University of Missouri

December 11, 2020

Transcript

Brian Consiglio: While picture books can often display romantic relationships as a walk in the park, in reality they take a lot of hard work and understanding. Thanks to a new 5-year grant worth over $6 million, the University of Missouri is offering healthy relationship education throughout the state.

The classes focus on preventing basic relationship problems and are a part of the ShowMe Healthy Relationshipsprogram, which is managed by MU professor Chelsea Garneau-Rosner. She said the program is a helpful resource for people looking for an alternative to more expensive and intensive interventions, like therapy.

Garneau-Rosner: “It allows us to reach more people, but it also allows us to offer a service to folks who wouldn’t necessarily otherwise be able to pay for therapy services or access other types of resources like this. But it also offers folks who might not need stronger interventions such as therapy and counseling a way they can still benefit from the educational component."

Consiglio: The classes are offered in 23 counties throughout the state of Missouri by three different program partners. Garneau-Rosner said that improving relational health throughout the state can help people deal with other public health issues as well.

Garneau-Rosner: “We do hope that by reaching so far across the state, that we can really help bring to light and bring to the forefront this issue of relational health. And really help people understand the importance of relational health and how the work that we do here can really help foster healthy connections for folks, so that they have the opportunity to weather the storm when they experience significant stressors like a pandemic.”

Consiglio: I’m Brian Consiglio, with a Spotlight on Mizzou.

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