"Keys for Couples" - Marriage Preparation for Court Marriers
"Key
for Couples" - Marriage Preparation for Couples Marrying in a Court Setting
What the statistics show us...
In 1997 4,641 weddings took place in Kent County, MI while 2,386 divorce events occurred. Essentially, this means that in 1997 one divorce occurred for every two marriages - a startling 50% divorce rate!The fallout from divorce has been widely researched, especially for children. Children of divorce have significantly higher risk for poverty, teenage pregnancy, school dropout, delinquency, and substance abuse. They are less likely to obtain successful employment as adults and also less likely to establish stable marriages and families of their own.
Fortunately, couples who invest in premarital education have greater chances for success. One recent study shows that couples who attended premarital classes learned skills that helped them communicate better, resolve conflict more effectively, and improve their overall marriage satisfaction. Five years later they were more likely to be happy and together.
Our community’s response...
Healthy Marriages Grand Rapids was established as a response to the high divorce rate in Kent County. With one of its primary goals of making thorough premarital preparation a community norm, the marriage policy initially set its sights on encouraging all clergy within greater Grand Rapids to raise their standards for marriage preparation.
Fifteen percent of marriages in Kent County take place in civil ceremonies. Most couples who choose to be married by a magistrate or judge receive little to no premarital preparation. Hoping to reverse that trend, various judges and lawyers in Kent County, who deal with the fallout from divorce almost daily in their work, formed a task force in the fall of 1997 to support marriage. They believe that preparation is the key to successful marriages.
The first step...
In February, 2000, the task force asked Judge William Kelly, 62B Kentwood District Court, to pilot a mandatory premarital class for six consecutive months. At the end of the 6 months, the class was re-evaluated and a decision was made to continue it for another 6 months. As of September 2006, nearly 1000 couples have taken the "Keys for Couples" four hour workshop. This workshop teaches couples important skills for building a successful marriage:
u relationship expectations
u family of origin
u communication
u conflict resolution
u managing money
u friendship & intimacy
u commitment
Listen to these success stories...
Other counties nationwide have implemented similar programs. In Lenawee County, MI, Judge James Sheridan spearheaded an iniative whereby all couples who desire to get married in a civil ceremony must first attend marriage preparation. Cobb County, GA, an affluent county with sky-rocketing numbers of divorces, now offers a free, voluntary marriage preparation class for all couples. Attendance at the class has been high and satisfaction excellent.
Of the individuals who have attended Keys for Couples, 78% stated that they feel better prepared to enter into a healthy, marital relationship, and 94% said they would recommend this class to a friend.