Relationship Education through the Marriage Initiative in West Virginia Cheryl Kaczor, MS - Families & Health Agent Terrill Peck, MA - Families & Health Agent Becky Mowbray, MBA - Families and Health Agent Andi Bennett, MA - Families and Health Agent Jane Riffe, EDD, LICSW - Family Specialist

Relationship Education Relationship Education Parenting Skills Parenting Skills Financial Education Financial Education

Presentation Goals Share our experience in providing relationship education programs in WV Share our experience in providing relationship education programs in WV Show evidence of positive impact Show evidence of positive impact Share WV military family outreach strategies Share WV military family outreach strategies Share varied curricula and examples Share varied curricula and examples

Why Marriage & Relationship Education?

Increase in divorce rate Increase in divorce rate Declining marriage rate Declining marriage rate US 52% men, 48% women married US 52% men, 48% women married Increased # of cohabiting couples Increased # of cohabiting couples Biggest single indicator of a child living Biggest single indicator of a child living in poverty = Single parent home in poverty = Single parent home WV 33% of children live in single parent homes (US 32%) WV 33% of children live in single parent homes (US 32%) WV 23% of children live below poverty level WV 23% of children live below poverty level Sources: KidsCount National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, cited on National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, cited on

Healthy Marriages, Healthy Children Quality of couple relationship > healthy child outcomes Quality of couple relationship > healthy child outcomes Children likely to perform better in school, fewer emotional problems and stay in school Children likely to perform better in school, fewer emotional problems and stay in school Better parenting practices Better parenting practices

Healthy Marriages, Healthy Adults Married people live longer and… Report lower stress levels. Report lower stress levels. Have better health practices. Have better health practices. Show a lower incidence of mental health issues. Show a lower incidence of mental health issues. Are financially, economically and socially more stable. Are financially, economically and socially more stable. California Marriage Initiative booklets

Healthy Marriages, Healthy Communities More likely to be homeowners More likely to be homeowners More likely to be involved in school/community/church volunteering More likely to be involved in school/community/church volunteering Are better employees: greater work commitment, lower rates of absenteeism, higher productivity, lower job turnover Are better employees: greater work commitment, lower rates of absenteeism, higher productivity, lower job turnover

Goals of Healthy Families/ Healthy Children Initiative Goals of Healthy Families/ Healthy Children Initiative Increase access to quality research-based programs to support the development and maintenance of healthy couple and marital relationships. Increase access to quality research-based programs to support the development and maintenance of healthy couple and marital relationships. Equip and support Extension educators and partnering professionals with skills and knowledge to deliver programs. Equip and support Extension educators and partnering professionals with skills and knowledge to deliver programs.

FundingFunding Grant WV Bureau for Children & Families (TANF), formerly Marriage Initiative funds Mini-Grant West Virginia University Extension Families & Health Programs Local Educational Events Lead fiscal agencies in 19 county coalitions Social and faith-based non-profit agencies.

Community Partners Faith Based Groups Daycare Centers Schools Community Groups

Program Implementation Provides technical assistance to counties to assess local needs and identify key partners. Provides technical assistance to counties to assess local needs and identify key partners. Awards mini-grants to develop and sustain county and dual-county coalitions. Awards mini-grants to develop and sustain county and dual-county coalitions. Provides a clearing house for tested educational materials for use by coalitions. Provides a clearing house for tested educational materials for use by coalitions.

Qualitative Research Focus Groups - Coalition Experiences Assessing Effectiveness of Community Collaborations for Relationship and Parent Education in WV Assessing Effectiveness of Community Collaborations for Relationship and Parent Education in WV

Research Questions What are the elements of a successful effective community collaborative? What are the elements of a successful effective community collaborative? Are there differences between established and newly formed coalitions? What are this differences? Are there differences between established and newly formed coalitions? What are this differences? Qualitative Study Focus Groups - Coalition Experiences Qualitative Study Focus Groups - Coalition Experiences

Methodology Coalitions were divided into two groups: Coalitions were divided into two groups: –Newly Formed (<3 years) –Established (3-7 years) Focus groups were conducted with trained moderators for consistency. Focus groups were conducted with trained moderators for consistency. Participants were individuals with key positions in the coalitions. Participants were individuals with key positions in the coalitions.

