Family Stability Counts

There is mounting research evidence that the trends of increasing marital and family instability have a negative impact on children, adults, families, and their communities. The research is clear: healthy relationships and marriages, and resulting family stability benefit the physical, social, and emotional well-being of adults and children. Even though we know that healthy couples lead to healthy families and healthy children, there has been little effort to systematically provide educational resources and prevention programming that focuses on relationship skills for couples. Alabama Community Healthy Marriage Initiative is focused on ensuring that this important area is not a “missing link” in family life education and prevention programming in Alabama.

“Healthy family relationships and stable marriages foster a safe, nurturing environment for children and ultimately serve as the foundation for a stable and economically vibrant society,”

Dean June Henton, The College of HumanSciences, Auburn University.

All LIFT Programs and Services are

FREE!Call for more information or to register for an upcoming workshop.

(334) 270-4100! | (800) 499-6579

The purpose of this publication is the dissemination of technical information. Funding is provided through a grant from the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant #90-FE-0001/04-5. The opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this document and

associated materials are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and

Human Services Administration for Children and Families.

Alabama Community Healthy Marriage Initiative1-888-4-Together

www.alabamamarriage.org

Family Guidance Center of Alabama2358 Fairlane Drive

Montgomery, Alabama 36116

www.familyguidancecenter.org

Family Guidance Center of Alabama, Inc. isdedicated to strengthening families through partnering with families, organizations, and

communities and through the provision of an accessible comprehensive system of coordinated

programs and services designed to enable people of all ages in Alabama to envision and achieve their goals.

What is LIFT?

LIFT is a FREE program through Family Guidance Center of Alabama and a partnership with Alabama Community Healthy Marriage Initiative. LIFT provides relationship and marriage education and real-world skills through fun, distinctive workshops, information & referral services, on-going support, and the LIFT library. LIFT is coaching; NOT counseling.

Who is LIFT for?

LIFT is for everyone! Singles, non-married parents, stepfamilies, pre-marital couples, and married couples can enjoy the benefits of LIFT workshops. Program services are also available for children and teens.

Where is LIFT?

LIFT workshops are held at Family Guidance Center of Alabama; however, workshops can also be held throughout Montgomery and surrounding communities in schools, churches, businesses, and other establishments by special arrangement.

Where can LIFT help?

Home, school, work, and anywhere else in the community! The skills learned through each workshop series offered focus on communication and building relationships. Every relationship can benefit because of the knowledge gained through LIFT programs. Stronger families make stronger communities.

How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk(or Jerkette)

A must for any single, dating, or pre-marital man or woman, the How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk (or Jerkette) curriculum is also know as P.I.C.K. A Partner. Discover how to get the most out of dating, including using easy tools to determine what the person you date would be like in marriage. Learn about the bonding forces that create “love”, the ingredients needed for a lasting relationship, and how to “follow your heart without losing your mind.”

Relationship Smarts Plus

Created especially for teens in grades 7 – 12, Relationship Smarts Plus can be used as a guidebook throughout the teen years, while creating a foundation for healthy future relationships. Using a variety of fun and interactive activities, participants are taught communication and conflict resolu-tion skills that can benefit any relationship. Most importantly, teens learn about making wise decisions and are given the opportunity to develop long-range goals for their lives.

Smart Steps for Stepfamilies

A unique program designed to meet the extraordinary needs of stepfamilies, Smart Steps offers workshops for remarried or partnering couples and parallel workshops for their children age 6 and older. Using the strategies provided, partners can strengthen their couple bond and build up healthy stepparent-stepchild relationships. Families can also meet together at the end of each session to complete a fun family activity.

Mastering the Magic of Love

Both married couples and pre-marital couples can benefit from the ten simple and easy-to-use skills taught through the Mastering the Magic of Love series. Almost thirty years of research has shown that couples who use these same skills regularly report more satisfying relationships and an improved problem solving approach as a couple. Great workshops for couples who wish to LIFT their relationship to new heights.

Together We Can

Unmarried parents of babies and small children find encour-agement and support through Together We Can: Caring for My Family workshops. Through specialized skills, co-parents learn how to strengthen and stabilize their families. Partners have the opportunity to prepare a parenting agreement to

include shared responsibilities for parenting their children and guiding them as they grow and develop. Co-parents complete a memory book for their children that can be added to and shared with children as they grow.

Bridging the Great Divide: Parents and Teens Communicating About Healthy Relationships

An innovative, new program empowering parents and guardians to maintain open lines of communication with their teens, Bridging the Great Divide also provides sug-gestions about how to inspire youth to reach their fullest potential in their own relationships. Parents and guardians of teens that have completed the Relationship Smarts Plus workshop will find this program particularly useful.

Ready for Love

Ready for Love provides significant information on topics such as healthy relationships, trust, expectations for marriage, and emotional safety. Singles and individuals attending without their spouse or partner learn the same time-tested communication skills offered through the Mastering the Magic of Love workshop.

Information & Referral

LIFT Participants have easy access to all of the other services offered through Family Guidance Center of Alabama, including Counseling services and other FREE support services. Marriage Educators are also on hand to provide information on other services available within the community.

LIFT Library The learning doesn’t end with LIFT classes! Filled with educational material on a variety of relationship topics, the LIFT Library is available to complement your new skills. The LIFT Library has information on such subjects as fatherhood, communication, and inexpensive family activities. Stop by today to browse or to pick up your own FREE copy of the Alabama Marriage Handbook.

On-going Support

LIFT workshops have regular “reunion sessions” available to allow participants the chance to “brush up” on their new found relationship skills, learn new techniques, and reconnect with classmates.