Northside Community Healthy Marriage Initiative

First Things First of Greater Richmond has been awarded a small "Seed Grant" to facilitate and develop a Northside Healthy Marriage Initiative.  Initial seed funding from Virginia Department of Social Services Community Programs Healthy Marriage and Stable Families.

Collaborating agencies including:  City of Richmond, Healthy Families Richmond, Northside Partnership for Families, Boaz and Ruth, Fifth St. Baptist, Highland Park UMC,  ...    add your agency or congregation to this list call Bob Ruthazer at 288-3431 x-13.

Love Thinks:  First Things First of Greater Richmond (FTF) will plan and execute a “Community Healthy Marriage Initiative” (CHMI) and “Training for Healthy Relationships” in the Northside of Richmond.  Our Goal is to increase public awareness of and access to resources to form and sustain healthy relationships and marriages for those people who choose marriage.  We will also offer healthy relationship skills training to singles in our target area.  FTF is focusing on Richmond City and targeting the Northside area due to their significantly higher divorce and non-marital birth rates and lower percentage of married households compared to Virginia or the Nation.

Goals & Objectives:

A.     Over the long term, we desire to increase the number of children born to married parents and living in two parent households.

B.     Increase Public awareness of the benefits of healthy marriage and availability of resources.

C.     Increase knowledge of skills needed for healthy relationships and marriages.

D.     Provide a model which can be replicated in other communities.  We need partners with vision for a better community to make this possible!

Key Activities:

A.     Targeted Community Healthy Marriage Initiative:  Networking with Government, Clergy, public and private Community Service Agencies, Service Providers, Educators, and Business Leaders.

a.      FEB 10 Community Leader Breakfast Forum to increase knowledge of research & best practices, and facilitate networking among participants & participant agencies, and to increase community awareness of research based educational resources.  Feb 10 with Dr. John Van Epp, LIVE,  developer of  “Love Thinks™” from PICK a Partner.   At Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center.    For Community leaders, social workers and clergy. In partnership with Partnership for Families-Northside, Richmond Department of Social Services adn Virginia Department of Social Services Office of Community Partnerships. Call Bob at 288-3431 x-i3 to register or e-mail  bob       @FirstThinigsRichmond.org  (with no spaces)

b.      Public Awareness Campaign:  “Love Thinks™”   Building Healthy Relationships.  Media and awareness strategies targeting singles, non-marital parents and youth:  develop a targeted brochure, PSA, billboard, and a Display for Health Fairs and community gatherings. (Available in Feb  2006)

c.      Survey of targeted community members to determine attitudes towards marriage and hindrances towards marriage formation in their community.

B.     Training in Healthy Relationship Skills for singles in target population:

 “Love Thinks™”   Workshop for Singles and parents of teens  from PICK a Partner.  At  Boaz & Ruth Feb 28-Mar 1 8-10 am. Call  Tony Scott at Boaz & Ruth 329-4900 to make a reservation. 3030 Meadowbridge Rd near Brookland Park Blvd. FREE but space limited. Must call Tony Scott 329-4900

Additional Training & activities as new partners are identified:

 **Contact us if you are interested in hosting a training event or if you can help to fund a training workshop in this underserved community

March 20, 21, 27, 28 “Healthy Relationship Skills for Couples”  based on PREP at Boaz & Ruth Boaz; 7pm-9pm;   Call  Tony Scott at Boaz & Ruth 329-4900 to make a reservation; space very limited. 3030 Meadowbridge Rd near Brookland Park Blvd. FREE but space limited. Must call Tony Scott 329-4900

Feb 27 Teen Rally Event with popular speaker , Dr. Rozario Slack  at a designated School in partnership with Norhtside Partnership for Families and City of Richmond (tentative at ACDC Adult Career Development Center). FREE

Feb 27  Luncheon for Northside Barbers and Beauticians to introduce them to this initiative and get them talking about Healthy Relationship Skills training opportunities with their clients... in partnership with Norhtside Partnership for Families and City of Richmond (tentative at Holiday Inn Crossroads on Staples Mill at Broad)   Call 288-3431 x-13  to register. FREE

Train the Trainer  for Counselors, Clergy and Mentor Couples to use Relationship Inventories: PREPARE/ENRICH or  FOCCUS/REFOCCUS     link on names for more information

   others...   Will you help us add training opportunities in this needy community.  

**Contact us if you are interested in hosting a training event or if you can help to fund a training workshop in this underserved community

Bob Ruthazer, FTF Programs Coordinator/E.D.  288-3431 x-13

Jane Talley.  City of Richmond Healthy Families Director 646-0590

Sally Ribeiro, Partnership for Families-Northside 353-4265

“Love Thinks™”  is used with permission trade marked from PICK a Partner.and Dr John Van Epp www.nojerks.com 

Points of view and opinions of this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of DSS or U.S. Department of Justice/Health and Human Services.

Northside Initiative Activities REPORT :   

Completed Events:

Community Leaders Breakfast Forum Feb 10 with Dr John Van Epp, LIVE,   National Speaker and Author of  the Love Thinks or How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk programs utilized extensively around the country and by the US Army. 

        Link here for additional information or to become involved   

Feb 27 Teen Rally Event with popular speaker Dr. Rozario Slack at a designated School in partnership with Norhtside Partnership for Families and City of Richmond ( at ACDC Adult Career Development Center)

Feb 27  Luncheon for Northside Barbers and Beauticians to introduce them to this initiative and get their input and support ... in partnership with Norhtside Partnership for Families and City of Richmond (noon at Holiday Inn Crossroads on Staples Mill at Broad)   FREE; Call 299-3431 x-13  to make reservation

 Want more from your relationships?

Mar 25 “Love Thinks™”   Workshop for Singles and parents of teens  from PICK a Partner.  9am-2:30 pm  Highland Park United Methodist Church 3001 2nd Ave at Brookland Park Blvd.  FREE, Must Call  288-3431 x-13  to register and get ticket number. 

Feb 28 “Love Thinks™”   Workshop (for Ex-Offenders) Singles and parents of teens  from PICK a Partner.  At  Boaz & Ruth Feb 28 & Mar 1 8-10 am.Limited space; Call  Tony Scott at Boaz & Ruth 329-4900 to make a reservation. 3030 Meadowbridge Rd near Brookland Park Blvd. 

 March 20, 21, 27, 28 Couple's Skills class: "A Lasting Promise" to increase intimacy based on PREP at Boaz & Ruth Boaz; 7pm-9pm.;  3030 Meadowbridge Rd near Brookland Park Blvd.  FREE; Limited space, Must call  Tony Scott at Boaz & Ruth 329-4900 to make a reservation

July-August  Within My Reach: relationship skills based on PREP for individuals at Boaz & Ruth.

For more info on Couple's Skills class: "A Lasting Promise"  content, link here