In April 2000, the Arizona State Legislature established a nine-member Marriage and Communication Skills Commission--whose membership represents the state legislature, the governor's office, as well as an expert in the field of marriage and family education and counseling--to help coordinate the state's marriage and family strengthening efforts. The Commission is charged with overseeing marriage and communication skills workshops and with developing and distributing a marriage handbook. The Marriage and Communication Skills Commission and the Department of Economic Security contract community-based organizations to teach marriage-related skills in local communities. The curriculum covers relationship skills, communication skills, negotiation skills, family law, and how to deal with domestic violence. Marriage education workshops are currently available in seven of Arizona's 15 counties. The workshops are provided on a voluntary basis to married couples or couples planning to marry. Participants are expected to pay 15 percent of the workshop costs; the remaining 85 percent of the workshop costs are covered by the state. The Arizona Department of Economic Security gives vouchers to low-income married and cohabiting parents (with incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty level) to attend the workshops free of charge. Clients receive information about the workshops at the time of enrollment in TANF, and workshop participation is counted as an allowable work activity.

The goal of this program is to help coordinate the state's marriage and family strengthening efforts.

In FY 2002, 740 couples participated in 226 marriage education workshops; in FY 2003, 689 couples and 13 single individuals participated in 322 marriage education workshops. The Marriage and Communication Skills Commission also developed and distributes a marriage handbook that provides guidance on how to create successful marriages. It includes information on effective communication, resolving conflicts, managing finances, raising a family, the implications of separation and divorce, and a list of community resources for child abuse, family counseling, legal assistance, and child support. County Superior Court clerks distribute free English and Spanish versions of the handbook to couples that apply for a state marriage license. A formal evaluation of Arizona's marriage strengthening activities is in progress.