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 clear 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 broad national picture of diocesan NFP program activity.

In November of 1999, 187 Profile questionnaires were mailed to dioceses. Ninety-two or nearly half (49%) of the dioceses completed and returned questionnaires. The data indicates that certain concerns remain true about NFP programs around the nation with improvement in certain areas:

1. Where the diocesan bishop/clergy publicly support NFP, programs are strong and effective, even with limited funding. Repeatedly, NFP coordinators and teachers state that they themselves need to be inspired and visibly supported for their hard work (ministry) and dedication by the clergy. Every year this is the greatest need identified by respondents. Sufficient funding to support, train and expand NFP services is the second greatest need.
   
   
2. Thirty-six percent (36%) of dioceses specifically allocated less than a $1,000 for NFP efforts. Sixty-three percent (63%) of all NFP diocesan programs operate on less than $10,000 per year. A few dioceses (13%) allocate $30,000 to more than $70,000 for their NFP programs. A typical 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/staff of a Catholic hospital.
   
   
3. In practically every diocese throughout the country, there is now a person designated either officially or unofficially as the Diocesan NFP Coordinator. Often, the NFP "hat" is one of many worn by this person (55%). For example, the Office of Marriage and Family Life Director (44%) is most often tasked to coordinate diocesan NFP efforts.
   
   
4. Most diocesan marriage preparation programs make at least some effort to provide rudimentary NFP information to engaged couples; e.g., booklets and fact sheets. The time allotted for NFP in 81% of Pre-Cana programs is less than 45 minutes. A more thorough and substantive inclusion of NFP in educational programs about human sexuality and conjugal love remains a distant goal, not only for marriage preparation, but on every level of instruction. Sometimes, NFP is barely mentioned in Pre-Cana programs; e.g., literature is simply given to couples without discussion. To its credit, one diocese strongly encourages couples to complete a full course of instruction in NFP as part of its comprehensive marriage preparation program.
   
   
5. The Sympto-Thermal Method and Ovulation Method are the most preferred methods of NFP. Increasingly, NFP teachers are willing either to teach or suggest both OM and STM giving couples a methodological choice. A variety of NFP national, regional and local provider groups are used by dioceses.
   
   
6. The majority of diocesan NFP teachers (40%) are deeply committed volunteers. A few dioceses provide stipends to volunteer teachers (23%) to cover personal costs; e.g., transportation, baby sitter, materials, etc.
   
   
7. From the dioceses surveyed, there are over 1,000+ diocesan NFP advocate/witness speakers and over 1,022 diocesan NFP teachers across the nation. Training new teachers and keeping seasoned instructors is a constant challenge in practically every diocesan program. These NFP advocate/witness speakers and NFP teachers have contributed over 33,000 hours in donated time and energy this past year toward NFP efforts across the nation, often at great personal sacrifice. They are a great resource for the teaching of human sexuality within a faith context, a resource not fully utilized.

1. Program Management
   
   
   1. The (arch)diocesan NFP program is: (Check one.)?
      
      71% Part of the office of Marriage and Family Life
      12% A service of one of our Catholic hospital(s)
      03% Part of Respect-Life Activities
      04% Part of Catholic Charities
      09% Other
      01% No Response
      
      
   2. Does the (arch)diocese have an NFP Advisory Committee?
      
      37% Yes
      63% No
      
      
   3. Who is responsible for coordinating NFP ministry, (e.g. Family Life Director, NFP Coordinator, Respect Life Director, etc.)?
      
      35% Diocesan NFP Coordinator
      45% Family Life Director
      03% Director Catholic Charities
      02% Coordinator Marriage Prep
      15% Other
      0% No Response
      
      
   4. For this position, NFP work is: (Check only one.)
      
      55% One aspect of other responsibilities
      09% Full-time, paid
      01% Full-time, volunteer
      20% Part-time, paid
      10% Part-time, volunteer
      05% No Response
      
      
   5. Is the NFP coordinator trained in NFP methodology? (Check one.)
      
      77% Yes
      19% No
      04% No Response
      
      
   6. If the answer to question (5) is "Yes," for which of the following roles was the NFP coordinator trained? (Check all that apply.)
      
      (Frequency)
      46 Teacher
      52 User
      42 Promoter
      22 No Response
      
      
   7. If the answer to question (6) is "Yes," the NFP coordinator is trained in: (Check all that apply.)
      
      (Frequency)
      54 STM
      40 OM
      19 No Response
      
      
   8. If you answered question (5), please indicate which school(s) of NFP trained the coordinator: (Check all that apply.)
      
      (Frequency)
      21 Billings Ovulation Method Association (BOMA)
      24 Couple to Couple League (CCL)
      16 Creighton Model Ovulation Method Programs (now Fertility Care)
      14 Diocesan NFP Teacher Training Program
      08 Family of the Americas Foundation
      12 Northwest Family Services
      06 Other
      17 No Response
      
