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Author: RickHocutt

Connections

Posted on by RickHocutt

Within strong families, children can thrive. And through stability of family life, youth find the love, security and significance they need. But, unfortunately children do not always find that stability at home. Connections: Relationship and Marriage is a research-based and evaluated curriculum used to teach students in 9th through 12th grades relationship best practices.

Connections is taught in local schools while collaborating with different organizations in order to support middle and high school students in achieving success in life.

Connections courses teach teens the skills that are essential for success in their dating relationships and in preparing for marriage. Topics covered in the course include:

  • Self-understanding
  • How relationships work
  • Managing emotions
  • Dating and emotions
  • Dealing with problems
  • Effective communication
  • What to expect from dating and marriage

Connections material is fascinating to teens and immediately useful. In addition to lectures, lessons include lively brainstorming, small group work, games and role-playing. Connections programs were created for schools and youth organizations. The material is based on reliable research and continues to be evaluated as it is used in Memphis City Schools to teach relationship skills.

Marriage Mentoring

Posted on by RickHocutt

Studies show that both premarital counseling and ongoing enrichment opportunities can assist couples in reducing the risk of divorce, while also ensuring healthy and more successful relationships.

Marriage Mentoring, or 12 Conversations, is a marriage-enrichment class for couples in which a seasoned couple mentors a younger couple through conversations and time spent together in a fun, non-classroom atmosphere. Whether working with a couple of newlyweds or a couple that’s entering a new stage of marriage, the 12 Conversations program is a simple, encouraging way to strengthen marriages. Sharing stories over snacks, dessert or dinner encourages a friendship between the couples that will last beyond the guided conversations.

For more information about the program, contact Families Matter or visit www.12conversations.com.

Take a look at Connections: Relationships & Marriage

Posted on by RickHocutt

The attached film was created by the Overton High School Broadcasting, Skills USA Chapter and Corey Jermaine "CJ" Anderson, Broadcasting I, Instructor.

Students at Overton High and other Shelby County Schools benefit from a variety of outside resources like Families Matter.  Families Matter is a ministry that strives to promote healthy relationships and families with a mission to increase the number of healthy, loving and caring Families through a community – wide movement.   In addition to providing the school system with curriculum and workbooks for each student, each student learns from the guided activities and outreach facilitation. The OHS SkillsUSA Chapter is proud to partner with our school district, The OHS FCCLA Chapter and Families Matter to promote the positive efforts of individuals, groups and families in our community.

For more information on how your youth can benefit from the Connections curriculum, please contact Kheli Pearson at 901.260.8521.

Mentoring Services

Posted on by RickHocutt

Families Matter understands that sometimes individuals, couples and families need more personalized, one-on-one attention. As part of our goal to serve as a clearinghouse for marriage- and family-strengthening resources in Memphis, Families Matter seeks out appropriate partner organizations that can provide additional services to families.

We have partnered with Agape Child and Family Services, Christian Psychological Center, and churches to connect people with appropriate counseling services. If you are in need of personalized counseling, please contact Carol Jackson for more information about how Families Matter can refer you.

Carol Jackson, Director
Families Matter
2595 Central Ave.
Memphis, TN, 38104
(901) 260-8520
carol.jackson@christchs.org

Love’s Cradle

Posted on by RickHocutt

Exploring and mastering how to navigate the responsibility of parenting, when Mom and Dad are not married, is a gift parents can give to their children. The Love’s Cradle Relationship Education class is designed to help provide expectant, non-married couples a roadmap for creating a healthy family. This curriculum is designed to increase awareness of a couple’s interaction with and impact on their children and support them as they learn appropriate parenting skills.

If you are interested in offering Love’s Cradle at your location, please contact Families Matter.

Dynamic Dads

Posted on by RickHocutt

Diaper changing, crying, late-night feedings and working a full-time job on no sleep are all new experiences for first-time fathers. Dynamic Dads trains rookie fathers how to be responsible and involved in the lives of their newborns, equipping them with the skills and the attitude to be “dynamic dads.”

Most rookie dads feel unprepared for their new role as a father and may feel they lack the skills to care effectively for their new baby. Fear of the unknown, and of failure, is typical. However, when men facing a common challenge get together, a locker room-type of solidarity develops, and they can talk frankly about their experiences and concerns. And, with all the changes and stresses involved in becoming a father, trustworthy information is invaluable.

Dynamic Dads is a program in which veteran fathers, new fathers who bring along their 2- to 6-month-old babies, help to orient rookie fathers-to-be on the realities of fatherhood. This boot camp is a “guy thing” – no women more than 2 feet tall are allowed!

Upcoming Dynamic Dads Workshops
Virtually every other month, Dynamic Dads will offer a workshop for expectant fathers.