NORTH DAKOTA FAMILY ALLIANCE GAINS ASSOCIATION WITH FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

Partnership Gives State Group National Strength

(FARGO, ND) -- The North Dakota Family Alliance (NDFA) will be stronger and better equipped than ever to advocate for family values thanks to a new association with Focus on the Family (FOTF), the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families thrive.  North Dakota becomes the 36^th state in the FOTF national network of family policy councils (FPC).

NDFA has earned many victories for North Dakota families during the past two decades, such as leading the constitutional measure to define marriage between one man and one woman, which passed with a 73 percent margin. Group leaders expect the new relationship with Focus to boost other similar efforts to enact family-friendly public policy by allowing NDFA to tap into Focus' nationally recognized experts and resources.

"We are extremely excited about this association, and the opportunities it holds for us to be even more successful in working to strengthen families," Tom Freier, executive director of NDFA, said. "Working separately, much was accomplished, but working together - I see even greater things happening."

NDFA, which currently has 2200 members, is actively involved in legislation that directly impacts marriage, parenting, families, and the sanctity of life. Its association with Focus places NDFA alongside other states' conservative family policy efforts that have been responsible for passing hundreds of pro-family laws across the nation, mainly by empowering everyday citizens through grassroots efforts.

"The goal here is to equip people of faith with relevant and trustworthy information on the issues that impact them so their voice can be heard at the state capitol," said Brad Miller, Focus on the Family's FPC director. "We know the North Dakota Family Alliance will provide the leadership pro-family voters need to instill time-tested values and principles into the laws that govern the great state of North Dakota."

Steve Cates, president of the NDFA board of directors, adds, "I am so pleased we have achieved association with Focus on the Family, while retaining autonomy of our budget and governance.  This association will aid the NDFA as we continue to realize our vision for impacting our North Dakota cultural legacy."

NDFA most recently educated voters by developing and circulating their 2008 general election Voter's Guide. Coinciding with the governor's proclamation, the group is also planning a Family Week this November 16-22 to celebrate and help maintain the importance of family values in North Dakota.  NDFA encourages groups to hold events among communities, schools, businesses and churches that focus on families spending time together. 

The North Dakota Family Alliance is online at www.ndfa.org.

----------------------------------------------------------- 

Interview Talking Points

Focus on the Family's (Dr. James Dobson) Public Policy Division seeks to have a presence in all 50 states; is the NDFA its only North Dakota representing organization?

What other "successes" has NDFA experienced besides helping to uphold marriage in North Dakota as being between one man and one woman (as stated in the press release)?

Some say ND could be the first state to ban abortions. How possible is this? And, what would it take?

For this next 2009 ND legislative session, what issues is NDFA involved in? What was the track record of NDFA's involvement in the last 2007 session?

What is your (Tom Freier's) ND legislative experience? How did this position lead to your (Tom's) role now as executive director of the North Dakota Family Alliance?

The North Dakota Family Alliance is a Christian-based statewide non-partisan organization that exists to strengthen families, protect family values and defend religious freedoms by educating and empowering citizens. NDFA is online at www.ndfa.org, and is located in Fargo, ND at 3220 18^th Street South, Suite 8.                                                                                                                                                      

Copyright © 2008 North Dakota Family Alliance