Diocesan NFP Program--National Profile

In the Fall of 1990, the Diocesan Development Program (DDP) initiated an annual national survey. Diocesan NFP coordinators or contact persons were asked to complete a Profile questionnaire that would:

1. Give the DDP a clearer understanding of diocesan NFP efforts, by focusing on the unique needs of individual dioceses.
   
   
2. Enable the DDP to provide the bishops and NFP coordinators with a national picture of diocesan NFP program activity.

In early January of 1997, 187 Profile questionnaires were mailed to the dioceses. Ninety-one or 49% had completed and returned their questionnaires to meet the deadline for data analysis. Some trends are very evident concerning NFP programs in dioceses around the nation:

1. Where the diocesan bishop and clergy publicly encourage and support NFP efforts, NFP programs are strong and effective, even with limited funding. Some NFP coordinators feel their programs are treated as peripheral and given limited recognition.
   
   
2. Most NFP programs receive some financial support from their dioceses. A common financial arrangement is for an NFP program to share the funding, material, and staff support of an umbrella department, e.g., Family Life Office, Catholic Charities, or the facilities of a Catholic hospital. Still, half of all diocesan programs have less than $5,000 per year for their NFP program efforts. There are a few dioceses which fully fund their NFP programs.
   
   
3. Almost every diocese has a person designated as the Diocesan NFP Coordinator. Often, the responsibility for NFP activities is one hat of many for this person. For example, the Family Life Director might also be tasked with the responsibility for NFP development as well as Pro-Life Activities in addition to his/her general responsibilities of Family Life Ministry.
   
   
4. Most diocesan marriage preparation programs include some overview of NFP methods. The time allotted for NFP in marriage preparation programs is often less than forty-five minutes. Sometimes it is barely mentioned. A greater inclusion of NFP in the teaching efforts about human sexuality and conjugal relations remain a goal.
   
   
5. The Ovulation Method and the Sympto-thermal Method are the most preferred methods of NFP. Various NFP national provider groups are used by dioceses.
   
   
6. Most of the diocesan NFP teachers are volunteers. A few dioceses give teachers stipends to cover personal costs, e.g., gas, a baby sitter, materials, etc.
   
   
7. There are at a minimum more than 1,000+ NFP teachers scattered in dioceses across the nation. They contribute well over $1,000,000 in donated time and energy toward NFP efforts. NFP teachers represent a great resource for the teaching of human sexuality within a faith context, a resource not fully utilized.

1. Program Management
   
   
   1. Does your diocese have a person(s) who serves as the NFP Coordinator(s), either in an official or unofficial capacity?
      
      88 [97%] YES
      2 [2%] NO
      1 [1%] (No Response)

   2. If the answer to question (1) was "Yes" who is responsible for coordinating NFP programs and services in your diocese: e.g., Family Life Director, Director of Catholic Charities, Engaged Encounter Couple, Pre-Cana Couple, Diocesan NFP Coordinator, Respect Life Director, etc.?
      
      Frequency:
      45 [50%] Diocesan NFP Coordinator
      30 [32%] Family Life Director
      11 [12%] Other: Respect Life Director, Director of Catholic Charities
      5 [ 6%] (No Response)
      
      
   3. If the answer to question (1) was "Yes" this position is: (Check only one.)
      
      10 [11%] Full-time, paid
      1 [ 1%] Full-time, volunteer
      55 [60%] Part-time, paid/part of other responsibilities
      19 [21%] Part time, volunteer
      6 [ 7%] (No response)
      
      
   4. Please check the statement which best describes your program's staff:
      
      10 [11%] We have our own support staff.
      46 [51%] We share support staff.
      34 [37%] We do not have a support staff.
      1 [ 1%] (No response)
      
      
   5. How many NFP teachers work for your diocesan program?
      
      Total NFP work force as reported by 84 dioceses consists of 916 teachers.
      
      Comment: Based on other sources, there are over 1,000+ NFP teachers nationally.
      
      *Totals, percentages, and comments were compiled (4/4/97) from 91 dioceses.
      
      
   6. Please check the statement which best describes the program management of your teachers:
      
      18 [20%] Most of our NFP instructors are volunteers.
      
      We give them a stipend.
      55 [60%] Most of our NFP instructors are volunteers.
      
      We do not give them a stipend.
      12 [13%] We pay our NFP instructors a salary (part and/or full time).
      6 [ 7%] (No response)
      
      

      The diocesan NFP program is: (Check one)
      
      9 [10%] Its own department
      56 [61%] Part of the Marriage and Family Life office
      6 [ 7%] Part of Catholic Charities
      4 [ 4%] Part of Pro-Life Activities
      3 [ 3%] A service of our Catholic hospital(s)
      11 [12%] Other: various diocesan institutions, departments,
      

      or approved agencies.
      3 [ 3%] (No response)
      
      

      Other than the diocesan NFP program, NFP services are also provided by: (Check all that apply.)
      
      Frequency
      35 Independent NFP teacher(s).
      16 Independent NFP organization(s).
      8 Other
      31 Does not apply
      8 (No response)
      
      

      Does your diocese have an NFP Advisory Committee?
      
      33 [36%] YES
      56 [62%] NO
      2 [ 2%] (No response)
      
      

      Does your diocese have its own NFP teacher training program?
      
      30 [33%] YES
      58 [64%] NO
      3 [ 3%] (No response)
      
      

      If the answer to question (11) was "No", who trains your teachers? (Check all that apply.)
      
