This is an exciting time for you and your community! Change is coming because you have a heart to see lives and marriages transformed. We hope this page will give some tips on how to get started. Please feel free to contact us as you read through these links. We want to encourage you and will try to answer your questions. (See also our Training Opportunties.)
Julie Baumgardner: 2004 Testimony to Senate Finance Committee on First Things First: This is a must-read overview of what can happen in a community when lots of stakeholders rally around a strong vision with sustained passion. http://www.marriagecomission.com/resources/?ID=66
Six Steps to Get Started from Smart Marriages: These steps give a broad overview of what is involved in starting a Community Healthy Marriage Initiative. They are easier said than done, but the website www.smartmarriages.com has lots of resources to help you accomplish true change in your community. Read the article here: http://www.marriagecomission.com/resources/?ID=67
14 Ways You Can Put First Things First: Wonderful tips on how to see opportunities in your community and how to start acting now. Click HERE.
Community Toolbox: Look here for an extensive library of articles and tools pertaining to community transformation. This resource is provided by the University of Kansas. http://ctb.ku.edu/index.jsp
Association for Marriage and Family Ministries: If you are searching for ways to start a marriage and famly ministry in your church or the ministry just needs a fresh vision, the Association for Marriage and Family Ministries (AMFM) website is a great place to go. www.amfmonline.com
National Healthy Marriage Resource Center: This website has tons of information about many aspects of the marriage movement. Includes great tips for how and where to get involved in your community. www.healthymarriageinfo.org
Lewin Group Community Healthy Marriage Initiative Website: The Lewin Group and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) are working together to provide technical assistance to those interested in community marriage initiatives. Their site provides how-to guides, pre-formatted presentations and tons of great information! http://www.marriagecomission.com/resources/?ID=50
