SCHOOLS and UNIVERSITIES

High Schools
FAR's mission is to bring relationship skills into the classroom. FAR's initial goal is to teach students who are in 9th-12th grades valuable skills for getting along well with others. FAR realizes that teachers are overloaded and that school curriculums must meet state objectives for competency in academic areas. FAR also realizes that a large portion of students are embarking on adulthood without the necessary skills to create and maintain lasting relationships. This lack of skills can prevent students from concentrating on academics and can undermine attendance. Inability to navigate relationships may also result in criminal behavior, especially violent crimes. The lack of relationship skills may also detract from the ability of high school personnel to produce smart, healthy, happy and productive students. Twelve 45-minute sessions could make a difference in the ability of students to navigate life's difficult emotional experiences.

The possible road blocks:
Time and space in the curriculum to implement relationship skills courses
Personnel willing to be trained to teach a twelve session relationship skills course
Cost of the trainings
Time away from normal duties during trainings
Cost of associated student materials and teaching aids

The rewards:
Healthier, happier students
Reduced absenteeism
Greater focus on academics
Reduced behavioral problems

The advantages for inclusion of valuable relationship education may reward our community for decades to come.

Applying for funds as a broad-based community initiative:  (schools, universities and youth organizations)
Welfare reform legislation is "in process" and appears likely to be enacted in the next few months. As part of that legislation, significant federal grant money is expected to be made available to fund the work of organizations focused on reducing domestic violence, reducing unwed pregnancies and strengthening relationships. FAR, as an umbrella organization, serves as the hub of a Texas Healthy Marriage Initiative. The Department of Health and Human Services has made it clear that upcoming federal funding for "Healthy Marriages" will be awarded only to those communities who demonstrate a broad base of community services through a variety of providers. On behalf of the families of Dallas and Fort Worth, FAR seeks to unite collaborative partners who will deliver relationship education and skills classes to their members/clients. By competing as a coalition, the likelihood of receiving funding will be enhanced. As Texas approaches the time when RFP's will be released, it is important to identify service providers of relationship education. Your school or university or youth organization could be strategic to provide such services (and FAR hopes to cover the entire metroplex with educational seminars). FAR intends to apply for funding with the collaboration of partner providers who will ultimately deliver those relationship skills educational services. If your organization qualifies as a service provider for relationships skills programs, to adults or youth, FAR hopes that you will contact FAR and get "on board" as a collaborative partner organization NOW.

FAR is enthusiastic about discussing ways to navigate the road blocks to the delivery of relationships skills trainings to our students. If relationship skills are skills you believe will make a difference in the lifetimes of your students and their friends and families, please call FAR. FAR believes that it would be a privilege to work with your school or school district.

Universities
How can Universities become involved in changing a culture?
Let FAR count the ways!

• Universities can teach relationship skills courses to students who are at a point in their lives when they need to make wise choices regarding partners, careers and families! Relationship education is valuable in all of these arenas.

• Universities can include relationship skills program certifications for students seeking mental health professions.

• Through volunteer internships, universities can assist in public relations and marketing strategies for public education regarding relationship wellness. There are opportunities for students to work with their communities while learning how to implement the public relations and marketing skills they are learning.

• Universities can run research on the culture as it changes (Chattanooga's community based initiative has dropped its divorce rate by 17% and its out-of-wedlock birth rate by 23% in only four years!)

• Universities can engage political science students in lobbying projects and networking in the political system as the new legislation works its way through congress and funds arrive in states' hands!
  

Join FAR for this exciting time in our community's evolution. We look forward to knowing
and working with you in a collaborative spirit!

***Great News: The national SMART MARRIAGES conference will be in Dallas, Texas on July 8-11, 2004!
Visit: www.smartmarriages.com for more information