Frequently Asked Questions

All Active Relationships materials are copyright protected and
may not be reproduced 
without written permission from author, Kelly Simpson.

AR leaders are required to purchase a minimum of
 one book per every participant person, or 
one book for every participant couple.

Download an order-form for Military Products

FAQs for Prospective Leaders

1. Are your programs researched?
2. Are your programs researched for MILITARY populations?
3. Are your programs researched for TANF populations?
4. How can we become trained to lead classes? (for specifics see FAQ’s 5 and 6) 
5. How much does it cost to bring a trainer in to our agency/installation to train our staff to lead classes?
6. Does Active Relationships have a Certification-Out-of-the–Box training option for those of us who do not have the funding to bring in a trainer to our site?
7. Is there a “Train the Trainer” track so eventually our own leaders can become trainers and train other leaders?
8. How many programs does Active Relationships have and what are they?
9. How many hours is each AR program when I teach it to clients?
10. Can I shorten the program if I don’t have a full 12-16 hours available?
11. Once I am trained, can I make my own copies of the copies of participant materials, since I may not use the entire book?
12. Can I teach the material and just not use participant books?
13. How much are participant books?
14. Can couples share books?
15. Are leaders materials a “required” purchase?
16. How much are leaders’ materials, if we want to purchase them?
17. Are there any yearly dues or license fees to remain active as an Active Relationships leader?
18. Do you have secular and Christian editions?
19. Do you have Spanish editions?
20. Do you have a “healthy marriage” YOUTH program?
21. Does your youth program have any information on MONEY?
22. Does your youth program have any information on ABUSE?
23. How does your youth program work with the abstinence program we already use?
24. What are the names of all the Active Relationships programs from which to choose?

Questions and Answers:

1. Are your programs researched?

Yes, by both Baylor University (adult program) and Fuller Theological Seminary (youth program). Click here for more information.

2.  Are your programs researched for MILITARY populations?

Yes, pre, post and follow up data was gathered by the U.S. Air Force Europe, and analyzed by Baylor University’s research team. The results show extremely positive results. Click here for more information.

3. Are your programs researched for TANF populations?

Yes, recent research (across seven communities) by Baylor University School of Social Work included primarily low-income couples. The population studied in the largely “Hispanic family” research also includes Caucasians, African Americans and other ethnicities. The population studied in the research closely mirrors Head Start parent-couples and other TANF populations. Click here to read research information.

4. How can we become trained to lead classes? (for specifics see FAQ’s 5 and 6)

There are three different TRAINING options.

(1) Attend the training institute at the national conference for SMART MARRIAGES –the AR 2-day #102 institute will be on July 6-12, 2009 in Orlando FL.

This training i) equips & immediately certifies you to teach five programs (all materials provided);ii) also provides the opportunity to certify in three additional DVD-based programs at no additional charge; ) plus provides the opportunity to become a trainer of trainers – a Master Active Relationships Trainer, training other professionals in your region.

See www.Smartmarriages.com/institutes.html In the institute, you will receive materials for several other Active Relationships programs valued at over $1000–all for the fee listed in the conference brochure!

(2) A second choice is to bring a trainer in from ARC to your site to train your personnel. Click here to learn more about this and ideas about bringing an AR training to your site (Please note that there is a cost for participant books for couples or singles–one book per couple is required) Click here for up-to-date product prices.

(3) The other way is to train on your own by purchasing and utilizing the “Certification out of the Box” kit. Click here for more information.

The preferred system is for you to a) attend the SMART Marriages conference AR certification training institute or b) bring a training to your site (host a “live” training for your personnel to practice skills and tools during the training sessions). But for those who may not be able to bring in a “live” training event, the “Out of the Box” certification is the next best option!