Research Methodology Verbatim transcripts of focus groups were transcribed and analyzed for content themes. Verbatim transcripts of focus groups were transcribed and analyzed for content themes. Internal and external themes were identified with both groups. Internal and external themes were identified with both groups. Data analysis showed some differences Data analysis showed some differences Article in progress Article in progress

Emerging Themes External - relationship of the coalition to the community External - relationship of the coalition to the community Internal - process within the coalition; relationships among coalition members representing different organizations & interests Internal - process within the coalition; relationships among coalition members representing different organizations & interests

Themes of Newly Formed Groups External (Relationship of coalition to the community) Building Community Capacity Building Community Capacity Promotion & community awareness Promotion & community awareness Locating participants for the programs Locating participants for the programs Public Image and relationship to the mission Public Image and relationship to the mission Sustainability in the community is uncertain Sustainability in the community is uncertain Internal (Relationships among coalition members) Working together as a coalition Working together as a coalition Building group capacity Building group capacity Resource allocation/using resources wisely/money disbursement Resource allocation/using resources wisely/money disbursement Communication with state team Communication with state team

Themes of Established Groups External (Relationship of coalition to the community) Building community capacity Building community capacity Letting others know about the work of the coalition- Public relations Letting others know about the work of the coalition- Public relations Locating participants for the programs Locating participants for the programs Internal (Relationships among coalition members) Working together as a coalition Working together as a coalition Building group capacity Building group capacity Working with funding organizations Working with funding organizations

West Virginia Military Family Outreach Strategies Military Family Fun Days How Not to Marry a Jerk/Jerkette West Virginia Military Family Assessment

Military Family Fun Day Harrison County August 28, 2010

Healthy Relationships PICK PICK (How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk) –Love Thinks is dedicated to building and strengthening relationships before and after marriage. –The program teaches singles to build healthy relationships that keep the head and heart working together. –Teaches important skills for safe dating relationships.

Relationship Attachment Model

West Virginia Military Family Assessment Survey IRB approved Methods of delivery - Zoomerang, mail, on-site face to face West Virginia military family needs Avoiding duplication of services WVU Extension’s role in providing programs

Working with Faith Communities Highly interested audience Ten Great Dates > Couples Check-up Ten Great Dates > Couples Check-up Fireproof Fireproof PREP PREP Pre-Marriage Course Pre-Marriage Course Marriage Course Marriage Course

The 5 Love Languages Understanding how to communicate “Love” to others by understanding their “Love Language”. Understanding how to communicate “Love” to others by understanding their “Love Language”.

The 5 Love Languages Personal Assessment – –Take 10 minutes to complete survey

Positive Parenting Active Parenting/Active Parenting for Teens Active Parenting/Active Parenting for Teens Scream Free Parenting Scream Free Parenting Systematic Training in Parenting Systematic Training in Parentingwww.steppublishers.com/ Family Wellness Family Wellness Parenting Piece by Piece Parenting Piece by Piece iliess/parenting_piecebypiece.html

The 5 Love Languages –Words of Affirmation –Quality Time –Receiving Gifts –Acts of Service –Physical Touch

Guide: Free and Low-Cost Curricula Marriage and Relationship Marriage and Relationship Fatherhood Fatherhood Parenting Parenting Financial Education Financial Education _ pdf

St rong Families Eat Together Curriculum Developed by WVU - ES: St rong Families Eat Together Curriculum Developed by WVU - ES: Conversation Starters 3x5” booklet - 92 pages Family Meal Tracker 8x11” magnet board

Financial Education Programs Money Habitudes Money Habitudes Financial Fortre$$ Financial Fortre$$ Marriage Cents Marriage Cents Financial Peace Financial Peace

WV Healthy Families/Healthy Children Initiative –Please visit our site! Find us on ! WV Healthy Families Healthy Children WV Healthy Families Healthy Children Family Financial Management Office Family Financial Management Office

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