Urban Community Action Network - Healthy Marriage
The Urban Community Action Network has been funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement a Healthy Marriage Initiative that will promote healthy marriage in urban communities.
Youth Classroom Instruction
Classroom presentations include 8-sessions of high school curriculum. We equip youth to make better decisions and healthier choices. Also, we educate on the benefits of marriage, anger management, conflict management, and dating violence prevention. Youth will also be provided with financial management classes on budgeting, investing, credit cards, and credit management to help build a strong financial future.
Team Revolution
There is nothing more innovative, positive, and successful than our high school students teaching the message of healthy choices to their peers. Our UCAN peer to peer component "Team Revolution" is a group of our local students committed to abstinence. They will bring a message healthy choices to their peers using positive hip-hop, R&B, dance, drama, motivational speaking, spoken word poetry, and singing in a language that will motivate youth of today.
Singles Education
Being healthy and single in the 21st century is challenge, but champions are those who are armed with the right information and the right attitude. Success is calculated based on the investments you make in order to achieve your aspirations. What is your purpose? An important part of this process is honesty, and you must be prepared for the answer. You must be willing to open the door to new positive possibilities and opportunities.
We offer workshops on finance, abstinence, anger management, conflict resolution, communication, and relationship building. We also offer premarital assessments, because married couples benefit the most when they start on the right course.
Budgeting Classes (married and unmarried)
One of the biggest conflicts in marriages involves finances. Our budgeting classes are taught by trained professionals who have extensive experience helping couples with budgeting and financial planning. Classes are offered specifically for single adults, unmarried couples, and married couples. Topics include mortgages, credit cards, debt reduction, developing a family budget, purchasing a car, and planning for college.
Marriage Education Classes
We offer a large variety of marriage education classes. Topics include conflict resolution, communication skills, intimacy, building blocks of marriage, and much more. Classes are offered near your home at various locations throughout Lake County communities. Curricula such as Love Talk by Dr. Les and Leslie Parrot are used to enhance outcomes.
Marriage Mentoring
UCAN Healthy Marriage Initiative pairs married couples with trained marriage mentors. Mentor couples meet with newly married couples monthly to help build and sustain healthy marriages. We have learned that using the marriage mentoring concept as role modeling is extremely effective.
Marital & Pre-marital Inventories (married and unmarried couples)
We use the Prepare/Enrich curriculum by Life Innovations, Inc. Prepare marital inventories are used for premarital (unmarried couples) and cohabiting couples. Enrich inventories are used for married couples. The goal of Prepare and Enrich is to explore the strengths and weaknesses of your relationship. This curriculum will help you take your relationship to the next level. You will learn assertiveness, active listening skills, conflict resolution techniques, financial planning, budgeting, and much more.
Conferences, Retreats, and Outreach Activities
We plan quarterly retreats and outreach activities for married couples, and single adults. We also have an annual marriage and singles conference. We solicit speakers and professionals to present information to help in the promotion and sustainability of healthy marriages. Coming outreach activities will include topics such as:
- Why Should I Get Married?
- How to keep your spouse as your best friend
- Overcoming Challenges of a Blended Family
- Reinforcement through Parental Involvement