      
   9. How many trained NFP advocates/witness speakers are part of the (arch)diocesan program? (Couples count as two.)
      
      Total: 1002

   10. How many NFP teachers are part of the (arch)diocesan program? (Count teaching couples as two.)

       Total: 1,022

   11. Which statement best describes the NFP program policy regarding remuneration of its teachers? (Check one.)

       23% Most of our NFP instructors are volunteers. We give them a stipend
       

       to cover expenses.
       40% Most of our NFP instructors are volunteers. We do not give them
       
       a stipend.
       15% We pay our NFP instructors (part and/or full time).
       11% Salaries/stipends for instructors are provided by other sources
       
       (e.g., Catholic Hospital, Knights of Columbus, etc.).
       11% No Response

       Which organization trains the (arch)diocesan teachers? (Check all that apply.)

       (Frequency)
       10 Billings Ovulation Method Association (BOMA)
       39 Couple to Couple League (CCL)
       30 Creighton Model Ovulation Method Programs (now Fertility Care)
       17 Diocesan Teacher Training program
       03 Family of the Americas Foundation
       12 Northwest Family Services
       08 Other: Various local sponsored settings
       02 No Response

   
   
2. Program Budget
   
   
   13. How much money was spent on (arch)diocesan NFP programing last year? (Estimate should include salaries, stipends, postage, materials, etc.)
       
       06% $0
       21% $1-999
       24% $1,000 - 4,999
       13% $5 - 9,999
       11% $10 - 29,999
       04% $30 - 49,999
       05% $50 - 69,999
       11% $70,000+
       05% No Response
       
       
   14. How much (arch)diocesan money was allocated for NFP programing last year?
       
       14% $0
       22% $1-999
       24% $1,000 - 4,999
       10% $5 - 9,999
       12% $10 - 29,999
       04% $30 - 49,999
       05% $50 - 69,999
       04% $70,000+
       05% No Response
       
       
   15. Is there a fee for an introductory session? (Check one.)
       
       Prices range from a low of $5.00 to a high of $55.00 depending on materials and length of introductory session(s).

   16. How much is charged to clients/couples for a course in NFP? (If amounts vary, give average.)
       
       The average cost for a course in NFP is $70.00. Costs vary from a low of $12.00 to a high of $235.00. Cost determinants are materials, length of course and the number of follow-up services required by clients.
       
       
   17. Please estimate the total number of hours donated by volunteers to the NFP program (Please give your best estimate.)
       
       Total:32,607*
       
       *This number is a broad estimate since most NFP coordinators do not intentionally track volunteer hours given in support of NFP.
   
   
3. Program Service
   
   
   18. Which NFP method(s) is currently taught in the (arch)diocesan program? (Check all that apply.)
       
       (Frequency)
       56 OM
       67 STM
       07 No Response
       
       
   19. Does the (arch)diocese have guidelines for marriage preparation?
       
       91% Yes
       5% No
       4% No Response
       
       
   20. If the answer to question (19) was "yes," is NFP included in the guidelines for marriage preparation?
       
       77% Yes
       15% No
       8% No Response
       
       
   21. Does the (arch)diocese require an introduction (overview) to NFP for the engaged? (Check one.)
       
       55% Yes
       41% No
       4% No Response
       
       
   22. Does the (arch)diocese require a NFP a course for engaged couples? (Check one.)
       
       1% Yes
       96% No
       3% No Response
       
       
   23. On average how much time is allowed for NFP education in marriage preparation programs? (Give your best estimate.)
       
       33% 5 minutes - 15 minutes
       33% 20 minutes - 30 minutes
       15% 35 minutes - 45 minutes
       16% 1 hour - 2 hours+
       3% No Response
       
       
   24. Does the (arch)diocese have guidelines on human sexuality? (Check one.)
       60% Yes
       27% No
       13% No Response
       
       
   25. Continuing and out-reach education in NFP was provided in the (arch)diocese, during the last 12 months, for: (Check all that apply.)
       
       (Frequency)
       58 NFP teachers
       49 NFP clients
       30 Deacons
       33 Priests
       13 (Arch)diocesan directors of religious education
       25 Health care professionals
       20 Other
       
       
   26. Please describe the greatest obstacles that hinder the growth/establishment of NFP services in the (arch)diocese.
       
       (Top five contributing factors in order of greatest frequency.)
       
       1 Support of bishop for NFP efforts in the diocese
       2 Solid relationship with Catholic hospital
       3 Integration into marriage preparation programs
       4 Dedication of teaching couples
       5 Continuous educational efforts throughout the diocese
       
       
   27. Please describe the greatest obstacles that hinder the growth/establishment of NFP services in the (arch)diocese.

       (Top five obstacles in order of greatest frequency)
       
       1 Lack of public support by bishop and priests
       2 Insufficient funds
       3 Lack of teachers
       4 An uninformed medical community
       5 An uninformed laity (i.e., confusion with rhythm method)

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