The Fatherhood and Marriage Leadership Institute

The 1% Solution Campaign has succeeded in winning State funding for marriage strengthening programs in a number of states during the past two years. Here are short summaries of how the funds are being spent.

GEORGIA

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs was given oversight and implementation charge of the $100,000 of TANF funds designated for Healthy Marriage Initiative (HMI) efforts allocated in Georgia's 2008 budget. The language used by the state in the grant announcement was: To promote marriage as a viable life style option for low and moderate income Georgians through improved perceptions, attitudes and skills for developing a healthy marriage.

In March of 2008, four non-profit organizations were awarded varying levels of TANF funding for HMI efforts within specific communities including:

• Northwest Georgia Marriage Initiative (NWGMI)
• Thomasville Family And Marriage Network (TFAM)
• Gainesville/Hall County Healthy Marriage Initiative (GHCHMI)
• Lutheran Services of Georgia (LSG)
• NWGMI is paying couples $25 to go through the class, and offers free babysitting and meals.
• TFAM is using How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk. At the end of the class a framed Certificate of Completion is presented to every attendee with a $10.00 gift certificate to Wal-Mart.
• GHCHMI has established an Administrative Procedure Guide for the program that all their class sites will follow. They will also utilize (TANF) grant money for individual sessions.
• LSG has conducted four workshops and have provided education, information and support services to 80 individuals.
• The first $100,000 of TANF funds allocation for 2008 budgeting process has been reauthorized in the 2009 budget.