P.E.A.C.E., Inc. welcomed a new federally funded program that promotes healthy marriage through a comprehensive public awareness campaign and by offering healthy relationships skill building classes to single and premarital couples in Onondaga County. The 5-year Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant was awarded in September 2006 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families through its Healthy Marriage Initiative. Both the public awareness campaign activities and the pre-marital healthy relationships skill building classes are well underway.

The public awareness campaign promotes healthy marriage messages and contact information for the healthy relationship classes. Billboards have been placed within Onondaga County; television and radios spots are being aired; bus shelter signs have been posted; and healthy marriage/healthy relationship signs with tear off sheets providing class information have been placed in local public transportation buses. A booth was set up at the New York State Fair August 23rd through September 3 housing 4 replicas of the healthy marriage/healthy relationships billboards; literature on the classes; marriage messages brochure; magnets with program information; information from the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center; and a brochures from Vera House (domestic violence consultants to the grant) and a brochure from the Healthy Marriage Coalition of CNY on “Keeping Love Alive In Your Marriage After Your Baby Is Born.”

The pre-marital healthy relationships skills building classes are designed for singles and pre-marital couples who meet the eligibility guidelines.* The classes are held once per week for 6 weeks and are offered throughout the year at various sites within Onondaga County. Classes are designed to give participants the skills needed to build and sustain a healthy relationship which will enhance the potential for a healthy marriage in the future. Topics include communication, commitment, conflict resolution, stages of relationships and more. Classes are free; offered in English and Spanish; and include free childcare and dinner for participants.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program or would like to sign up for classes please contact the staff of the Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant at 470-3300.

*For eligibility guidelines please see class information.

Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant
217 S. Salina St. FL 2
Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 470-3300
Fax: (315) 472-8939
Email: commedu@peace-caa.org
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm Mon. - Fri.(administration)