UF IFAS SMARTCouples

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UF IFAS SMARTCouples

Specific programs include marriage prep classes, youth relationship education, and parenting and family skills programs for stepparents and blended families.

Strengthening Marriages and Relationship Training from UF IFAS
Learn More or Sign Up Here for Free Relationship and Parenting Education Courses: https://smartcouples.ifas.ufl.edu/classes/ UF IFAS Strengthening Marriages and Relationships Training (SMART) Couples, a project of the University of Florida’s Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences and UF-IFAS Extension, is a five-year projec

t working to strengthen marriages, relationships, and families among Florida residents across ethnicities and income levels. Through trained Extension agents and community partners, the project reaches out to married and remarried couples, engaged and dating couples, and youth to give them the knowledge and skills they need to improve their relationships and family functioning. Our services and resources address the social, emotional, and economic stability needs and well-being of individuals, couples, and youth, especially youth at risk, lower-income people, and veterans. The University of Florida welcomes your comments on our social media posts and encourages interaction among Gators around the world. We also encourage our community to foster respectful and vibrant online connections. Before you post, please consider the UF Core Values and review these UF Community Commenting Guidelines (“Guidelines”). We review all comments made and when necessary, we reserve the right to remove comments that are:

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09/05/2026

💥 Conflict is a normal part of relationships, but how we handle it can make all the difference.

Disagreements don't have to turn into personal attacks, endless arguments, or resentment. Learning how to approach conflict constructively can help us communicate more effectively and protect the relationships that matter most. 💙

This SMART Couples article explores the 10 Rules for Constructive Conflict and practical skills that can help you navigate disagreements in healthier ways.

Some key reminders include:

🧘 Take time to calm yourself when emotions are high
🎯 Focus on one issue at a time
❤️ Validate the other person's feelings and perspective
🗣️ Communicate respectfully and non-defensively
⏸️ Take a “Time-Out” when needed and return to the conversation later

The goal isn't to never disagree. It's to develop the knowledge and skills to handle disagreements without causing unnecessary harm to each other or the relationship.

📚 Looking for more practical, research-based relationship information? SMART Couples offers FREE articles, resources, research, classes, and tools to help individuals, couples, parents, and families build healthier relationships.

🔗 Read this week’s article and explore more FREE resources at www.smartcouples.org.

09/01/2026

🤔How can healthy dating contribute to healthy marriages?

The skills we practice while dating can help shape the relationships we build in the future, which is why learning how to communicate, navigate differences, and create a strong foundation matters at every stage.

📋Research emphasizes the importance of:

💬 Positive communication
🤝 Commitment and trust
🧠 Healthy conflict resolution
❤️ Building a strong friendship
✨ Realistic expectations
🌱 Continuing to learn and grow together

📚 Looking for more relationship information you can actually use? Visit the SMART Couples website at 🔗www.smartcouples.org to explore our FREE articles, research, relationship resources, and classes for individuals, couples, and families.

08/25/2026

🌱 Looking for practical ways to guide children through challenging behaviors?

The Positive Behavioral Management Skills class provides proven strategies for parents and teachers to set healthy boundaries, encourage positive behavior, and help children develop choice, responsibility, and accountability.

Learn how to respond to misbehavior, reinforce positive behaviors, strengthen relationships, and build skills that support children for the long term.

📚 Free and designed for both parents and teachers.

👉 Make the SMART choice and get started today at www.smartcouples.org. 🔗

08/23/2026

💍 The wedding is one day. The marriage is the journey.

After months of planning, excitement, and anticipation, it’s not uncommon to feel a little let down once the wedding is over. Research suggests that focusing on the marriage—not just the wedding— may help couples enter this next chapter with greater confidence and connection.

✨ Think of your wedding as a beginning, not the finish line.

If you’re preparing for marriage, Before You Tie the Knot is a FREE, research-backed premarital class designed to help you build practical skills for a healthy relationship. 💗

📖 Read “Avoiding the Postwedding Blues” and explore more relationship resources on the SMART Couples website.

