ShowMe Healthy Relationships (SMHR) has had ongoing funding from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. It is a partnership between the University of Department of Human Development and Family Science and multiple Community Family Agencies around Missouri. SMHR has provided relationship education, free of charge, to over 6000 Missourians and counting. When adults have healthy relationships, children and families experience greater stability. Our goal is to build strong relationships, stable families, and a better Missouri.

From 2015-2020, SMHR provided relationship education programming, to single adults and to adult couples. SMHR’s evidence-informed classes focused on helping participants understand their relationship patterns and gain new skills for healthy and satisfying relationships. During this funding cycle, additional courses in parenting, blended family relationships, personal stress management, and personal finance were also offered.

Since 2020, SMHR’s relationship education courses focus on single adults only. We take a preventative approach to help singles to create new relationship expectations and choices so that individuals can choose their partners wisely and have healthier relationships from the start, before challenges arise. We actively recruit members of the general public into our project, with an emphasis on reaching individuals who may have fewer resources and less access to services that support relationships. With our funding, any Missourian over the age of 18 who is not currently in a committed relationship, is eligible to participate in our online classes.

SMHR is committed to understanding how well our programs work in improving outcomes in personal, family, and relationship well-being. Data gathered since 2015 demonstrate that both singles and couples experience positive benefits after participating in our programs, including improved communication skills, changes in relationship expectations, and overall sense of optimism.