Extension Resources: Fact Sheets & Educational Materials
Below are various research-based educational fact sheets, newsletters and other on-line materials produced by Extension that address relationship and marital enrichment. Find other Extension created resources on other topics at Children Youth and Families Education and Research Network (CYFERnet).
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Publication Series
- Connections Newsletter. An ongoing newsletter series on relationships and personal growth. Issues 1-17 are formatted primarily for professional development whereas later issues can be used both for professional development and for distribution among community audiences. (Kansas Extension, ongoing).
- CoupleTalk-Enhancing Your Relationship, An Informal Personal Study Course. This publication gives couples information on skills to strengthen their relationship. Activity Cards and Leaders Guide also available. (Kansas State University, 1997).
- Florida Marriage Preparation Series (Before you Tie the Knot). This publication series provide pre-marital couples with information related to communication, conflict management, parenting, and finances. (University of Florida Extension, 2001).
- Home and Away Series: Keeping it Together... While You're Apart. This fact sheet series provides information about relationships to families whose job or profession takes them away from home for extended periods of time. (Ohio State University Extension).
- Interpersonal Relationships. This link will take you to a list of various fact sheets with information on dealing with anger, acceptance, expressing feelings and resolving conflicts. (North Carolina State University Extension)
- Marriage Enrichment. This link will take you to a list of fact sheets that focus on preparing for marriage, communication, decision making, and conflict resolution. (North Carolina State University Extension)
- The Marriage Garden. This fact sheet series provides couples with information related to communication, understanding, kindness, forgiveness and dealing with conflict (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, 2006)
- Marriage Matters. This newsletter/fact sheet series provides suggestions and activities to help couples at various stages in their relationship (Ohio State University, 2002-2004).
- Saying "I Do": Consider the Possibilities. This on-line, self-paced course can be done alone or with a partner and is specifically targeted towards marriage preparation.(Utah State University Extension)
- Stepping Stones for Stepfamilies. A six-part home study course for stepfamily adults with children under the age of 18 designed to improve stepfamily living. Supplemental materials to aid in educational group sessions available. (Kansas Extension, 1998)
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General Resources on Couple Relationship Enrichment Skills
- Both Partners Are Responsible For the Relationship. This publication offers suggestions for how to develop a healthy, nurturing partner relationship. (University of Nebraska Extension, 2005).
- Can We Talk? Improving Couple Communication. In this segment of the Florida Marriage Preparation series, couples are encouraged to look at the importance of learning and practicing the relationship skills of listening--as well as expressing thoughts and feelings. (University of Florida Extension, 2001).
- Closeness in a Couple Relationship. This fact sheets discusses the challenges that can occur in merging individuals from two families into a cohesive couple relationship and makes suggestions for balancing separateness and togetherness. (Ohio State University Extension, 2003).
- Communication with Your Partner. Part of the Marriage Garden Series, this is a fact sheet on the many different ways partners communicate with each other. (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, 2006)
- Dealing With Couples' Anger. This fact sheet summarizes what can happen when couples fail to address issues and avoid communication which could avoid/prevent conflict.(Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, 2006)
- Gender Issues: Communication Differences in Interpersonal Relationships (also in PDF). This fact sheet discusses various ways gender issues influence communication and provides tips on how understanding these issues can improve relationships. (Ohio State University Extension, 2002)
- Getting to Know You, Your Co-Spender, and Money. This fact sheet provides an exercise that helps couples compare values about money. (Ohio State University Extension)
- Money Mechanics: Communication. This publication provides tips for couples on communicating about and resolving conflict around financial matters. (Iowa State University Extension, 2004)
- PeopleTALK: Enhancing Your Relationships. Based on the CoupleTALK program, this fact sheet introduces additional relationship-building information that can be helpful for couples as well as other meaningful connections. Leaders guide also available. (Kansas Extension, 2004).
