Pre-Marriage assessment tools help the engaged couple to address topics they may not have already discussed or thought were important. They are primarily used to facilitate communication between the couple on issues they may disagree on. They are not to be used by a third party to decide if the couple should be married or not. That is for the couple to decide. In the Diocese of Colorado Springs, they are considered an important part of the marriage prep process.
The companies listed below all offer pre-marriage assessment tools that are approved by the Diocese. Please go to their websites to see which one might be best for your parish and your engaged couples.
1. Intercommunications Publishing, Inc. (IPI)
Created by Catholic and Episcopal priests, a Sociologist and a Psychologist, their Pre-Marriage Inventory (PMI) was the first such program beginning in 1974. Inventories are now available for ALL pre-marriage situations; 1st and 2nd marriages, convalidations and intermarriages.
All programs are available in English and Spanish and in hard-copy and online formats.
The widely used online version is a simple 2-step process; buy a password, send or give a link and the password to the couple. Once completed the report is emailed to you.
Please visit their site for more information. www.premaritalinventory.net
2. FOCCUS
FOCCUS Marriage Ministries began with the groundbreaking marriage preparation tool, the FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study) Pre-Marriage Inventory. The FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory was developed in 1985 by three marriage and family therapists with the following goals in mind:
- Provide an affordable and user-friendly inventory
- Utilized by lay individuals and professionals
- Help prepare couples for marriage
- Emphasize a facilitation process rather than counseling
- Address issues important for engaged couples to discuss and understand
- Base the inventory on current research and consultation with experts in the field
- Continually update the inventory to address developing issues such as couples with children, interfaith couples, remarriage and cohabitation
Please visit their website for more information. www.foccusinc.com
3. Prepare/Enrich
Dr. David Olson, family science pioneer, and his wife, Karen Olson, founded Prepare/Enrich in 1980 after Dr. Olson connected theory and practice. Dr. Olson developed a method that provided counselors and clergy a framework to use with couples. Today, Prepare/Enrich is powered by a dedicated staff based in Roseville, Minnesota as well as a vast network that spans across the world.
More than 4,000,000 couple have prepared for marriage, or enriched their relationship, through taking the Prepare/Enrich assessment and working with a Certified Facilitator. The assessment itself has been proven to improve relationship satisfaction; however, there is something extraordinary about the relationship a Facilitator develops with a couple that truly helps the couple grow more than they would on their own.
Please visit their website for more information. www.prepare-enrich.com