STRENGTHENING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS - Program Goals 2005-2006 (Over-arching team goals: Filter each participant goal through a cultural lens. Professional development: Each year learn more about cultural diversity.) GOAL: Teach families throughout the life cycle to strengthen and improve relationship skills. Objective 1: Adults and youth will make choices to strengthen their family relationships. Action Steps: 1.Facilitate national satellite conference to introduce "Family Treasure Chest" - a book of activities designed to improve family strengths. 2.Develop and demonstrate innovative uses for this book. 3.Research development of Family Treasures Game. 4.Develop activities for lessons in Parenting for Life curriculum. 5.Continue TIPS columns as "Tips for Families" 6.Downlink Iowa State couples satellite series as an in-service for Nebraska staff. 7.Research & develop printed and other curriculum materials focusing on strengthening couple relationships; add marriage & couples resources to UNL for Families website. Objective 2: Grandparents will have skills and resources needed to meet the challenges of parenting their grandchildren. Action Steps: 1.Research what curriculum/resources are already developed to address this topic. 2.Resources will be added to the UNL for Families website. 3.Additional resources will be developed as needed. Objective 3: Individuals with special needs (aging, disabled, etc) will have resources available to make choices to improve their quality of life. 1.Develop partnerships to support caregivers and individuals of all ages with special needs. 2.Provide educational materials focusing on the relationship of caregivers and the aging persons receiving care, as well as the challenges of the caregivers themselves. Objective 4: Parents experiencing divorce will understand their children?s developmental stages and how they may be affected by transition, thus minimizing the trauma that children will experience. Action Steps: 1.Parents Forever will continue in Central and Eastern Nebraska and expand across the state where the opportunity arises. 2.Presentation of Parents Forever and Kids Talk About Divorce through the Nebraska Bar Association to Family Law Attorneys. 3.The 4-year evaluation of Parents Forever & Kids Talk About Divorce will be distributed statewide along with the new VIP report. Objective 5: Children of the families experiencing divorce will learn positive communication and coping skills to strengthen their family and other personal relationships. Action Steps: 1.Kids Talk About Divorce will continue in Central and Eastern Nebraska and expand across the state where the opportunity arises. 2.Presentation of Parents Forever and Kids Talk About Divorce through the Nebraska Bar Association to Family Law Attorneys. 3.School curriculum for KTAD will be previewed at the NEAFCS meeting. Training for teachers, counselors and Extension Educators will be held at ESU#9 in Hastings. 4.An interactive website for kids will be developed and located at www.wecan-nebraska.org/KTAD, monitored by Extension staff. Objective 6: Guardians will have the resources and understand the responsibilities in regard to the court and Ward. Action Steps: 1.Set training dates every 90 days in all Judicial districts except Douglas County. 2.Have at least one live training quarterly and one distance ed or polycom training in each Judicial district by Jan. 1, 2006. 3.Continue the partnership between Extension, Nebraska Supreme Court, and Nebraska Bar Association. 4.Coordinate the training needs of court appointed guardians with the 11 Extension Educators that are trained to do the training.