Strengthening Families
The Issue:
All the world's problems either begin in families or end up in families. The
world thrusts challenges upon families that the families are forced to endure,
and sometimes families create problems for themselves because of an inability
to communicate positively, creatively respond to conflict, or find successful
ways of meeting life's difficulties and instead compounding their own problems.
The Response:
Family education programs based on nearly three decades of research on strong
families conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have proven to be quite
successful in helping family members strengthen their relationships with each
other. The programs focus on the qualities of strong families around the world:
appreciation and affection for each other; positive communication; commitment
to the family; enjoyable time together; a sense of spiritual well-being and
shared values; and the ability to manage stress and crisis effectively. At a
recent national conference in Seattle, the UNL for Families team recently received
one of five nation-wide awards for outstanding efforts in strengthening families
from the Annie E. Casey Foundation/4-H Youth Development Program.
Coalitions and Partners:
Family education programs and family-friendly policy efforts developed by University
of Nebraska Extension specialists, educators, and countless partners across
the state of Nebraska link a wide variety of organizations, including schools,
colleges, and universities; health-care organizations and institutions; the
business community; family- and social-serivce organizations; a wide variety
of faith communities; and the broad spectrum of ethic and cultural groups.
Impact and Results:
Education makes a critical difference in our lives every day. People learn to
read a book, use a computer, drive a car, succeed at a job. And they also can
learn, using research-based ideas and approaches, to live a more meaningful,
satisfying, and loving life in their families. On-going surveys of educational
impact tell us that program participants find the presentations and written
materials helpful in their daily lives. As the late Dr. David R. Mace said,
"Nothing in the world could make human life happier than to increase greatly
the number of strong families and happy couples."
Links:
See the UNL for Families website for ideas and activities to strengthen your
family: http://unlforfamilies.unl.edu
Faculty Contact Information:
John DeFrain, Ph.D.
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
254 Mabel Lee Hall
Lincoln NE 68588-0236
(402) 472-1659
jdefrain1@unl.edu
