TOGETHER: A Couple's Model to Enhance Relationships and Economic Stability

The current study sought to evaluate an intervention to promote healthy couple relationships and economic stability and mobility for low-income couples living in Northern Virginia (VA) and Montgomery and Prince George's Counties (MD) by improving personal well-being, couple's relationships, parenting and co-parenting, financial literacy and capability, employability, job placement, and retention. The approach proposed integrated two components: (1) a 20-hour evidence-informed couple group workshop called TOGETHER that integrates relationship education and financial literacy skills, followed by an optional three-hour booster session three months after TOGETHER workshop (abbreviated version of TOGETHER workshop) and (2) case management (assessment of participant needs, development of Individual and Couple Development Plan (ICDP), referrals for social and mental health services, and referrals and coordination with job and career enhancement services, linking and coordination of all services as needed). The 20-hour workshop was offered in sessions of 2 1/2 hours each and facilitated by couple and financial experts working together in all the sessions. The workshop included presentation of concepts and skills, hands-on activities to practice skills, and homework. The facilitators completed fidelity forms, were observed by the curriculum developers, and were supervised biweekly by the curriculum developers. The project involved subcontracts with the University of Maryland, Family Services, Inc. (FSI), and The Skillsource Group, Inc. for the delivery of the TOGETHER program and case management and with the SkillSource Group, Inc. for job and career enhancement services. Workshops were conducted at Virginia Tech, University of Maryland, Family Services, Inc., and community organizations that offered space. In addition to service coordination, case managers incorporated the input of TOGETHER group facilitators and employment providers to develop Individual and Couple Development Plans (ICDPs) and assess progress toward meeting goals. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated through a randomized control trial in which half of the couples were randomly assigned to a control group and half of the couples were assigned to the intervention group. Couples in the control group received no intervention but a three-hour financial workshop after the last assessment was completed whereas the intervention couples participated in the 20-hour interventions and received case management. An independent local evaluator (AVAR, Consulting) participated in the design, implementation, and most of the data analysis of the evaluation component. Participants had to be at least 18 years-old, having been living together for at least a year, and had no severe domestic violence issues, or untreated substance abuse or severe psychiatric disorders. If both partners were retired, couples were excluded from participation. After a brief phone screening, couples were invited to participate in an intake and enrollment meeting in which they were more thoroughly screened. After screening, couples were enrolled and randomly assigned by a computer generated system to either the intervention or control group. Couples in both groups completed three sets of self-report measures. The first one (pre-test) was completed on the day of the first workshop session or at intake for control couples, the second one was completed on the day of the day of hte last workshop session, or 8 weeks after the pre-test) for control couples, and the last one six months after the post-test for both intervention and control couples. After the six month follow-up assessment, participation in the program was concluded. Reimbursement to licensed child care providers that provided child care to participants' children was available. The study was largely funded by a Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grant awarded by the Office of Family Assistance, Administration of Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from the beginning of the study until May 10, 2018. As of May 10, 2018 the funding agency continued to fund the intervention component but data collection and analysis fro couples that had been randomized by May 10, 2018 and continued to receive services and to complete assessments were funded by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The study was expected to recruit 360 couples in the control group and 360 couples in the intervention group. However, due to the discontinuation of funding, 147 couples were enrolled for the control group and 145 couples were enrolled for the intervention group.