Regional intermediaries to help build healthy marriage network
 HHSC has taken a significant step toward implementing a new law designed to strengthen marriage in Texas. Twelve organizations around the state have been designated as regional intermediaries and will be responsible for ensuring healthy marriage services are available in their regions.
The healthy marriage initiative, dubbed “Twogether in Texas,” promotes free, skills-based marriage education classes and provides couples contemplating marriage with the tools they need to manage the challenges inherent in relationships.
Classes will be taught around the state and will include eight hours of training focusing on communication skills, conflict resolution and the elements of a healthy marriage. The free classes will be open to all couples – those who are seriously dating, engaged to be married or those who have been married any length of time.
The new healthy marriage law, which takes effect Sept. 1, also builds in an incentive for couples not yet married to take one of the free premarital education courses. Those that complete the course will not have to pay the state fee for a marriage license, which increases in cost on Sept. 1 from $30 to $60. They also will be able to forgo the 72-hour waiting period before getting married.
The newly named regional intermediaries will be looking for paid and volunteer premarital education providers to conduct classes in their regions and help build up the statewide network. Faith-related or community organizations interested in offering classes are encouraged to call or e-mail their regional intermediary for more information.
Healthy Marriage Regional Intermediaries
Region 1: High Plains
The Legacy Group
705 Van Buren
Amarillo, TX 79101
Joe Mac Innis, Program Director
806-372-9700
jmacinnis@legacyatwork.com
Counties: Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cohran, Collingsworth, Crobsy, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, King, Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Lynn, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randalls, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Yoakum
Region 2: Northwest Texas
Texas Family Institute, Inc.
100 Chestnut, Suite 101
Abilene, TX 79602
Suzanne Perkins, Project Director
325-670-0969
suzanne@abilenecounseling.com
Counties: Archer, Baylor, Brown, Callahan, Clay, Coleman, Comanche, Cottle, Eastland, Fisher, Foard, Harderman, Haskell, Jack, Jones, Kent, Knox, Mitchell, Montague, Nolan, Runnels, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor, Throckmorton, Wilbarger, Wichita, Young
Region 3E: Metroplex - Dallas
Alliance for North Texas Healthy Effective Marriages
1402 Corinth Street
Dallas, TX 75215
Cosette Bowles, Executive Director
(214) 231-7093
Email: cosette.bowles@anthemnorthtexas.org
Counties: Collin, Fannin, Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall
Region 3W: Metroplex-Fort Worth
The Parenting Center
1111 W. Abrams, Suite C
Arlington, TX 76013
Cindy Stumph
817-275-7576
cstumph@theparentingcenter.org
Counties: Cooke, Denton, Erath, Grayson, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant, Somervell, Wise
Region 4:Upper East Texas
Longview Wellness Center
1107 E. Marshall Ave.
Longview, TX 75601
Justin Waite
903-758-2762
justin@wevownow.com
Counties: Anderson, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Franklin, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Rains Wood, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt
Region 5: Southeast Texas
Family Services of Southeast Texas
990 IH 10 North, Suite 140
Beaumont, TX 77702
George Iles
409-833-2668, etx 116
giles@familyservicessetx.org
Counties: Angelina, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Tyler, Trinity
Region 6: Gulf Coast
Family Services of Greater Houston
1600 Lake Front Circle, S#218
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Maggie Russell, Project Director
Office 281-292-4155, ext. 234
mrussell@familyservices.org
Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Waller, Walker, Wharton
Region 7: Central Texas
Lutheran Social Services
8305 Cross Park Drive
Austin, TX 78754
Patricia Polega
512-454-4611; 800-396-4611
Patricia.polega@lsss.org
Counties: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Coryell, Hays, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Llano, Madison, McLellan, Milam, Mills, Robertson, San Saba, Travis, Washington, Williamson
Region 8:Upper South Texas
Family Service Association
702 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX 78212
David Blegen, Director of Agency Services
210-299-2415
dblegen@family-service.org
Counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Calhoun, Comal, DeWitt, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Jackson, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Lavaca, Maverick, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Wilson, Zavala
Region 9: West Texas
American Grant Management
4600 A N.E. Loop 338
Odessa, TX 79763
Preston Chancellor, Project Director
432-889-3617
preston@amgrant.com
Counties: Andrews, Borden, Coke, Concho, Crane, Crockett, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Irion, Kimble, Loving, Martin, Mason, McCullouch, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Reagan, Reeves, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Upton, Ward, Winkler
Region 10: Upper Rio Grande
Model Cities - El Paso
2267 Trawood E-2
El Paso, TX 79935
Roger O'Dell, Executive Director
915-591-0404
rogerthat@aol.com
Counties: Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Presidio
Region 11: Lower South Texas
Nueces County Community Action Agency
101 South Padre Island Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78405
Alma A. Barrera, Healthy Marriage Manager
361-883-7201, etx. 42
abarrera@nccaatx.org
Counties: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Cameron, Duval, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Mc Mullen, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Webb, Willacy, Zapata.
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