current five-year research project<\/a>, Project Harmony 2.0, will support 1,500 married and committed couples through 2025. Couples from economically disadvantaged backgrounds will participate in a relationship education program in English or Spanish utilizing two delivery options.<\/p>\nThe institute transitioned to an online platform during the onset of COVID-19 in 2019 as it was the only viable and safe delivery mode. Now, it will implement an online relationship education program using a specific curriculum designed for virtual learning as well as its traditional face-to-face program. The researchers compare the efficacy of both programs on the couples.<\/p>\n
Project Harmony\u2019s relationship education programs utilize evidence-based curriculums that teach couples how to communicate better, relieve stress and fight less often. Project Harmony\u2019s relationship education program is considered a preventative framework and also includes financial literacy and career education.<\/p>\n
The institute offers face-to-face participants free childcare on-site, catered meals, bus vouchers and gift cards to mitigate financial obstacles. The online participants will receive gift cards and relationship coaching.<\/p>\n
MFRI uses a robust recruiting process and collaborates with community partners to increase accessibility and expand the reach of the people served.<\/p>\n
“We’ve established ourselves in the community; we are known for providing these services,” Dillman Taylor says. “Relationship education is not as stigmatizing as marital or couples counseling. Our workshops don’t feel as intimidating; couples learn and practice new skills in a group setting. They learn new ways to communicate with their partners.”<\/p>\n
Barden received her Ph.D. in counseling and education development from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has served as MFRI\u2019s executive director and the principal investigator of Project Harmony since 2015.<\/p>\n
Dillman Taylor received her Ph.D. in counseling with a minor in play therapy from the University of North Texas. She has served as MFRI\u2019s senior implementation director and co-principal investigator of Project Harmony since 2015. Dillman Taylor is also the director of the Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ Play Lab.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For 18 years, Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ has been helping families stay together by teaching couples research-supported techniques focused on effective communication and listening.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":131698,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[5,23,24],"tags":[17177,2989],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-131696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colleges","category-research","category-science-technology","tag-college-of-community-innovation-and-education","tag-marriage-and-family-research-institute"],"yoast_head":"\n
Developing and Sustaining Healthy Relationships Through Education | Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ News<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n