Athens, Ga. – Engaged couples in Clarke, Oglethorpe and Oconee counties are being sought for a marriage enrichment program provided by the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
“With a divorce rate that hovers around 50 percent in Georgia, it’s clear that pre-marital counseling and education could provide couples the insight and support they need for a successful marriage,” said Ted Futris, an assistant professor in the FACS child and family development department. “In addition, a state law passed in 2005 offers couples a discount on their marriage license if they receive at least six hours of premarital instruction.”
Couples have two options for the program. They can enroll for a series of six one-on-one sessions with a trained counselor or they can attend a series of workshops that will include five-to-seven other couples. Although the one-on-one sessions will be determined by the schedules of the participants, the group workshops are set for Monday nights, beginning Feb. 18; Wednesday nights, beginning March 19; and Friday nights, beginning April 4. A day-long program will be offered on Saturday, April 26. Enrollment for that session is limited to 10 couples.
Registration for both formats is $30, but couples who complete the program will qualify for a $35 discount on their marriage license and couples who complete the pre- and post-test surveys will receive an additional $30.
For more information, call Ted Futris, 706/542-7566, or email him at tfutris@uga.edu.