Successes and Challenges of Family and Consumer Science Extension Agents in the Implementation of Couple and Relationship Education

• Main Author: Huffaker, Stacey A.
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 2011
• Subjects: collaborative partners; Cooperative Extension Agents; couple and relationship education; flexible; low-intensity; marriage education; social sciences education; social research; Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/855; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1851&context=etd

Although healthy relationship initiatives are becoming more common, relatively little is known about the processes and outcomes of these initiatives. This study uses a phenomenological qualitative approach to examine the experiences of Family and Consumer Science (FCS) extension agents in the implementation of couple and relationship education in the Utah Healthy Relationship Initiative. Data were collected through quarterly report forms submitted by extension agents describing successes and barriers to their work. Successes in the project related to collaborative partnerships, attendance/participation, and positive outcomes for participants. Collaborative partnerships were instrumental in reaching more participants and finding cultural resources. The challenges that agents reported included constraints for participants and agents' difficulties with resources. The findings underscore the benefits of creating flexible, low-intensity, and low-cost activities that attract participants and reduce some of the barriers to participation, as well as teaming up with community organizations to implement couple and relationship education programs.