PARTNERS for Students
Half of all mariages end in divorce. People blame financial pressures, job problems, child care challenges. But the real problem isn't the stress. It's how a couple handles it—what they expect from each other, how they communicate, how they resolve conflicts.
When poor skills ignite with explosive issues, divorce begins to look like the only opion. But it is no panacea. Divorce brings with it problems of its own. Alimony payments and child custody disputes are just two of the more obvious.
That's why PARTNERS for Students was designed: to give high school teenagers a first-hand understanding of the challenges in a marriage before they marry. It teaches the relationship skills essential to creating a lasting partnership. The PARTNERS goal is to help people realize that when couples work together to build a healthy relationship, the joys and benefits of marriage will prevail.
PARTNERS Curriculum
Read more about the curriculum and download a sampler (.pdf)
How to Order
The PARTNERS for Students package is available for $200 (plus shipping/handling). Package includes a DVD of five program videos and a CD-ROM of the curriculum manual. For a full product description, visit the Partners product page.
Order online or contact the ABA Service Center at 800-285-2221 and ask for Product Code 5130075.
PARTNERS Sponsors
PARTNERS for students was jointly developed and produced by a group of professional organizations that recognized the importance of teaching young people the skills they needed to prevent divorce before marital decisions were made. The curriculum was based on educational and counseling models of instruction. PARTNERS is produced by:
American Bar Association Section of Family Law
Drawing on the expertise of its members nationwide, the Section of Family Law brought to PARTNERS an indepth knowledge about why couples divorce and the incentives that might keep couples together. Section members, having seen the widereaching and devastating effects of divorce, are committed to finding alternative ways to preserve the institution of marriage.
The PAIRS Foundation
PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills) is a nonprofit foundation that has provided programs nationwide to teach adults the relationship skills critical to successful partnerships. PAIRS adapted their specific relationship building and maintenance techniques for high school students.
PARTNERS was developed in cooperation with Pennsylvania State University, Ohio University, The National Education Association and The National Association of School Board Directors.