      Frequency:
      21 Billings Ovulation Method Association of the United States (BOMA)
      40 Couple to Couple League (CCL)
      5 Family of the Americas
      8 Northwest Family Services
      25 Pope Paul VI Institute (Creighton Model, OM)
      22 Other:
      17 (No response)
      
      Comment: The results represent the frequency each provider was mentioned. Dioceses use a variety of national providers. NFP teacher training is diverse and is reflected in the provider(s) chosen.
      
      

      Why was your NFP provider(s) chosen for training your teachers; e.g., methodology, affordable fees, convenient, locale, etc.?
      
      Frequency:
      33 Methodology
      21 Cost
      10 Convenient locale
      18 Other
      35 (No response)
      
      Comment: Dioceses select provider(s) for various of reasons; e.g., long standing association with provider; proximity; cost; quality of program; materials; sustained support; incorporation of Church teaching; and good working relationship with the provider.
   
   
2. Program Budget
   
   
   13. How much money was spent last year on NFP programming?
       
       5 [ 5%] 0
       38 [42%] 1-4,999
       8 [ 9%] 5-9,999
       19 [21%] 10-29,999
       7 [ 8%] 30-49,999
       5 [ 5%] 50-69,000
       2 [ 2%] >70,000
       7 [ 8%] (No response)
       
       Comment: Only a handful of dioceses allocate specific funding for NFP programs. Most of the dioceses spend only a few hundred dollars directly on NFP materials and programs. Most NFP program money comes from the general budget of a diocesan department; e.g., family life, pastoral ministries, or respect life office. A couple of dioceses with large NFP programs are subsidized partially by Catholic hospitals, various Catholic organizations, and some public funding.
       
       
   14. What amount of the total in question (13) comes from diocesan funds? (Please estimate the percentage and check only one.)
       
       29 [32%] 100%
       28 [31%] More than 50%
       18 [20%] Less than 50%
       10 [11%] 0
       6 [ 6%] (No response)
       
       
   15. Other than diocesan funding, what additional sources of income are used to support NFP programs in your diocese? (Check all that apply.)
       
       

       Frequency: 3 10 68 10 8 22 24

       Sources of Funding Grants Individual parishes Client fees Catholic organizations NFP program fund raising activities Other: Catholic hospitals, K of C's, etc. (No response)

       Comment: These numbers represent the frequency a specific source of funding was mentioned. Many programs rely on a variety of funding sources.

   
   
3. Program Service
   
   
   16. Please estimate the total monetary value of the contributions made by your volunteers to your NFP program. (Please give your best estimate.)
       
       Total from 56 dioceses: $526,300.00
       
       Comment: The exact dollar amount of donated time, materials, and energy is much higher than reported. For all dioceses the total would be over $1,000,000. Many NFP coordinators found it difficult to put a dollar value on volunteer efforts. As with other Church ministries, NFP programs exist because of the dedication of committed people. It is their ministry.
       
       
   17. Which NFP method(s) is currently taught in your diocesan program? (Check all that apply.)
       
       

       Frequency: 62 49 4 9 7

       Methods: STM OM BBT Other (No response)

       Comment: Because most dioceses use a variety of providers or teachers having been taught in different NFP methods, various NFP methods are offered. The STM and OM methods of NFP are the most popular. The frequency of each method reflected in dioceses throughout the country.
       
       

   18. Does the diocese have a policy which strongly encourages engaged couples to participate in an NFP course of instruction?
       
       45 [50%] YES
       41 [45%] NO
       5 [05%] (No response)
       
       
   19. Is NFP included in your various diocesan marriage preparation programs?
       
       82 [90%] YES
       4 [04%] NO
       5 [06%] (No response)
       
       
   20. If the answer to question (19) was "Yes", on the average, how much time is allotted to NFP education? (Give your best estimate.)
       
       Time Allotted for NFP Education:
       
       16 [19%] 5 min. - 15 min.
       26 [29%] 20 min. - 30 min.
       22 [23%] 35 min. - 45 min.
       16 [17%] 1 hr. - 2 hrs. +
       11 [12%] (No response)
       
       Comment: The time allotted to NFP varies considerably, not only from diocese to diocese, but within each diocese; e.g., emphasis of instructor, type and length of a marriage prep program, etc. Often, NFP is barely discussed.
       
       
   21. Continuing education in NFP was provided in the diocese, during the last 12 months, for: (Check all that apply.)
       
       Frequency:
       54 NFP Teachers
       37 NFP clients
       24 Clergy
       19 Health care professionals
       11 Other: engaged couples, seminarians, parish and student groups, etc.
       18 (No response)
       
       
   22. How was continuing education provided? (Check all that apply).
       
       Frequency:
       24 Seminars
       26 Workshops
       14 Special lectures
       32 Articles for the diocesan newspaper
       29 Informational mailings
       33 Periodic informational meetings
       15 Diocesan NFP newsletter
       12 Other: diocesan conferences, deanery meetings, individual
       
       sessions, etc.
       18 (No response)
       
       

       Does your diocese have guidelines on human sexuality?
       
       52 [57%] YES
       32 [35%] NO
       7 [08%] (No response)
       
       Comment: Every diocese needs guidelines for the teaching of human sexuality in schools, CCD and youth programs, and adult education of which NFP should be a component.
       
       

       the answer to question (23) was "Yes", is NFP incorporated in your Diocesan Human Sexuality guidelines?
       
       33 [36%] YES
       16 [18%] NO
       42 [46%] (No response)

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