- a children's issue
- an economic issue
- a health issue
- a public policy issue
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Marriage and couple education is attracting the attention of family professionals and policymakers. Public policy has been proposed in many states that impacts educational programs for high school students and couples. Because education for couples is on the state and national agendas, land-grant universities through their research, higher education, and Extension outreach programs are examining the roles they will play in this emerging area.
This video provides an overview of the latest research findings, look at marriage and couple education from a public policy perspective, and highlight a variety of models being implemented by Land-Grant Universities to meet the needs of couples. Nationally recognized researchers and policy analysts; Theodora Ooms, Bill Doherty, Linda Waite, and David Olson will discuss the issues and respond to questions.
More About The Video
Conference Panelists and Discussants:
Bill Doherty
Professor and Director of Marriage and Family Therapy in the Department of Family Social Science, College of Human Ecology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Doherty is the immediate past president of the National Council on Family Relations.
Theadore Ooms
former Director of the Family Impact Seminar, Inc., and presently Senior Policy Analyst and Director of the Couples and Marriage Policy Resource Center at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) in Washington, D.C.
David Olson
Professor Emeritus from the University of Minnesota and President of Life Innovations. He is the developer of the PREPARE/ENRICH Program for couples, and author of over 20 books and 100 articles on marriage and family. His recent book for couples is EMPOWERING COUPLES and book for youth is BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
Linda Waite
author of the newly published THE CASE FOR MARRIAGE and researcher at the University of Chicago.
Anna Mae Kobbe
National Program Leader Family Life & Human Development, USDA, CSREES; Chair of the National Workgroup on Marriage and Couple Education.
Funding for this video was provided by:
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), the only national organization representing family and consumer sciences professionals across practice areas and content specializations.
National Extension Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS), the professional association for family and consumer science educators of the Cooperative Extension System.
Texas A & M Extension Family Consumer Science Program.
Sponsored by USDA/CSREES (Cooperative State Research and Extension Education Service) with the direction of a National Marriage and Couples Education Workgroup.
The National Marriage and Couples Education Workgroup
In December, 1998, five CES faculty began working with the National Program Leader for Family Life and Human Development for Cooperative State Research and Extension Education Service, Dr. Anna Mae Kobbe, to determine ways CES might be involved in this effort to strengthen families. This Work Group is composed of (in alphabetical order)
Madeleine (Madge) Alberts
M.A., University of Minnesota Extension malberts@tc.umn.edu
Judy Branch
M.S. University of Vermont Extension judy.branch@uvm.edu
Rosemarie Hoffman
Ph.D., Texas A & M Extension r-hoffman@tamu.edu
Anna Mae Kobbe
Ph.D., USDA/CSREES akobbe@reeusda.gov
Charlotte Shoup Olsen
Ph.D., Kansas State University Extension colsen@oznet.ksu.edu
Ben Silliman
Ph.D., University of Wyoming silliman@uwyo.edu
The workgroup developed the following
statements to guide their work together.
Vision:
All couples will grow to be capable, caring partners, contributing to the well-being of communities which value families.
Mission:
To positively impact marriage and couples relationships, resulting in greater well-being for individuals, families, communities, and society.
Guiding Principles:
- Affirming marriage does not imply a disregard or disrespect for individuals who are not married
- Affirming marriage does not imply support for persons remaining in abusive relationships
- Singleness is a positive lifestyle choice
- Effective educational programs are targeted to specific needs and audiences
- Multiple levels of educational outreach are appropriate
- Relationship education must be appropriate to the culture in which it occurs.
