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Training Materials 100 Conversations is a website that was created to help parents and responsible adults have sensitive conversations about relationships and sex with young people ages 13-24. It is based on feedback from young people, including those who have been estranged from their families, that learning about sex and safety from family is the best way to get important information. The website offers guides for 100 conversations on: boundaries and values, friends and family, relationships, sex, consent and laws, LGBTQ, bullying and violence, bystanders and resources, media, and technology, and provides…
Children who grow up in single-parent families are more likely to be poor, have trouble in school, and become teen parents themselves. Additionally, children who are born to a mother who is a teenager, who hasn't finished high school, and who isn't married are nine times more likely to be poor than a child whose mother is even a few years older, is married and has at least finished high school. Thus, strengthening families through both teen pregnancy prevention (TPP) and marriage and relationship education (MRE) programs is an effort to decrease out-of-wedlock childbearing and increase the…
Extra-marital affairs don't "just happen." Engaging in an affair can have devastating consequences that affect your life forever. There are clear steps and choices that lead into an affair. By following the tips provided here you can "affair proof" your marriage and prevent infidelity before it begins. (Author abstract modified)
Successfully rebuilding trust after an extra-marital affair is possible but it can be difficult, lengthy and overwhelming. An affair can have a devastating effect on marriage and can be an agonizing crisis for a couple. Responses to the discovery or revelation of an affair range from sadness, shock, despair to anger, rage and confusion. It is important to understand that rebuilding after an affair is a process which includes six distinct stages. The stages include denial, shock, anger, rage and then finally acceptance and forgiveness.Making the decision to stay together and remain in the…
It's no surprise that most teens explore romantic relationships. Romance is the premise of many teen movies, and is apparent in their everyday life through tweeting, chat rooms, text messaging and school gossip. Relationships that occur during the teen years are an opportunity for young adults to experience romance, learn about themselves and establish expectations for future relationships. So, how can a program effectively turn a hot topic into a teachable moment? This Tip Sheet describes key characteristics of successful youth programs. (Author abstract)
This fact sheet explores how gender roles and expectations impact couple interaction, family decision-making, and perspectives on marital satisfaction. Background information is provided on traditional gender roles and behaviors in the United States and attitudes of men and women toward gender roles. Trends revealing Americans are moving away from patriarchal marriages are discussed, as well as findings from studies that indicate more decision-making by women, the impact of gender role expectations on relationships, and differences in Hispanic and African American couples. Graphs compare…
Since the late 1970s and early 1980s, the psychological study of masculinity and the practice of gender-sensitive approaches to psychotherapy with boys and men has gradually become a specialty area within psychology. Recognizing that masculinity is a central aspect of men’s lives, psychologists began to study the male socialization process, socially prescribed notions of masculinity, and the psychological and social problems of boys and men (Englar-Carlson, 2006). Within this movement, a group of pioneering psychologists developed the gender role strain paradigm (GRSP) as a framework for the…
This fact sheet offers a brief overview of the first of seven concepts outlined in the Healthy Relationship and Marriage Education Training (HRMET), Care for Self. Information is shared on why self-care, including physical, emotional/mental, sexual, and spiritual well-being, is so important to the health of romantic relationships. An overview is given on why encouraging Care for Self is important to child welfare services.
This fact sheet is for individuals and couples who are interested in learning more about self-care, including healthy eating, physical activity, regulating emotions, and sexual health and intimacy in order to make it easier to care, share, and connect with their partner and family.
This fact sheet provides facts for parents about HIV/AIDS and provides parents with age-appropriate tips for talking about sexuality, drug use, and how they relate to HIV/AIDS.Note: PDF version available.