6/5/25

Today, I want to highlight some findings from Strengthening Relationships / Strengthening Families (SR/SF) at Texas State University. This program is designed to equip adolescent parents with healthy relationship skills, promote positive parenting practices, and improve overall family stability. I served as the external evaluator for SR/SF for ten years, and in that time, SR/SF served hundreds of students across Central Texas, offering evidence-based lessons through engaging, school-based group sessions facilitated by trained Program Facilitators (PFs) and interns.

Feedback from students and school staff indicate that, in group, participants build trusting relationships with PFs, interns, and each other. We've also heard over and over that they love the curriculum. In fact, students who participated in the curriciulm but were not parents told us that everyone in their schools should take these lessons! And our most recent evaluation results back this up. Students who completed 12 weeks of lessons reported higher self-esteem, lower depressive symptoms, and stronger, healthier attitudes about relationships. In today’s world, what teen wouldn’t benefit from that?

This study, and SR/SF are supported by a Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grant from the Administration for Children and Families, and the paper is forthcoming.