Evaluation of the Portland Marriage Education Program

Abstract:

This project will provide information needed for formative and summative evaluation by Northwest Family Services (NWFS) to assess results of the four allowable Healthy Marriage Initiative (HMI) activities being implemented by the Greater Portland Healthy Marriage Initiative. Although based in Portland, Oregon, the project serves a wider area, offering classes in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, and Marion County, including classes for (a) high school students, (b) pregnant and parenting teens, (c) other single individuals, and (d) married couples. NWFS is working with two partners: Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD) and Catholic Charities of Oregon. For each of these different activities, information is being collected and analyzed on the following topics: (a) communication skills (ability to listen to and speak with another person with whom one has a close relationship, such as a family member, friend, partner, and/or spouse); (b) conflict resolution skills (ability to problem solve with another person with whom one has a close relationship, such as a family member, friend, partner, and/or spouse); (c) abuse prevention skills (ability to recognize danger signs in potential partners and take steps to develop safe and healthy relationships and ability to prevent physical or emotional abuse from or to another person with whom one has a close relationship, such as a family member, friend, partner, and/or spouse); (d) budgeting / financial skills (ability to understand how your attitudes toward money and ability to handle money wisely can affect your relationships with family members, friends, partner, and/or spouse); and (e) attitudes toward marriage (recognition of benefits of a healthy committed relationship for partners and families). Primary sources of data include pre- and post-intervention surveys in English and Spanish. The approach to marriage education used by NWFS is based on the "Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program" (PREP) and research conducted by Scott M. Stanley and Howard J. Markman (see http://www.prepinc.com ).

Funding:

Northwest Family Services                                                                      

Duration:

 2 Years: 10/2009 to 09/30/2011

Staff:

• Tary J. Tobin, Ph.D.

Contact:

For more information about this project, please contact Tary J. Tobin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.