The Creating Lasting Family Connections® Marriage Enhancement Program

The original, award-winning Creating Lasting Family Connections® (CLFC) curriculum is listed on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. This original version was adapted by the CLFC program developer, Ted N. Strader, to specifically address stresses within a marriage when one of its members is in recovery for substance abuse, incarcerated or reentering the community after a period of incarceration, military service, or any other form of physical or emotional separation.

The Creating Lasting Family Connections® Marriage Enhancement Program helps couples to develop a variety of skills married partners find useful in establishing or re-establishing family harmony. Topics include marriage enrichment, effective communication, refusal and conflict resolution skills, using positive parenting techniques, and encouraging other responsible and healthy attitudes and behaviors.

Components of the Creating Lasting Family Connections® Marriage Enhancement Program

Couples are provided the opportunity to complete exercise and practice skills specifically designed to:

• Strengthen relationship skills
• Develop emotional awareness and expression skills
• Develop effective communication skills
• Help uncover hidden motives and dynamics in relationships
• Help couples learn more about themselves and their partners
• Help couples recognize and meet each others deepest emotional needs

In a quasi-experimental research study with a comparison group conducted by Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) and McGuire & Associates, the adapted version of CLFC also achieved statistically significant improvements in all 9 of the following targeted measures:

• Communication skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Intrapersonal skills
• Emotional awareness skills
• Emotional expression skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Relationship management
• Relationship satisfaction
• Relationship commitment

In addition to the quasi-experimental research study, respondents to module-specific CLFC retrospective surveys analyzed by McGuire & Associates showed the following promising results:

• 96% of respondents “agree” or “strongly agree” that they have a clear understanding of how their experiences growing up might influence their relationship with their partner following their involvement in CLFC.
• 97% of respondents “agree” or “strongly agree” that they feel capable of validating their partner’s and other’s thoughts and feelings following their involvement in CLFC.
• 70% more respondents “strongly agree” that they have the skills to develop a closer relationship with their partner following their involvement in CLFC.
• 50% more respondents “agree” or “strongly agree” that they ask their partner what he/she is thinking and feeling before they make a joint decision following their involvement in CLFC.

The Creating Lasting Family Connections® Marriage Enhancement Program is offered in 2 Flexible Formats:

Weekend Retreat/16 hour Program

8 Session/16 hour Program

In other words, a couple may receive 16 hours of marriage and family enhancement skills over the course of one weekend in a retreat setting or 16 hours in 8 sessions over the course of 8 weeks (1.5 to 2 hours session per week) depending upon the format that best meets their current needs and preferences.

The Creating Lasting Family Connections® Marriage Enhancement Program Testimonials

“I have been thoroughly impressed with the Healthy Marriage classes presented by COPES. This is a learning tool that has helped me and my partner to both continue to grow and be ourselves. I would strongly recommend this class to anyone who hasn’t had the chance to deal with COPES programs before. The staff and personnel were wonderful. I’m glad that I joined the class.”
– Landon P.

“I believe that the COPES Healthy Marriage Program is a very positive & useful program to help couples individually and collectively to establish or re-establish a positive foundation in their relationships.”
– Navada P.

“I learned how to listen and talk to my wife! God Bless!!”
– Lawrence P.

“We feel that this class has helped us tremendously. We can now express ourselves or one another without fighting and we now argue fairly. We also learned a lot about ourselves as individuals. We learned about our past and how that applies to our daily lives and relationships.”
– Tenica & Max

If you are interested in this CLFC Marriage Enhancement Program, CLICK HERE.