Focusing on Healthy Relationships Creates Strong Families – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

AMES, Iowa Candy, cards or flowers may bring smiles on Valentines Day, but developing a healthy relationship takes more effort than a once-a-year tradition, according to Danielle Day, human sciences specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Februarys focus on relationships makes it a great time to reconnect with your partner. Those strong relationships not only make you healthier, but they also are the basis for strong families all year long, said Day, who specializes in family wellbeing.

The quality of a couple relationship, regardless of the family structure, directly affects the children. The research is clear: healthy relationships, and resulting family stability, promote the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of adults and children, Day said.

Couples can explore how to focus on the positive and strengthen their connection by participating in Elevate: Taking Your Relationship to the Next Level, a virtual workshop series from ISU Extension and Outreach. The program will take place four Wednesdays (March 23 and 30, and April 6 and 13), 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Cost for the program is $175 per couple or $99 per individual and includes a workbook and materials for each person. For more information and to register, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/elevate.

The information presented will be based on a relationship education curriculum developed by the National Extension Relationship and Marriage Education Network. The workshops will cover the following topics:

All relationships take work and commitment, but when we focus on the positive and growing with each other, we strengthen our connection for a healthy relationship. You can explore these tips and more in the upcoming virtual Elevate: Taking Your Relationship to the Next Level series, Day said.

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Focusing on Healthy Relationships Creates Strong Families - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences