Marriage & Family Network
Building Healthier Marriages. Strengthening Families. Transforming Wichita.
Strong communities begin with strong relationships.
The Wichita Marriage and Family Initiative (WMFI) is a community-wide effort led by Lead Wichita in partnership with Live the Lifeto strengthen marriages, equip families, and build a stronger future for Wichita.
By bringing together schools, churches, nonprofits, employers, healthcare providers, and community leaders, we're creating a network of support that helps people build healthier relationships at every stage of life.
Because when families thrive, communities thrive.
What You Need To
Know
Strong families are the foundation of thriving communities.
Research shows that healthy marriages and stable family relationships are linked to better outcomes for children, lower poverty rates, greater economic mobility, and safer neighborhoods.
In Sedgwick County:
34% of households with children are single-parent homes.
Nearly 3,000 children are born to unmarried parents each year.
More than 1,200 divorces occur annually.
Nearly 70% of children living in poverty live in single-parent households.
Who does the initiative serve?
The initiative offers relationship education and resources for every stage of life, including:
Students
Singles
Dating couples
Engaged couples
Married couples
Couples experiencing challenges
Parents and families
Is this approach proven?
Yes. The Wichita Marriage and Family Initiative is based on a model that has already produced measurable results in other communities.
Previous initiatives have contributed to:
24% reduction in divorce in Jacksonville, Florida
49% reduction in teen pregnancy in Gadsden County, Florida
What is the long-term vision?
Our vision is to create a citywide ecosystem that supports healthy relationships by connecting schools, churches, nonprofits, employers, healthcare providers, and community organizations.
Together, we're building a stronger Wichita by strengthening the relationships that form the foundation of every thriving community.
How can I get involved?
We're inviting community leaders, business leaders, educators, pastors, nonprofit partners, employers, and champions of family well-being to join this movement from the beginning.
Early partners will:
Experience a sample relationship education program
See the evidence-based curriculum in action
Help shape the future of the initiative in Wichita
Join a growing network committed to strengthening families
Interested? Click below to get involved.
