What is Twogether in Texas?
Twogether in Texas is a Texas Health and Human Services Commission sponsored initiative intended to promote free, skills-based marriage preparation classes to provide couples with the tools needed to manage the inevitable challenges found in every relationship. Premarital classes consist of 8 hours of fun, interactive training focusing on communication skills, conflict management, and other key elements of a healthy marriage. Learn to love for life!
Maggie Russell, Project Director
Maggie has been the Twogether in Texas project director, with Family Services of Greater Houston, since February 2008. She is leading the effort to implement premarital education across a thirteen-county region in the greater Houston area. Maggie was also an advocate for this legislation, serving as the chair of the Texas Fatherhood and Marriage Leadership Institute (FAMLI) from 2006-2007. Maggie was previously the Executive Director of Northside Family Ministries in Spring, TX. She came to the non-profit world in 2001 after a 20 year career in Information Technology. Maggie has been involved with Marriage Education since the late 1990’s when she and her husband, Warren, began doing seminars at churches for premarital and married couples. Maggie was also involved for nearly 10 years with inmate families working in Prison Ministry from 1990-2001. She holds a bachelors degree from Sam Houston State University and currently lives in Magnolia, TX, with her husband. They are the proud grandparents of Elliott and Chandler. Click here to email Maggie.
Bridgette C. Jones, Community Outreach Coordinator
Bridgette joined Family Services' Twogether in Texas team in April 2008. She has a dual B.S.B.A from Old Dominion University, is currently pursuing a M.B.A from Strayer University and is a Certified Marriage Educator. Bridgette is very passionate about the vision of Twogether in Texas because of her many years working in the field of Education with at-risk teenagers. She has seen the effects that single or non-existent parenting and poverty-stricken conditions have on youth. It is her hope that through educating couples and equipping them with the skills needed to succeed in a healthy relationship, the outlook will be much brighter for our younger generation. Click hereto email Bridgette.
 Christy Garison, Administrative Assistant
Christy is currently working on her Bachelor of Ministries and hopes to complete all of her courses in 2009. “It has been so rewarding to help couples learn about our free premarital workshops.” Christy truly believes that the 8 hours of training Twogether in Texas provides can equip couples with the necessary tools to start off on the right foot and teach them how to love for life. Not only has Christy had the privilege of registering couples for the workshops, but her and her husband have also been facilitators for several workshops. “I am eager to continue this work that has been so successful, and look forward to the future and how best we can serve our couples.” Click here to email Christy.
Who are we?
For nearly 105 years, Family Services has been here to lend a hand – at every age and every stage of life.
Founded in 1904 to provide support to Houston’s families, Family Services of Greater Houston is one of the city’s oldest social services agencies.
Families have continually changed throughout the years. As they’ve changed, so has Family Services.
Today, Family Services has seven locations in Harris, Montgomery, Waller and Fort Bend counties. We also provide services to more than 40 schools and 16 community locations in the greater Houston area. Through the Twogether in Texas program we provide premarital education services to a 13-county region.
How will it help me?
By learning communication and conflict management skills in your relationship, you will be better prepared to face the everyday challenges in life. Premarital education is associated with roughly a 30% decline in the likelihood of divorce (*). Individuals who participated in premarital education reported a higher level of marital satisfaction than couples who did not. That’s a good return for an 8 hour investment of time.
Effective September 1, 2008 engaged couples in Texas who complete a qualifying premarital education class will have $60.00 of the marriage license fee waived, as well as the 72-hour waiting period. These incentives were put into place to encourage couples to consider participating in a class that will help them achieve their goal of staying married happily ever after.
(*) from "Premarital Education, Marital Quality, and Marital Stability: Findings From a Large, Random Household Survey" by Scott Stanley, Paul Amato, Christine Johnson, and Howard Markman. Journal of Family Psychology 2006, Vol 20, No.1, pgs. 117-126.
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