State Initiatives - Georgia
Extension Point of Contact
Ted G. Futris, Ph.D
State Extension Specialist, Family Life
Associate Professor, Dept. of Child and Family Development
The University of Georgia Extension
225 Hoke Smith Annex, 300 Carlton Street
Athens, GA 30605
Phone: 706.542.7566 Email: tfutris@uga.edu
Current Projects/Activities
In partnership with a multi-state collaborative team within NERMEN we are developing and implementing the Child Welfare Training: Curriculum Development and Evaluation for Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education. The team was
awarded $1.2 Million by the Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children's Bureau to fund a five year project which will involve developing and pilot testing a marriage and relationship education curriculum that addresses healthy marriage and relationship skills for populations underserved in the general population and overrepresented in the child welfare system. Additionally the project will involve in-person and distance education trainings for child welfare professionals, graduate students and other professionals, including Cooperative Extension educators, working with or preparing to work with adults and families. (Contact: Ted Futris ).
Building Strong Relationships Project
In partnership between Family and Consumer Sciences Cooperative Extension, The ASPIRE Clinic, and the Department of Child and Family Development at the University of Georgia, Extension faculty are working with communities (e.g.,social service agencies; faith-based organizations; schools) to facilitate the development of healthy marriage initiatives. These initiatives, informed by research and best-practice in this field, are focused on educating youth and adults on the development and maintenance of healthy relationships and marriages. This project was initially funded in part by a Scholarship of Engagement Grant from the Office of the Vice President for Public Services and Outreach at UGA. (Project period: June 2007 - present; Contact: Ted G. Futris)
Preparing Engaged Couples for Marriage
In partnership with faculty and graduate students in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Extension is providing marriage preparation classes to engaged couples and evaluating the efficacy of these classes on various indicators of couple well-being. (Project period: June 2007 - present; Contact: Ted G. Futris)
Helping Teens Develop Relationship Smarts
Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) and 4H/Youth Development county Extension Educators across Georgia are offering the Relationship Smarts Plus curriculum from the
Dibble Institute, Programs are being offered to middle and high school youth through in-school and after school settings. To learn more click here. (Project period: 2008 - present; Contact: Ted G. Futris)
Healthy Families, Healthy Finances Study
In collaboration with faculty in Consumer Economics, telephone interviews were conducted with a random digit-dialed sample of married households in Georgia to study the interpersonal and financial dynamics that influence the perceived quality of couples’ relationships and economic well-being. Data collected from 517 married and remarried adults are being analyzed, and findings from this study will inform the development of educational resources to help couples manage their financial and marital needs. Data from a second cohort of 470 married respondents was recently collected to examine the effects of the econmoc recession on these processes. (Project period: January 2007 - present; Contact: Ted G. Futris)
Past Projects/Activities
Georgia Supreme Court Commission on Children, Marriage, and Family Law
Extension was a partner serving on this commission, and specifically on the Commission’s Advisory Committee on Healthy Marriages. The goals of this Commission was to reduce the Georgia divorce rate; increase the proportion of children being raised by their married parents in healthy, stable families; and educate court personnel on the importance of marriage to child well-being and the alternatives to divorce. (Project period: December 2006- August 2009)
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