Together We Can news, programming and other resources from MSU Extension.

Together We Can: creating a healthy future for our family

Improve co-parenting relationships of single parents! Lessons in this six-module curriculum include:

  • Positive co-parenting relationships
  • Stress and conflict management strategies
  • Ongoing involvement of both parents
  • Money management/child-support payment
  • Healthy decisions about romantic and couple relationships

Together We Can is based on the successful implementation of the Caring for My Family program in Alabama and Michigan, and a collaboration of several public, private and community-based organizations. The curriculum was used and evaluated in a Special Improvement Project awarded to the Alabama Children’s Trust Fund in 2003 for Family Connections in Alabama (FCA) program.

An evaluation using comparison groups and pre/post-test design was conducted. Recruitment and retention efforts were highly effective with over 135 out of 160 participants completing the program. The program findings and effects are promising with both the program facilitators and participants giving the program a high rating. The evaluator reported significant changes from pre to post program for the program group as compared to the control group in these areas:

  • Increased levels of trust between couples and satisfaction with the relationship
  • Improved decision making and problem solving
  • Decreased relationship aggression
  • Improved understanding of the correlations between parenting and the couple relationship

We would like to thank the Office of Child Support Enforcement, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Special Improvement Project Grant for funding this curriculum.

This program is based on the successful implementation of the Caring for My Family program in both Alabama and Michigan and a collaboration of several public, private, and community-based organizations. The curriculum was used and evaluated in a Special Improvement Project awarded to the Alabama Children’s Trust Fund in 2003 for Family Connections in Alabama (FCA) program. An evaluation using comparison groups and pre/post-test design was conducted. Recruitment and retention efforts were highly effective with over 135 out of 160 participants completing the program. The program findings and effects are regarded as promising with both the program facilitators and participants giving the program a high rating. The evaluator reported significant changes from pre to post program for the program group as compared to the control group in these areas: increased levels of trust between couples and satisfaction with the relationship; improved decision making and problem solving; decreased relationship aggression, and improved understanding of the correlations between parenting and the couple relationship (Adler-Baeder et al, 2004; Ooms & Wilson, 2004).

Training is currently unavailable.

For more information on related trainings, please contact earlychildhood@msu.edu. 

Read more about the Together We Can history

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