Grant Date Change | Badges | Podcasts | Debate | Dibble News | Dutch Divorce - 6/6/07

[Smartmarriages]

- IMPORTANT: DATE CHANGE IN HEAD START MARRIAGE EDUCATION GRANTS
- BADGES ARE IN THE MAIL
- HITCHED MAGAZINE FREE PODCASTS
- FREE URBAN INSTITUTE DEBATE: SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT PROMOTE MARRIAGE?
- DIBBLE CHANGES ITS NAME, BUT NOT ITS FOCUS ON TEEN MARRIAGE EDUCATION
- GOING DUTCH

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- BADGES ARE IN THE MAIL
The first round of Smart Marriages Conference badges are in the mail! If you
don't receive one by June 20th, it either means you live outside the United
States (we're holding international badges for pick up at the conference
rather than risk the mail) OR you didn't complete your registration - didn't
make workshop choices.  If you didn't make workshop choices, you can make
them when you get to Denver and we'll print your badge there. - diane

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- HITCHED MAGAZINE FREE PODCASTS

Hitched Magazine has a podcast broadcast every other week in which they
interview experts on a topic they wrote about for the Hitched website. The
first few have been with Karen Sherman who will present at the Denver Smart
Marriages conference. Her topics have ranged from why a spouse will say one
thing and do another to the issue of different expectations. Listen at
www.hitchedmag.com/podcasts.html or subscribe through iTunes.

> 715 - Sun July 1, 10:30am, Denver
> Transform Your Practice
> Karen Sherman, MEd, PhD
> Frustrated practicing traditional marital therapy? Learn how to integrate an
> educational model into your work with couples to achieve incredible results.

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- FREE URBAN INSTITUTE DEBATE: SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT PROMOTE MARRIAGE?
 
Attend this lively DEBATE on whether it is the federal government¹s business
to spend taxpayer money on marriage counseling for the poor!
 
Who:
* Avis Jones-DeWeever, director of poverty, education, and social justice
programs, Institute for Women¹s Policy Research
* Robert Lerman, senior fellow, Urban Institute and professor of economics,
American University
* Robert Reischauer, president, Urban Institute and former director,
Congressional Budget Office (moderator)
 
Mon, June 18, 9-10am at the Urban Institute, 2100 M St, NW, Wash, DC
Breakfast at 8:45am, forum begins at 9am.
 
The decline in marriage and two-parent families continues to complicate
efforts to reduce child poverty. In 2006, the Bush administration proposed
and Congress approved funding for a Healthy Marriage Initiative (HMI) that
will include marriage education, training, mentoring, and advertising.
 
Critics of this initiative argue that marriage is a private matter, poor
women and children will see few economic gains from marriage, and the
initiative detracts attention from a more pressing problem -- early
childbearing. HMI proponents contend that informing people of marriage¹s
long-term benefits, encouraging them to marry, and providing
relationship-building tools will reduce poverty and family instability.
  
Seating is limited. To RSVP, visit
http://www.urban.org/pressroom/versus/rsvp.cfm,
e-mail paffairs at ui.urban.org,
or call (202) 261-5709.

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- DIBBLE CHANGES ITS NAME, BUT NOT ITS FOCUS ON TEEN MARRIAGE EDUCATION

The Dibble Fund directed by Kay Reed, has changed its name to The Dibble
Institute effective June 2007.  Their announcement says "This change
reflects the increasing national scope and focus of our work. Check out the
latest Dibble Institute news and resources at:
http:www.BuildingRelationshipSkills.org "

Kay Reed will receive a 2007 Smart Marriages Impact Award and deliver a
keynote address at the Friday lunch plenary in Denver.  Visit the Dibble
Institute Exhibit and check out their programs in workshops and at the FREE
Thursday Institute. Spread the word about this free session to school and
youth group workers in the Denver area.  - diane

> 119 One Day - Thursday, June 28- Free admission. NO CEU.
> School & Youth Marriage Education Programs
> Kay Reed, chair
> Love U2 - Marline Pearson, MA
> CONNECTIONS- Char Kamper, MA
> Loving Well - Nancy McLaren, MAT
> We have to start with the kids! These research-based, best practice,
> developmentally appropriate programs - being taught
> across the country - teach students the skills and knowledge that are
> central to building and maintaining healthy marriages. Curricula are
> easily adapted to classroom, church or community and youth
> group settings. Teens encouraged to attend.
> Click for more information: /school.html

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- GOING DUTCH

Netherlands ditches quick divorce procedure
JUNE 6, 2007     

Dutch couples wishing to divorce must arrange their separation through the
courts in the future, according to new legislation approved by the Dutch
parliament Tuesday.

Dutch lawmakers scrapped the country's quick divorce procedure, under which
a marriage is converted into a registered partnership, which can then be
dissolved by a government official, Dutch paper De Volkskrant reported
Wednesday.

Under the Dutch law, a marriage can only be dissolved by court while a
registered partnership can be terminated by a government official.

Dutch lawmakers also voted against a bill that would allow "administrative
divorce," in which a government official would formalize the agreements made
by the two divorcing parties. This means there will be no alternative way
for a quick divorce.

Most Dutch lawmakers believe the quick divorce scheme is undesirable because
it is not recognized in many other countries.

Parents who wish to divorce are required to agree on a parenting plan, which
would put children in a better position, said Dutch Youth and Family Affairs
Minister Andre Rouvoet.

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11th Annual Smart Marriages Conference, Denver Adam's Mark Hotel,
June 28-July 1, 2007
Download a brochure: http://www.smartmarriages.com/Brochure.07.pdf


List your program and resources on the Directory of Classes at
http://www.smartmarriages.com

Order conference audio & video CD/DVD/MP3s: 800-241-7785 or
http://www.iPlaybackSmartMarriages.com

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

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