To assist adolescent parents in building healthy relationships by helping them develop their personal and relationship skills and connecting them to necessary resources.
About Us
The Strengthening Relationships/Strengthening Families (SR/SF) program was originally created by Dr. Michelle Toews to increase adolescents’ relationship skills in order to reduce intimate partner violence in 6 schools in Central Texas. This program has been funded since its inception in 2005, by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (DHHS-ACF).
Who we serve
Annually, we serve 120-160 adolescent mothers, fathers, and members of their support network (ex. friends, family), in Central Texas.
The current demographics of our participants are:
- 76% identify as Latinx
- 83% are female
- 86% receive some form of economic supports
- 24% are pregnant when they first enroll, 73% are already parenting, and 3% are participating as a coparenting team member or support.
- Most are between 14 and 21 years old (Average age: 16.5)
What we provide
SR/SF Services:
- We offer evidence-based lessons focused on healthy relationships, parenting, and coparenting in schools and to the community
- Student support – personalized support to address the needs of adolescents and their children
- Summer Academy – A two-day program with college and career readiness and life skills workshops and campus tour
In 2015, Dr. Perez-Brena became the new Program Director, and the program has grown to include services and information on parenting, coparenting, and a Summer Academy focused on college and career readiness and life skills. SR/SF now serves over 12 different schools across 8 Central Texas school districts. In 2020, SR/SF also expanded its funding to include DHHS-ACF and DHHS- Family Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) funding under the direction of Dr. Perez-Brena and Ms. Renee Perez.
Our team is passionate about helping adolescents achieve their goals & be their best selves. We're here to support & empower everyone we serve!
Ms. Renee Perez
Program Co-Director
Our Impact
Strengthening Relationships/Strengthening Families
- 2059 adolescents served since 2005
- 8 school districts served in Central Texas
- 95% adolescents said they better understand what a healthy relationship looks like
- 96% adolescents said they learned healthy relationship skills
- 96% of adolescents reported they are confident in using the skills learned in SR/SF
- 109 adolescents ended a relationship that was emotionally or physically abusive since the program began
- Our local evaluation has noted adolescents show a significant reduction in coparenting conflict and increase in healthy relationship attitudes