Partners News No 8 - August 2001
By Dave Percival
Working with marriages in the community
One of the challenges many of our partners face is how to reach the general public with the skills and resources they have to offer. Two of our partners in particular are taking these issues to the heart of our local communities.
Community Family Policies are usually initiated by a small group of dedicated and passionate individuals and couples who seek the support and co-operation of registrars, churches, health professionals, educators and business people in a locality in an attempt to combat the damage done through marriage and family breakdown. The emphasis is on restoring the community reservoir of relationship skills through education throughout life. Marriage and parenting are given a high priority.
The Family Matters Institute aims to go into communities to enable, facilitate and resource local churches, community groups, and professionals to build strong co-operation in areas of life where they can strengthen marriage and family life.
Both organisations draw on national resources as well as local ones and recently have been affirmed in their efforts by the award of government grants. Other partners are also working at a local level, eg, Marriage Resource having pioneered its local branches providing personnel and training in marriage preparation, enrichment and counselling.