🔗 www.smartcouples.org

08/22/2026

Military life can bring unique challenges for families and finding the right avenues of support is so important. 🫂

Our SMART Couples Military Couples’ Corner offers FREE resources, articles, and research covering topics like:

💙 Helping children cope with a parent’s deployment
💙 Staying connected during separation
💙 Supporting children through transitions
💙 Parenting and maintaining healthy family relationships
💙 Adjusting when a service member returns home

👉Explore these and other FREE relationship and family resources at www.smartcouples.org. 🔗

🤔Know a military family who could use these resources? Share this post with them!

08/19/2026

💭 Have you ever thought about how you want your story to be remembered?

Talking about the end of life can feel uncomfortable, but planning ahead can be an important way to care for yourself and the people you love. Our resource, "Writing Your Own Story" encourages us to think about our legacy, record the memories and experiences that have shaped us, and have meaningful conversations about our wishes for the future.

This resource explores ways to:
✨ Tell and preserve your life and family history
✨ Reflect on the legacy you want to leave
✨ Communicate your end-of-life wishes with loved ones
✨ Navigate difficult conversations with greater intention
✨ Strengthen relationships through forgiveness, gratitude, love, and closure

You don’t have to wait until a crisis to start these conversations. Sometimes, planning for the future is simply another way of showing the people we love that we care about them.

📖 Explore “Writing Your Own Story” and discover more relationship, family, and life-planning resources on the SMART Couples website: www.smartcouples.org

08/16/2026

No matter where you are in your relationship, our UNITED – Marriage Enhancement Training, offers practical skills to help couples build and nurture their friendship, strengthen communication, manage conflict, and grow together.

✨ UNITED is FREE, and the benefits are priceless.

Ready to strengthen your relationship? Make the SMART choice and register today!

🔗 Visit www.smartcouples.org to learn more.

08/14/2026

💰 Money can be stressful... but debt doesn’t have to become a relationship problem.

Debt and financial disagreements can put strain on a relationship, but couples can work together to build healthier financial habits. From creating a spending plan to setting shared goals and learning how to talk about money constructively, small steps can make a big difference.

💬 Ready to get on the same page about money? Check out “Why Debt Destroys Marriages and How to Fight Back” and explore more free relationship resource on our website 🔗 www.smartcouples.org

08/11/2026

🖍️✨ Are you parenting with a highlighter or a permanent marker?

Every child makes mistakes, but what if the moments we choose to highlight matter just as much as the moments we choose to correct?

Research shows that positive parenting helps children build confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop healthy behaviors. By noticing and encouraging what children are doing well, parents can help those positive behaviors grow over time.

Small changes in how we respond can make a lasting difference. Whether you're a new parent, a seasoned parent, or simply looking for fresh parenting ideas, this resource offers practical, evidence-based strategies you can start using today.

Explore this article and discover more free parenting and relationship resources at 👉 www.smartcouples.org

08/08/2026

💍❤️ A strong marriage starts long before the wedding day.

Whether you're dating, engaged, or simply thinking about the future, investing in your relationship now can help you build a healthier, stronger partnership for years to come.

Our Before You Tie the Knot course is a free, online, self-paced workshop designed to help singles and couples develop practical, real-world relationship skills.

You'll explore topics like:
💬 Healthy communication and conflict resolution
💵 Managing money as a team
👨‍👩‍👧 Positive parenting and family relationships
🌱 Building healthy lifestyle habits together
❤️ Strengthening trust, connection, and long-term relationship success

Start Before You Tie the Knot today and explore more free, evidence-based relationship resources at 👉 www.smartcouples.org

Address

University Of Florida/IFAS Extension, Department Of Family, Youth And Community Sciences, 3028 McCarty Hall D
Gainesville, FL
32611

Telephone

+13522733507

Website

http://www.smartcouples.org/

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