5. How much does it cost to bring a trainer in to our agency/installation to train our staff to lead classes?

$2500 per day for the trainer’s fee (Most trainings are 2 days. The Active Marriage and Best Practices for healthy relationships is a one-day training) + lodging, airfare and meals. Other costs include one participant book PER attendee –  i.e. The 8-12 hour curriculum: Active Marriage and Best Practicesfor healthy relationships = $21/book for orders of 10 or more at a time. For other curriculums (16 hour-curriculums) $32/book or $28 for orders of 50 or more at a time. (Leaders’ materials- Leader’s Guides, DVD’s, Power Points… are optional purchases). See our Products Page for up-to-date information. Click here for more information on trainings.

6.  Does Active Relationships have a Teach-Out-of-the–Box training option for those of us who do not have the funding to bring in a trainer to our site?

Yes. There are training kits containing all that you need to train on your own (DVD trainings -videos of live seminars-, a leader’s guide, Power Point CD, Marketing CD, Transparencies of key topics and ONE sample participant text).   Click here for info on what is in each kit.

7. Is there a “Train the Trainer” track so eventually our own leaders can become trainers and train other leaders?

Yes, if you were first trained by a “LIVE professional training with an ARC master trainer.”  The “Train the Trainer” track is relatively easy. You must teach four classes for couples and then send a video (approximately 20 minutes) of yourself teaching. Once the tape is viewed and you are approved, you may begin training others within your organization.  Click here for “Train the Trainer” track info.

*You are NOT eligible to become a “trainer of trainers” unless you train via a “live” training with a master trainer. (Learning from our Certification-out-of-the-Box kits will not qualify you for this track.)

8. How many programs does Active Relationships have and what are they?

There are nine individual 8-16 hour PROGRAMS (the eight programs you can choose from are (1) Active Marriage and Best Practices for healthy Relationships, (2) Active Military Life & Resiliency Skills, (3) Active Choices, (4) Active Communication, (5) Active Money Personalities, (6) Active Living, (7) Active Romance, (8) Active Adults, (9) Active Relationships for Young Adults (Youth).

 Click here for program descriptions.

9. How many hours is each AR program when I teach it to clients?

Active Marriage and Best Practices is from 8-12 hours in length, dependent on the format you choose. Other  programs of Active Relationships range from 12-16 hours in length. You can determine how to structure your classes. First determine how long you would like each segment of the class to be. You can determine how many sessions by dividing up the 16 hours in any way you wish. Some people prefer two full days. Others prefer weekly sessions. Others prefer 4-hour blocks on Saturday evenings for working folks until the 16 hours are completed! Make it a party with a potluck each time and provide childcare!

10. Can I shorten the program if I don’t have a full 12-16 hours available?

Yes, but you will still need to purchase the full text for clients. As a leader, present what is best for your audience/clients. The more you can include of the program, the better for their learning. All elements of each program are important. But, if you do not have 16 hours available to you (for example: military leadership will not permit 16 hours away from duty), you are permitted to shorten the seminar to fit your schedule.  For suggestions on what to omit and what to include in a shortened program, feel free to contact ARC via email or phone. We are glad to help you choose the most important activities and lectures to meet your needs.

11. Once I am trained, can I make my own copies of the copies of participant materials, since I may not use the entire book?

NO. That is against copyright law. To teach the program, it is a requirement to provide participant books and those must be purchased through ARC. They may not be copied.

12. Can I teach the material and just not use participant books?

NO. These materials are subject to copyright and trademarks. Please honor the requirement to purchase participant materials before you teach.

13. How much are participant books?

Click here to get up-to-date product prices.

14. Can couples share books?

Yes. The Active Marriage and Best Practices for healthy relationships has duplicate pages for exercises. Other Active Relationships programs can be shared between two partners, but it is harder for them to copy some of the exercises onto a notepad since those programs do not have duplicate exercise pages. “In a pinch” that is okay, but it is easier for them to each have a book. That is your decision or theirs, either way is fine with ARC.

15. Are leaders materials a “required” purchase?

No. Leaders’ manuals are great to have but are entirely optional. Leaders’ materials that you could purchase are: Leaders Guides, Power Points, DVD training videos and Audio lecture CD’s. Each is an optional purchase. Just purchase what you think you will need given your learning or teaching style. Click here to learn about available leader materials.

