Modesto/Finland/DC/Grand Rapids/Now What? /More Awards - 10/6/06

Fri Oct 6 22:49:01 EDT 2006

- STANISLAUS COUNTY/MODESTO CALIFORNIA WEB RESOURCE CENTER POSTED
- CONFERENCE PHOTOS??
- MARRIAGE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD
- GETTING "MARRIAGE CREATIVE" IN DC
- TOTALLY FREE MARRIAGE EDUCATION TRAINING IN DC/FOR DC PROVIDERS
- GRAND RAPIDS SPONSORS FAMILY WELLNESS CERTIFICATION TRAINING
- SEEKING GRANT FEEDBACK
- NOW WHAT? - NEXT STEPS COACHING PHONE BRIDGE: OCT 17, 9-10PM
- CHILDREN'S BUREAU GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
- HHS AWARDS $11.2 MILLION FOR MENTORING CHILDREN OF PRISONERS

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- STANISLAUS COUNTY/MODESTO CALIFORNIA WEB RESOURCE CENTER POSTED

I've just posted the Stanislaus County Healthy Marriage Coalition's
web-based Resource Center on the Registry.  This coalition includes Modesto,
home of the very first Marriage Savers/Community Marriage Policy.  These
folks are energized as they just received one of the CCF mini grants. Check
them out. In addition to all their info, they've posted some nice photos
from the Smart Marriages Atlanta Conference, just click on Conference Pics
and then on slide show.  - diane
http://www.stancomarriage.org/Welcome.html

To add your web-based resource center to the Registry, send an email to
cmfce at smartmarriages.com - view the Registry at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/grants.html

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- CONFERENCE PHOTOS??

Which reminds me, if any of you have conference photos I'd love to see them.
Send electronically to cmfce at smartmarriages.com (cmfce "at"
smartmarriages.com) or mail them to
CMFCE
5310 Belt Rd NW
Washington, DC 20015

Much appreciated.  - diane

#################################
- MARRIAGE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD

We get new listings to the Smart Marriages Directory all the time, but
thought I'd share this one that came in today from Finland. It's exciting to
see the Marriage Education model in practice around the world. And, it's our
favorite new format: a teach-out-of-the-box program!  They'll be exhibiting
at Smart Marriages in Denver so you can check them out.

> Understanding Marriage: Partners, Friends, Lovers
> Understanding Marriage is a 33-lesson, comprehensive marriage education
> experience, offering a broad, in-depth understanding of marriage and
> surrounding topics. Participants reflect on research, develop their
> communication and love skills, use evaluation instruments, and discuss issues
> that matter. The program works well both as a training program for clergy and
> family social workers and also as an educational program for college students
> (marriage 101), church groups, community college adult education, and company
> employees. Program includes: 270-page out-of-the-box lecturer guide (with pre-
> and post-tests), 600 PowerPoints, and 170-page student workbook.
> Stephen Stacey/New World Families
> Email: Stephen at understandingmarriage.com
> Website: http://www.understandingmarriage.com

To visit the Directory: http://www.smartmarriages.com/directory_browse.html
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- GETTING "MARRIAGE CREATIVE" IN DC

  COUPLES: Romancing the Marriage Relationship: A Moonlit Night Adventure
Under the Stars for  married and engaged couples co-sponsored by the
ALS-Singles Wholeness and Marriage Savers and D.C. Healthy Marriages and
Relationships Coalition Friday, Oct 6, 6:30-10pm. Includes aerobic treasure
hunt, sing-along, couples gift bag, sparkling cider champagne toast, new
married couple friends possibilities, and more!  FREE and discounted Wards 1
and 5. $10 all others.  Call 202-269-3449 to register and for details.

 SINGLES: Single fellows, dine out and rap solutions to relationship
problems. FREE.  Assist in developing programs that meet the needs of D.C.
Singles Sat, Oct 14, 1-2pm. Cynthia at 202-526-0868 to register and for
info. Must register to be included in the lunch.  Co-sponsors ALS-Singles
Wholeness and Marriage Savers.

######################################
- TOTALLY FREE MARRIAGE EDUCATION TRAINING IN DC/FOR DC PROVIDERS

> Wedded Bliss Foundation presents a two day training in "Basic Training for
> Couples" featuring the authors Dr Rozario Slack and Nisa Muhammad.  If you
> work with DC residents and want to incorporate marriage education in your
> work, join us November 14 and 15 from 10-5 at the Petworth Library 4200 Kansas
> Ave NW, Washington, DC.  Leave with the skills to
> teach this out-of-the-box training.  Register at:301-613-1316 or  nisa "at"
weddedblissinc.com.
> This training is funded by The Together is Better Campaign.

