CHS was one of eight sites invited to participate
in a national study designed to strengthen families through
innovative and supportive resources. Through exceptional
curriculum, partnerships and creative ways of engaging
participants, CHS successfully enrolled 876 parents over their
three year study, which will wind to a close in December 2010.
Using John Gottman's
Loving Couples Loving Children
curriculum, CHS concluded the enrollment process for the Loving
Families Program in 2009.
The program has become a safe harbor preventing hardship
for families. The Loving Families' mission,
"to strengthen relationships of
economically disadvantaged married couples through support and
education",
has done just that and more.
Loving Families' efforts focused on randomly enrolling 876
participants into the study (787 evaluated and 89 in the pilot phase),
engaging and retaining families over a 12 month period of time,
and helping couples to overcome barriers to participation.
Utilizing collaboration, incentives, frequent field
outreach, home visits, advocacy and community resources, and
transportation assistance, CHS improved the lives of many
families. Through a rippling effect, couples continue to improve
their ability to communicate with each other and as parents,
which decreases conflict and makes positive changes that impact
their families through successful interaction at home, work and
throughout the community.
Many participating couples have realized they are not
alone in their struggles and that the program can greatly impact
their relationships through learning better communication skills
and patience.
Phase one of the study ended in early 2010. Loving Families will
complete our final work by December 2010.
What couples have learned from Loving
Families:
- Talk to each other
- Listen and be heard
- Handle anger and stress
- Be better parents
- Keep children happy, healthy and safe
- Keep fun, friendship and closeness in their marriage