- Resolving Conflict Constructively and Respectfully. This fact sheet outlines a strategy for resolving conflict. (Ohio State University Extension, 1998)
- The Importance of Communication in Learning to Manage Money. This fact sheet discusses the importance of communication about money issues and presents a plan for couples to follow for learning how to deal with this important issue. (Ohio State University Extension, 2003)
- You Want Me to Do What? This fact sheets discusses the importance of couples understanding one another expectations as they enter a relationship or prepare for marriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2003)
- Your Money Matters. In this segment of the Florida Marriage Preparation series, couples are encouraged to look at the importance of talking about money openly and honestly before marriage (University of Florida Cooperative Extension, 2001)
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Resources for Singles and Premarital Couples
- Are we Compatible? Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet explores the issue of exploring compatibility during courtship. (Ohio State University Extension, 2003)
- Before You Say "I Do" (also in PDF). Fact sheet outlines questions that should be considered and discussed with your partner during the courtship and before committing to marriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2001).
- Getting to Really Know You. Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet discusses the importance of exploring partner characteristics and behaviors. (Ohio State University Extension, 2002)
- How Attached is Your Relationship? Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet outlines the process of forming healthy couple attachements. (Ohio State University Extension, 2002)
- Marriage, a Promise to Work. Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet describes the purpose and nature of marriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2004)
- Premarital Agreements. Discussion and tips including property issues, legal requirements, charitable donations, and other financial agreements that are important for couples to consider before they marry. (Oregon State University Extension, 1998).
- Single Parenting: Dating Issues When You Have Children. This fact sheet discusses issues and obstacles single parents face, as well as what they can do, when they begin dating. (University of New Hampshire Extension, 2002).
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Resources for Married Couples
- After You Say "I Do:" Adjusting to Marriage (also in PDF). This fact sheet offers several strategies newlywed couples can exercise in building a strong marriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2001).
- Bids for Connection. Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet describes strategies for maintaining positive relationships in a marriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2003)
- Couples Considering Parenthood. This publication encourages couples to look at the importance of having a stable relationship before adding the changes that parenthood brings to both partners. (University of Florida Extension, 2001).
- Creating a Strong and Satisfying Marriage (also in PDF). This guide explores the common characteristics of successful marriages, skills to effectively handle marital conflict and ways that spouses can strengthen their marriages. (University of Missouri Extension, 2000).
- Dealing With Anger in a Marriage. This fact sheet discusses misconceptions of anger, how people cover up anger, how anger can actually be healthy in a relationship and how to resolve anger. (Ohio State University Extension, 1998)
- Dealing with Conflict in Marriage Part of the Marriage Garden Series, this is a fact sheet on conflict in marriage and how to understand that every relationship even very good ones have conflict through understanding how to learn to live with things that cannot change (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, 2006)
- Domestic Violence and Divorce (also in PDF) This fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of domestic violence, its relationship to divorce, the cycles of violence, and suggestions for locating help. (University of Missouri Extension, 2003)
- Enhancing Midlife Marriage (also in PDF). This fact sheet provide midlife couples strategies for strengthening their marriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2002)
- Familes Taking Charge: Talking With Your Spouse. This fact sheet is aimed at helping spouses improve their communication between one another. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2006)
- Forgiveness in a Strong Marriage. Part of the Marriage Garden Series, this is a fact sheet on forgiveness in a relationship with information on the problems that need to be discussed and the problems that don't. (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, 2006)
- Getting Past Problems to Solutions in Marriage. Part of the Marriage Garden Series, this is a fact sheet on how married couples get into quarrelling jams and discusses the idea of "automatic reactions". (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, 2006)
- Great Expectations! Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet describes the influence of expectations on marriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2002)
- Is Work Starving Your Marriage? Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet presents information on balancing work and the marriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2002)
- Keep the Home Fires Burning - When the Miles Separate You. Part of the Home and Away Series, this fact highlights the qualities of successful marriages and strategies for sustaining a long distance relationship(Ohio State University Extension, 1998).
- Kindness Builds Strong Marriages. Part of the Marriage Garden Series, this is a fact sheet on the importance of kindness in effectively communicating and sustaining a strong marriage. (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, 2006)
- Learning Languages of Love in Marriage. Part of the Marriage Garden Series, this fact sheet discusses the ways in which love in a marriage can be communicated. (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, 2006)
- Managing Two Incomes--Yours, Mine, Ours. This fact sheet describes how dividing up the paper work and decisions make dealing with income issues a slightly less stressful subject. (University of Delaware Extension).
- Marriage After Retirement. This fact sheet discusses how retiring couples need to adjust to retirement and provides tips for how this new life stage can begin with few problems or difficulties. (Ohio State University Extension, 2003)
- Our Relationship...And Communicating Effectively. This publication helps couples learn how to communicate with one another. (University of Nebraska Extension, 2002).
