NFP Basics started as a program of the Diocese in Oakland, California. We realized that the introduction to Natural Family Planning needed a refresh. The "NFP, Sex, and Intimacy" talk at Marriage Preparation weekends wasn't working. There was a huge gap between couples learning about NFP (sometimes for the first time) to actually learning a method of NFP and using it in their marriage. It didn't matter how good the talk was, there was too much information and confusion around what the next steps would be for a couple who is preparing for marriage.

We realized that each an every couple had a unique and individual situation and there wasn't a one-sized-all fit for introducing Natural Family Planning. We decided to try out meeting briefly with each couple who came through marriage preparation for a month to see what couples really needed when it came to NFP. It turned out that meeting one-on-one was exactly what those couples needed.

There is too much information to sort through when it comes to NFP, especially if this is a brand new concept. Things like efficacy, church teaching, method selection, instructor selection, and where to find support are among the most common questions that couples have. When we met one on one, we were able to answer the specific questions that each couple had, help them select a method that would be a good fit, and ultimately help them take their next step, whatever that step might be.

After running the test one time, we immediately realized we had stumbled upon a process that would impact couples in major ways. It was after that first set of couples that Ellen Holloway began to take this idea and organize it into a scalable program. With support from The GIVEN Institute, the NFP Basics Program was created, tested, and grew to where we are today.