FAQs
- About
- FAQs
We are proud to say that we have served over 650 couples over the last five years. 99% of the couples report that the program has helped them in their relationships in better managing conflict and bill paying together. Individuals also report feeling less stressed as a result of improved stress management skills. We believe that when partners have healthy communication and work on their finances together they can build stronger families.
The workshops are facilitated by a couple’s expert and a financial expert. The couple’s expert is a licensed marriage and family therapist or a professional counselor who has experience working with couples. The financial expert has professional experience working with finances and is usually an accredited financial counselor.
Each workshop series occurs over six consecutive weeks, once a week, and on the same day and time each week. In the case of a planned holiday observance, we will skip that week and continue on the following week so that each of the six sessions is completed. Each workshop session is 2.5 hours long, except the final session. The final session is 3 hours long. Given that these are workshop series, couples should only sign up for one series/one date on Eventbrite.
Couples can choose the day and time that works best for them! We offer workshops on weekday evenings (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. OR Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Couples will continue to have access to their case management services AND the opportunity to participate in three monthly 1-hour “refresher sessions.” After the third refresher session, couples graduate from the program and case management services come to an end. Couples take new skills and knowledge with them and have access to the TOGETHER Program online community with continued tips and updates through a mobile app, email, and social media.
Both types of sessions are facilitated by a couple’s expert and a financial expert. The sessions during the 6-week workshop are longer and follow a specific curriculum while the refresher sessions are shorter and meant as refreshers of the workshop curriculum as well as a place for questions that may have come up for our couples after the completion of the workshop. Research shows that couples who “boost and refresh” their skills on a monthly basis have more positive results in the future. Our workshops aim to provide skills and tools that will last a lifetime.
You heard correctly! Because we are offering this workshop as a part of a federally funded grant, couples complete surveys about themselves and their participation. All identifying information collected is kept confidential. Gift card incentives are provided to our couples for completing these surveys during the primary six-week workshop. Incentives are not provided to attend the refresher sessions, but we encourage couples to attend and utilize the expertise of our facilitators!
There are usually 5 to 10 couples participating in each workshop. This is a great opportunity to get to know other couples in the local area. Workshop cohorts in the past have bonded over shared experiences that have led them to pursue friendships after their time in the program. We pride ourselves on fostering a safe, confidential, and accepting environment.
Each workshop session includes topics that build upon each other. Sessions 1-3 focus on building couples’ skills like healthy communication, stress management and problem solving. Sessions 4-6 focus more on building financial management skills.
There are a few requirements to participate in the TOGETHER Program. These workshops are for couples, so both partners must be willing to participate and must attend the first session together. Each individual must be 18 years of age or older, able to read, write, speak or understand either English OR Spanish, and have an address in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia) area.
The TOGETHER Program is a project through University of Maryland, College Park thanks to funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Since there are grants and programs similar to TOGETHER funded throughout the country, we are only able to serve couples in the DMV area so we do not interfere with other grantees’ geographic locations.
The TOGETHER Program is a federally funded program. Our specific grant is for Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF): Family, Relationship and Marriage Education (FRAMEworks). We are currently funded for 5 years from October 2020 through September 2025. Therefore, all of our services are free of charge! Not only are our workshops and case management services available for free, but we also provide gift card incentives for workshop participation and survey completion. We are able to continue providing our workshops for free THANKS to your participation in workshop sessions and the feedback that you provide in your surveys.
There are two types of incentives for two different types of surveys. We have programmatic surveys administered by our case managers within our funding agency’s secure database called HMRF nFORM. For these surveys, up to $160 per couple is provided in gift cards. We also administer additional questionnaires through the University of Maryland. For these surveys, up to an additional $100 per couple is provided in gift cards. Your identifying information and private information is kept completely confidential. If all surveys are completed and all workshop sessions are attended by both partners, each couple could receive up to $260!
We understand the challenges that come with childcare so we welcome children under 2 years of age if both partners are in attendance and one partner will step out of the room with the child as needed. Children over 3 years of age should be left in the care of a trusted adult. We can also help with childcare! We are able to reimburse a licensed childcare provider of your choice for the time that you spend in our workshops. If your child is under 12 years of age, we will reimburse a licensed child care provider for up to 20 hours and up to $17/hour.
You will be assigned a case manager from the very beginning! Your case manager will reach out to you and your partner via phone and email to provide more information and answer any questions you may have.
Your case manager will send a link to a University of Maryland database called Qualtrics where you can read over the program’s consent form, agree to participate, sign and then complete a short safety screening to ensure that this program is a good fit for you and your partner. Each partner will complete the Consent Form and screening separately. You can watch this video to find out more about the Consent Form and how to complete it.
Upon completion of the Consent Form and screening, your case manager will send you instructions and information on the workshop location, parking information or any additional information needed to attend your workshop. After enrolling at Session 1, you will also have access to both the TOGETHER web app and mobile app. Click sign in at the top right hand corner of this website.
Upon completion of the Consent Form and screening, your case manager will send you instructions and information on joining the workshop online via Zoom video conferencing. You can get detailed information about using Zoom to join the online workshops here.
Before the first workshop session begins, your case manager will send you the materials needed for the first session via email along with the survey link you will need to access during the first session. After the first session, once you and your partner are enrolled into the program, your case manager will mail a participant workbook directly to your house. You will also have access to both the TOGETHER web app and mobile app. Click sign in at the top right hand corner of this website.
Before the first workshop session begins, your case manager will send you the materials needed for the first session via email along with the survey link you will need to access during the first session. After the first session, once you and your partner are enrolled into the program, your case manager will mail a participant workbook directly to your house. You will also have access to both the TOGETHER web app and mobile app. Click sign in at the top right hand corner of this website.
- Feel free to let the group know through chat, mute yourself, and go to a separate space for a couple minutes to get a good stretch in, get some water, etc.
- Get the things you need to feel comfortable during the session, before the session. For example, eat before the session, bring a snack to the session, bring a comfortable pillow to sit on, etc.
- Ask (on-topic) questions that are on your mind! We understand that conversations are more naturally engaging than a lecture. Facilitators would love to engage in anything that is relevant to your situation!
- Take advantage of the breaks throughout the session. This is a good opportunity to take a mental break.
Bring note paper and write or draw about what you are learning.
- After the session, talk to your partner directly and non-judgmentally about why this program is important to you and the relationship, and how their participation is also helpful for you.
- “ This program is important to me because…”
- “ I feel X(emotion) when Y(action) happens during the session”
- Contact case manager if you feel this strategy is not working for you two
- Set your child up with an activity they enjoy.
- If your children are old enough to communicate verbally, let them know ahead of time what to expect during the session.
- “I will be on the Zoom call for the next 2.5 hours, I will check on you if you need anything in X amount of time”
- Understand that it is developmentally appropriate for your child to interrupt during the session. You can mute your mic and gently remind them of the expectations that were set ahead of time. It may be helpful to rotate this responsibility between you and your partner.
- It may be helpful to set up a special reward for your child post-session when they meet the expectations that were set up before the session.