They agree to provide premarital counseling that includes communication skills. In 22 cities, the divorce rate has dropped. McManus also trains couples with strong marriages to mentor other couples. Using a premarital questionnaire, he says he can predict with 85 percent accuracy who will divorce. Of the nearly 150 who married, only six have divorced or separated in seven years.
People are ready.
They want to see what solutions are coming out of the States. Next June, the Minnesota Marriage Initiative plans to host a conference, bringing together family advocates and clergy in the state to talk about strengthening marriage and improving preparation for marriage. Reformers also note a growing interest in marriage education. The Florida Marriage Preparation and Preservation Act also allows engaged couples who take a four-hour class on marriage skills to pay a reduced fee for a marriage license and to marry immediately, instead of waiting three days. This includes teaching young people to solve problems and reduce conflict, and to understand that all intimate relationships have some conflict.