"Strong marriages, strong families, strong communities -- good for all of us!"

Welcome to the Creating Healthy African American Relationships, Marriages and

Families - CHAARM Families - where we believe that "Black Marriage Works!"  Like all

healthy marriages, those among African Americans have numerous benefits for

individuals, familes, and communities.

CHAARM Families exists to help encourage,celebrate, maintain, strengthen and 

restore families by promoting healthy, safe, meaningful relationships  

and marriages among African Americans. We believe in FAMILIES and know that

healthy relationships are the foundation for healthy families. Healthy families provide

the best environment in which to promote child well being.

We also believe in HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS for EVERYONE and know that they help

individuals and families achieve their best! We know that FAMILIES  come in many

forms, and while the ideal environment for children is a home with two loving parents,

the most important factor in child well being is a healthy environment with CARING

ADULTS.

Healthy relationships and healthy marriages are the

foundation of strong families and strong communities.  

Strong marriages, strong families, and strong communities are good for all of us!

Explore our site and FEEL FREE to contact us regarding

our services or with your ideas!

Whether you are married or not, healthy relationships are

important.  Each one of us can contribute to creating a

stronger community by developing and supporting healthy relationships.

We provide education, information, advocacy, events and activities to promote healthy relationships at home, work, school and community. 

                                         We're All About     Creating Healthy Relationships, Marriages and Families!
                             

                                       
 "Strong Marriages, Strong Families, Strong Communities ---good for all of us!"

What We Do

CHAARM St. Louis is "All About the Family!" We promote healthy relationships, marriages, families and communities among African Americans.  We accomplish this by offering specially designed programs, workshops, seminars, outreach campaigns, activities and events targeted to African American teens; married, dating and committed couples; singles, and other audiences in schools, churches small businesses and corporations.

While our services are open to and are applicable to all, we target many of our programs to the needs of African Americans.  Why? Because statistically, African Americans fare worse than Whites, Latinos, and Asians in every measurable category in our country: marriage rates, divorce rates, out of wedlock births, single parent headed households, and related issues: income, educational attainment, physical and mental health and overall quality of life.  When we contribute to strengthening the lives of one group of Americans, all Americans benefit.

We recognize the distinct,yet multiple factors that contribute to the demise of the family among many African Americans.  Yet, we also realize the strengths that have nurtured and sustained success for so many other African American families.  For all people, drawing on the historical experiences and inherent cultural strengths can help build stronger family units. For many African Americans, especially in the past three decades, this has become more difficult.

Our programs are culturally sensitive, and reflect the experiences, input and ideas and strategies that have sustained strong African American families. 

We also partner with a number of organizations to present our programs or to help strengthen and support theirs.  These partnerships bring valuable resources to the communities we serve. 

We offer program development and support, training, and referrals in the areas of: 

• Strengthening Families
• Family Wellness
• Family Reunification
• Conflict Resolution
• Divorce Education
• Post-Marriage Relationships
• Family Mediation
• Marriage Preparation
• Marriage Education
• Strengthening Marriages
• Developing Healthy Children
• Domestic and Family Violence Prevention
• Healthy Family Lifestyles
• Pre-Marital Education
• Family Financial Literacy
• Responsible Fatherhood
• Positive and Effective Parenting
• Healthy Co-Parenting
• Teen Healthy Relationship Education

We work with faith based organizations, community organizations, agencies serving women,children and/orfamilies, social organizations, schools and businesses to provide information, education and programming that strengthens our families and our entire community, one relationship at a time.  Because it's all about the family, we are committed to:

"Strengthening Families, Developing Individuals and Improving the Lives of Children through Education, Collaboration and Information"

CHAARM FAMILIES provides conflict resolution and mediation services to families and couples, as well as healthy relationships, conflict resolution classes and workshops for teens.  For more information, contact our office at 314-769-1103.

 CHAARM Families  is a member of the African American Response Team (AART) for domestic violence in St. Louis, and works with several domestic violence organizations to provide culturally sensitive support and services to empower women and children affected by domestic violence.

Creating Healthy African American Relationships, Marriages and Families (CHAARM Families) is a member of the St. Louis Healthy Families Coalition (SLHF). The SLHF is "dedicated to the support and encouragement of healthy marriages and families through education and community awareness."   

Join Us in promoting strong families!  We look forward to hearing from you.

If you would like a referral, to set up a class, workshop or training, or just want more information, contact us at info@blackmarriageworks.com   We can tailor a program for your church, youth program, social club, class, agency, or staff.  We can also provide referrals for individuals, couples and families to area resources that help build strong families.  We'll let you know when we are presenting a class or workshop.              

    A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
-- Mignon McLaughlin