The Healthy Marriage, Healthy Family (HMHF) program is a federally-funded program through the Children’s Bureau and was launched in 2006. HMHF was developed in hopes that, by stabilizing the relationship between caregivers, the entire household will stabilize which would result in fewer disrupted placements. By utilizing the existing statewide ASAP (Adoption Support and Preservation) program, HMHF is able to reach, train, and support resource (foster) families and adoptive families across the entire state of Tennessee. To date, the HMHF program has trained over 900 couples and over 100 individuals. The program continues to be extremely well received by agencies and participants alike. A majority of participants who use the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) skills report a tremendous improvement within their homes.
Recent participant feedback revealed a significant increase (24.3%) in terms of family stability as well as relationship satisfaction. The curriculum the HMHF program uses is known as the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program or PREP. PREP is based on over 30 years of research and is actually the longest longitudinal running study on marriage enhancement and divorce prevention. Some of the skills taught to couples who attend this training are:
- How to handle conflicts as a team
- How to communicate more effectively with each other
- How to keep fun and friendship alive in relationships
- How to discuss problems and concerns safely
- The danger signs of communication
- Risk factors for problems in relationships and ways to overcome them
Resource and adoptive families across the state of Tennessee are eligible to attend the HMHF training. To find more information about the HMHF program and how it can strengthen and support your family, please call toll free at 866.461.4643.
Registration
HMHF trainings are delivered at no cost to the resource and adoptive families. For more information, contact the HMHF Master Trainer, Shea Watts, at swatts@harmonyadoptions.org or 865.982.5225 or 866.461.4643.
For information regarding trainings in Middle Tennessee contact Laura Ross from Catholic Charities at LRoss@cctenn.org or 615.352.3087. In West Tennessee contact Willie Holcomb with Agape at willie.h@agapemeanslove.org or 901.237.4969.
HMHF – The Healthy Marriage, Healthy Family Program is an innovative program designed to aid Tennessee’s adoptive and resource families by educating couples in effective communication and conflict resolution, thereby creating and fostering a more stable environment for the family as a whole. Read more…