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- GRAND RAPIDS SPONSORS FAMILY WELLNESS CERTIFICATION TRAINING

If you can't wait until June to take the Family Wellness certification
training at Smart Marriages, or if Michigan is much more convenient, here's
your chance: George Doub will present the training in Grand Rapids, Oct.
24-27.  Training is $750 and open to all.  Register ASAP: 616.831.2622 or
<http://www.healthymarriagesgr.org/> .

Or, if you're planning ahead to June, and Smart Marriages:

> 104 Three Days - Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: June 26, 27, 28
> Family Wellness: Skills for Families in Changing Times
> George Doub, MDiv, Ana Morante, MFT
> An effective, useful model for school, clergy, military, foster care,
> community and clinical practitioners to teach whole families the key skills
> for healthy family life.  Core theory, content and coaching skills
> demonstrated, ideas for multicultural, minority and alternative families. $390
> with conference or $540 if you do not attend the Smart Marriages Conference.
> $150 spouse discount. Couples will receive two instructor's manuals.  Click
> for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/doub.html

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- SEEKING GRANT FEEDBACK

> Diane - 
> Yesterday I emailed the ACF contacts near the end of those zillion page
> Healthy Marriage and Fatherhood RFP notices inquiring about grant feedback for
> my unfunded proposals (I had one in each category).  I just got an email
> response saying I needed to contact the Office of Family Assistance and that
> my email had been forwarded on to them.  I'll let you know what response I get
> next. Has anyone else on the list had any luck?
> Jan Hayne
> Dads Make a Difference
> Saint Paul, MN

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- NOW WHAT? - NEXT STEPS COACHING PHONE BRIDGE: OCT 17, 9-10PM

Bill Coffin, Dennis Stoica, and Mary Ortwein will present ³Getting Off on
the Right Foot: Building a Successful Grant in the First Few Months² in a
free phone bridge teleconference, Oct 17, 9-10pm EST. Sponsored by
The Association for Filial and Relationship Enhancement Methods (AFREM).

Followgin the recent ACF grant announcements we face the big next stage.
Many awardees may be celebrating their awards with mixed feelings: elation
at their success combined with anxiety about the challenges ahead. While
those who did not receive an award need strategies for how to continue
without funding.  

Our panelists will offer expertise and insights gained through years ³in the
trenches². As Yogi Berra once said, ³You got to be careful if you don¹t know
where you are going, because you might not get there.² These next steps are
critical in getting us there with our passion intact.

To listen live, dial 1-646-519-5800. At the prompt enter your PIN which is
2645# The bridge line is available five (5) minutes prior, at 8:55pm. To
avoid background noise please mute your phone by entering *6.  AFTER the
presenters have concluded, anyone wishing to comment can remove him/herself
from mute by again pressing *6.

Please e-mail your questions in advance to James Koval at jekoval at csulb.edu
by Wed, Oct 10.

If you miss the call the recording will available until Nov 17.  There is no
charge for listening live to the panel presentation and/or for accessing the
recording other than your own local long distance.

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- CHILDREN'S BUREAU GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT

> Demonstration Projects in Post-Adoption Services and Marriage Education (CFDA
> # 93.652)
> Up to $250,000 per year for 5 years
> 
> *       Michigan State University, East Lansing MI
> *       Spaulding for Children, Houston, TX
> *       University of Louisville Research Foundation Inc., Louisville, KY
> *       Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma City, OK
> *       The University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc., Lawrence, KS
> *       Children's Home & Aid Society of Illinois, Rockford, IL
> *       Harmony Adoptions of Tennessee, Inc., Maryville, TN
> 
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- HHS AWARDS $11.2 MILLION FOR MENTORING CHILDREN OF PRISONERS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this week awarded
approximately $11.2 million to 76 organizations to train adult volunteers to
mentor children and youth whose parents are incarcerated. The grants are
part of mentoring children of prisoners program introduced by President Bush
in his 2003 State of the Union address.

For more information on the mentoring children or prisoners program, go to:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/youthdivision/programs/mcpfacts
heet.htm.

To view a complete list of the awards, go to:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2006/mcpp_06_awards.htm.

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11th Annual Smart Marriages Conference, Denver Adam's Mark Hotel,
June 28-July 1, 2007
Pre-Conference Training Institutes June 26-28
Post-Conference Training Institutes July 2-3
Details: http://www.smartmarriages.com/conferencedetails.html

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Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education, LLC (CMFCE)
Diane Sollee, Director
5310 Belt Rd NW
Washington, DC 20015-1961
http://www.smartmarriages.com
202-362-3332 
diane at smartmarriages.com