The “Home Sweet Home” project is federally funded through the Healthy Marriage and Relationship Initiative of the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Serving the Korean communities of the Washington DC metropolitan area, New York City, NY, and Bergen County, NJ as well as the Chinese and Vietnamese communities of the metro DC area, the Home Sweet Home project consists of five (5) components that help to strengthen marital and family relationships including:
Married Couples Workshops consist of sixteen (16) hours of classes, covering the “Mastering the Mysteries of Love” curriculum, developed by renowned psychologists, Drs. Bernard and Louise Guerney and licensed marriage and family therapist, Mary Ortwein. The classes focus on the development of communication skills between partners. Couples learn how to converse more effectively with their spouse without hurting their partners’ feelings.
Premarital Education is for couples who are interested in taking the next steps in their committed relationship. Using the Prepare-Enrich curriculum’s online assessment, couples will gain a better understanding of their relationship’s strengths and learn tools to help them address problem areas.
Family Summer Camp focuses on family cohesion and parenting skills development. Two summer family camp weekends, one for Korean-speaking families and one for Chinese-speaking families, are offered annually. Through outdoor activities, art projects, and many enriching family-building activities, family members develop stronger bonds with each other and all participants learn how to make their relationships healthier and happier.
Mentoring Program is for married couples. The purpose of this program is for mentor couples who have been together in stable and loving relationships, to share their wisdom and know-how with mentee couples, who can benefit from the guidance and support of a more experienced couple. The couples can discuss many helpful topics including parenting skills, tips for better communication between partners, how to manage joint finances, and best practices for balancing work and life, especially when you have kids.
Parenting Education Program consists of six (6) hours of classes (1) helps to improve communication skills between parents and children, resulting in an overall better understanding between family members; and (2) is designed for parents who want to be better communicators with their children. This workshop teaches parents how to deliver their message effectively using communication skills allowing them to maintain a positive relationship with their children.