16. How much are leaders’ materials, if we want to purchase them? (Please note that you can purchase the following materials for each or any of the these programs: *Active Military Life Skills, *Active Communication, *Active Money Personalities, *Active Romance, *Active Living)

Leaders Guides/program are $199 and have all kinds of great information on how to’s.  (Leader guide includes a Power Point for that program)

DVD Training videos/program are $199 and are of actual seminars so that you can study lectures and see how activities are run.

Audio CD’s of Lectures/program are $69/program and are presented by the author during live seminars. They are great for committing lectures to memory while running errands in your car!

Power Points for each program are $69 and include original graphics (designed by a professional artist specifically for each program) that can be used for AR teaching aids and marketing needs.
Remember these are included in the leader’s guide-therefore you do not need to purchase it if you are purchasing a leader’s guide.

FYI: You can create a library of these materials for your leaders that can be checked out when they need them, instead of purchasing a set for EACH leader. Click here to order.

17. Are there any yearly dues or license fees to remain active as an Active Relationships leader?

No. The only “required” costs are for your certification training and for books for each of your participants (or for each participant couple).

18. Do you have secular and Christian editions?

Yes, both.

19. Do you have Spanish editions?

Yes, at this time Active Choices for Happy, Healthy Relationships, Active Communication, Active Romance & Intimacy, Active Living, Active Marriages and Best Practices, Active Adults, and Active Money all have editions for the Hispanic community IN SPANISH with powerpoints, text and teaching cards in Spanish. Click here for more information on our Spanish Programs.

20. Do you have a “healthy marriage” YOUTH program?

Yes. It is EXCELLENT and includes 12 topics (including information on finances!). Click here for more information. There is a companion text for single adults (great for college students too!) or parents. This program is called Active Adults. (Active Adults is also in Spanish). You can even teach parents in one room and youth in another on the same topics, then send them home to discuss some part of it! Click here for more information on ARYA (for youth) or for Active Adults (for parents or singles).

21. Does your youth program have any information on MONEY?

Yes, it has a great section on money, budgeting and financial responsibility. Click here for more information. See session two.

22. Does your youth program have any information on ABUSE?

Yes, it has a section on anger management, tips regarding abusive relationships (where to go for help), information on getting help for anger issues, and who NOT to choose for partners (a list of behaviors considered abusive).

23. How does your youth program work with the abstinence program we already use?

Because there are great programs already written for abstinence, Active Relationships for Young Adults (ARYA), the youth program, does not seek to reinvent the wheel. Instead we discuss abstinence and the practical reasons not to ruin a relationship by having intimate relations too early, but we leave the door wide open for this text to dovetail with your favorite abstinence program. Just add in your favorite abstinence program during sessions 9 and 10 of ARYA (or any time you think it fits!)

24. What are the names of all the Active Relationships programs from which to choose?

There are eight adult programs and one youth program. The adult programs can be mixed and matched. You can teach one of them only, all of them or just some of them. They can be taught in any order! YOU DO NOT NEED TO TRAIN IN THEM ALL. Just pick the ones you want to use! Become certified in that specific program.

They are:

Active Marriage and Best Practices (8-12 hours)
Active Military Life & Resiliency Skills (including stress & anger management tools, reintegration tools)

Active Communication 

Active Choices for Happy, Healthy Relationships (8-12 hours for single, dating, premarital or newly married couples)
Active Money Personalities 
Active Romance (great for retreats!) 

Active Living (traditions for each day to keep love strong)

Active Adults (for parents, for singles or marrieds)

Click here for more information on program and descriptions

There is also a YOUTH program:

Active Relationships for Young Adults (ARYA) for 9th-12th graders (though it has been used with younger youth). Click here for more information.

See above, the last on the list is a program for single adults or parents. (It can also be used for married adults) It is the companion book to ARYA—same topics but in language for adults. A great way to get parents and teens talking to each other! It is called: Active Adults.

We hope we have answered some of your questions!
If you have more, please call our toll free number: 877.724.7789