Marriage Friendly Communities is a project funded by the Healthy Marriage Initiative, a division of the Agency for Children and Families within the Department of Health and Human Services of the federal government.

Marriage is good for couples, their children and their communities. With this in mind the federal government, with the assistance of local agencies, intends to improve the quality of marriages and the relationships they create for their children.

Partner organizations in this federally funded project are Teen-Aid, Whitworth College and A.R.M.S for Domestic Violence . As the project continues many more partner agencies will be utilized.

Program funds will be used to equip small communities and rural populations with skills for residents, raise the awareness of the value and importance of marriage and reduce the divorce rate in Eastern Washington.

Some of the activities to be implemented are:

1. A public advertising campaign to reach all the residents presentations

2. Relationship skills for local high school students in their Economics and Consumer Science classes

3. Relationship skills and premarital education for nonmarried pregnant women and nonmarried expectant fathers

4. Premarital education classes for premarital couples seeking marriage

5. Enrichment programs for married couples

Please call (509) 482-0938 or e-mail for more information and programs in your area.