- Our Relationship...And Managing the Farm/Business. This publication addresses how couples can build a strong relationship while dealing with sometimes stressful situations that result from managing a farm or business. (University of Nebraska Extension, 2002).
- Our Relationship...And Parenting Through Conflict. This publications help couples work through periods of conflict. (University of Nebraska Extension, 2002).
- Our Relationship...And Parenting. This publication suggests ways couples can enhance their relationship during the parenting years. (University of Nebraska Extension, 2002).
- Our Relationship...And Working Together With Extended Family. This publication helps families who work together have both rewarding professional and personal relationships. (University of Nebraska Extension, 2002).
- Our Relationship: Making It Stronger. This publication suggests ways couples can improve or strengthen their relationship. (University of Nebraska Extension, 2002).
- Strengthen Relationships During Deployment, Separation. This media release discusses the stress placed on spouses, partners and extended family members during periods of military deployment and other separations, and provides suggestions for strengthening a relationship during a separation. (Kansas State University Extension, 2003)
- Strong Marriage Relationship Central to Positive Parenting. This fact sheet offers tips for building a supportive couple relationship in order to foster positive parenting (Ohio State University Extension, 1996).
- The Children Are Gone. What Happens Now? A complementary program to CoupleTALK for parents who are experiencing the empty nest. Leaders Guide for 1-hour workshop also available. (Kansas Extension, 2002)
- The Honeymoon is Over, Now What? Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet outlines strategies for building a strong marriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2003)
- Understanding Builds Marriages. Part of the Marriage Garden Series, this fact sheet explains the importance of understanding your partner's point of view and tips on how to do so. (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, 2006)
- When Violence Hits Home: Bringing the Facts to Light. (also available, Teaching Guide) Publication describes the facts of domestic partner violence. (Kansas State University, 1994)
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Resources for Remarried and Step-couples
- Before You Say "I Do" Again (also in PDF). Fact sheet describes characteristics of a successful remarried family. (Ohio State University Extension, 2002)
- Couples Considering a Blended Family This fact sheet presents an overview of what couples contemplating a blended family should consider, as well as some of the rewards and challenges they may face. (University of Florida Cooperative Extension, 2004)
- Instant Family and Love? Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet explores expectations when forming a stepfamily. (Ohio State University Extension, 2002)
- Money: Yours, Mine, and Ours? Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet presents information on managing finances after a remarriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2002)
- Prenuptial Agreements: Something to Consider? Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet describes factors to consider when exploring prenuptial agreements prior to a remarriage. (Ohio State University Extension, 2004)
- Stepparenting Begins with Common Ground. Part of the Marriage Matters Series, this fact sheet describes strategies for effective stepparenting, including the importance of the couple relationship. (Ohio State University Extension, 2004)
- Stepping Stones for Stepfamilies Series: Building a Strong Couple Relationship. Publication provides strategies for building a strong couple relationship in a remarriage. (Kansas State University Extension, 1997)
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Resources on Youth/Adolescents Dating Relationships
- Are you Relationship Smart? This poster (printable as a fact sheet) offers teens with information about characteristics of a healthy relationship. (University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2008)
- Deciding about Early Dating. This fact sheet explains to parents things to consider before and when their children begin dating (Iowa State University Extension, 1995).
- Is your Teen Relationship Smart? This brochure provides parents with tips for talking with their teen about relationships. (University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2008)
- Talking With Your Teen About Sexuality. A fact sheet for parents about how to talk to teens about sex. (University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2001)
- Teaching Our Daughters About Sexuality. This article contains guidance for parents about teaching their daughters about sexuality (University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2000)
- Teaching Our Sons About Sexuality. This article contains guidance for parents about teaching their sons about sexuality (University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, 2000)
- Teen Dating Violence: Are You Aware? This is a fact sheet about the problem of dating violence including the risk factors for perpatrators and victims. (Ohio State University Extension, 2001)
- Teens and Dating. Information for parents about three topics related to teenage dating: when are teens ready to date, sexual activity, and dating that becomes hurtful. (University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2003)
- Teens and Dating: Tips for Parents and Professionals (also in PDF). This publication summarizes teen dating trends, attitudes, and behaviors and provides strategies for talking with teens about dating. (University of Florida Extension, 2006)
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