$670,000 in Federal Funds for Texas State Program to Provide Relationship Education, Job Readiness and Financial Skills Training to Young Parents

"The Strengthening Relationships/Strengthening Families program will provide pregnant and parenting adolescents with relationship education, as well as job readiness and financial management skills that will ultimately enhance their well-being and strengthen their families. We are grateful to Congressman Doggett for his help in securing this vital funding," said Michelle Toews, program administrator and associate professor of family and consumer sciences at Texas State.

Previous research has found adolescent pregnancy and parenting often result in poorer psychological functioning, higher levels of relationship instability, and an increased risk of intimate partner violence. In addition, SR/SF will incorporate job readiness skills because adolescent parents are less likely to graduate from high school, more likely to be unemployed, and more likely to receive government assistance. The program will also provide financial management education in order to strengthen young families because Drs. Toews and Yazedjian have found many of the conflicts adolescent parents experience revolve around money.

To reach the goal of strengthening families, four SR/SF Facilitators will implement the program during the school day with the assistance of undergraduate and graduate interns at Texas State from a variety of disciplines. The proposed program will be delivered to adolescents enrolled in Pregnancy, Education, and Parenting (PEP) programs located in Central Texas each week over the course of the school year. These sessions will cover topics such as healthy relationships, communication skills, conflict resolution strategies, job readiness skills, and financial literacy.

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