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Seven couples engage in an activity about maintaining strong connections in an Elevate class last month. Elevate is an eight-week program focused on reconnecting couples. (Gianna Rodriguez/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
Seven couples fill the small space that will be their classroom for the next hour and a half. Everyone is used to the routine: they sign in, grab dinner for the whole family and the couple then takes a seat at the large, square table while kids go to child care.
After they finish dinner, Lynn Dixson, the facilitator, begins class by introducing the module for the week and reminding everyone of the “Vegas rule” — whatever is said in the room, stays in the room.
The Elevate program is a free, eight-week course that guides couples to reconnect and develop their parenting skills through the UGA Extension Office. It’s part of Brightpaths, a parenting organization in Athens.
Elevate educates between 30 and 40 couples a year in the Athens area. Both in person and virtually, the program has reached more than 470 couples since its start in 2021.
Ted Futris, the author of Elevate, said 96% of couples who participate leave the program saying they feel happier with their partners.
During week six, Dixson discussed the module on “sharing,” which included group discussions and individual reflections about how couples can incorporate each other’s company in daily activities. Throughout the other weeks, couples learn how to schedule meaningful time together, work toward common goals and nurture positive interactions.
Futris said the program isn’t meant to be couples therapy, but a chance for couples to learn together.
“For one, we start by reinforcing with all our couples that this isn’t counseling,” Futris, a Family and Consumer Sciences professor at the University of Georgia, said. “We use certain strategies to make them feel comfortable in the class, so that they don't have to self-disclose if they don't want to.”
Will and Cheryl Powers, Oconee County residents who completed the most recent Elevate series, have been married for two years.
“We learned a lot from this program,” Will Powers said. “It has definitely helped with our communication.”
Elevate is funded by a five-year federal grant from the Administration of Children and Families, making the classes, dinners and child care free to couples. The program also offers incentives, such as gift cards up to $160 for completion, making Elevate’s phrase, “It ‘pays’ to elevate your relationship” true.
Jennifer Henderson, program director of Brightpaths, said she has watched couples of just about every status, whether it’s eight months of dating or seven years of marriage, participate and grow in the classes.
“We’re not counselors,” Henderson said. “It’s a very safe place, and in our experience, it’s been just a very supportive, nurturing and great class.”
Internet access, other concerns
The program is offered both in person and virtually, accommodating couples’ schedules and locations. As of now, the in-person classes take place only throughout Georgia.
Futris hopes to see an increase in couples attending the in-person classes, but he recognizes COVID-19 concerns are still a prevalent factor. While Elevate was designed to be convenient for all couples, facilitators still find some couples are hesitant to attend in-person classes.
“I will say we're having a hard time getting couples to go in person,” Futris said. “Folks are still post-COVID reluctant to do the group things and go out.”
Aside from pandemic concerns, facilitators also recognize that not everyone who wants to join the program has internet access to register for it. In Oglethorpe County, 55% of residents don’t have reliable access to broadband, making it difficult for couples who live there to register for Elevate.
“If they don't have internet or aren't able to get that registration, there's somebody that can help get that completed,” Henderson said.
To help with those who have no internet access, employees from the UGA Extension Office can help with registration over the phone.
Futris and his colleagues are also working to take Elevate to other states, such as Florida and Mississippi, and countries, such as France.
Elevate joins other places
Once they attended their “graduation” class on week eight, the couples from Athens and Oglethorpe County knew they had completed the Elevate program.
Brad and Michelle Averill, Madison County residents, will teach their own Elevate program in Madison County. With the first class beginning on April 16 at Madison County Library, couples from Oglethorpe County and Madison County will no longer have to travel to Athens for this program.
The Averills, who have been married for 17 years, say Elevate is effective. It’s the main reason why they decided to team with Futris and the Elevate team to replicate it in their county.
“It helped us to connect and identify some of the newer challenges we’re facing at 17 years, and how to deal with them,” Michelle Averill said.
Brad Averill, a public service assistant for the UGA Extension Office, is working with Futris to ensure a successful first Elevate series in Madison County.
“There’s first-responder families, there’s couples that have been together for 50 years and couples that have been together for two months,” Brad Averill said. “There’s a wide range of folks that need the information. They might not go to therapy, but they might go to a couple’s Elevate class.”