlin/stories/index.php?action=fullne
ws&id=204411> 
Olberlin, KS - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/15089796.ht
m> 
Pioneer Press, MN - 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics/15089796.h
tm> 
San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA - 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/nation/15089796.htm>
The State, SC - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/breaking_news/15089796.ht
m> 
Belleville News-Democrat, IL - 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/15089796.htm>
Centre Daily Times, PA - 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/politics/1508979
6.htm> 
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/politics/15
089796.htm> 
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://localnewsleader.com/jackson/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id
=204411> 
Jackson News-Tribune, WY - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/politics/15089796.htm>
Kentucky.com, KY - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/15089796.htm>
Kansas.com, KS - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/politics/15089796.htm>
Macon Telegraph, GA - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.localnewswatch.com/jordanfalls/stories/index.php?action=full
news&id=204411> 
Jordan Falls News, Iowa - 5 hours ago
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago. WASHINGTON -
Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. ... 

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/15089796.htm>
Fort Wayne News Sentinel, IN - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/15089796.htm>
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN - 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/breaking_news/150
89796.htm> 
Monterey County Herald, CA - 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/15089796.htm>
Biloxi Sun Herald,  USA - 6 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 

Govt to up spending on marriage programs
<http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/15089796
..htm> 
Duluth News Tribune, MN - 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON - Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government
getting involved in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it. McLain ...

 


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