About Elevate Couples Georgia
Our mission is to strengthen couple and family relationships across Georgia by providing accessible, evidence-based relationship education that helps couples build healthy relationships, strengthen their families, and work toward greater well-being and economic stability.
Strengthening Relationships Across Georgia
Elevate Couples Georgia (ECG) is a statewide campus-community initiative led by the Couples and Relationship Enrichment (CARE) Lab at the University of Georgia in partnership with UGA Extension and state and community organizations across Georgia.
Through these partnerships, ECG connects research, education, and community outreach to provide couples with practical, evidence-based tools for strengthening their relationships and families.
The CARE Lab advances science for stronger relationships through applied research and outreach that supports individuals and couples in building strong, resilient connections.
Making an Impact Across Georgia
Since 2015, UGA and our community partners have worked together to make high-quality relationship education accessible to couples and families across Georgia. What began with concentrated community-based programming in Northeast Georgia has grown into Elevate Couples Georgia, a statewide initiative reaching couples throughout the state.
Building the Foundation
From 2015-2020, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF; Grant #90FM0081), UGA and community partners integrated healthy marriage and relationship education into existing family and children services in Northeast Georgia.
The initiative strengthened the couple and co-parenting relationships of 1,371 families, including 803 couples enrolled in ELEVATE and 568 single parents enrolled in Together We Can. Participants reported improvements in positive couple interactions, cooperative and supportive co-parenting, couple and family functioning, adult well-being, financial management practices, and economic stability.
This work was made possible through the contributions of 26 faculty and staff, 114 students, and 86 community support staff. Students included Graduate Assistants, MSW Interns, Undergraduate Interns, and Volunteers; community support staff included Facilitators, Child Care Support, and Field Assessors.
Expanding Statewide
With continued support from ACF (Grant #90ZB0010), UGA expanded ELEVATE statewide from 2020-2025, using online and in-person delivery and partnerships with UGA Extension and community organizations to make the program accessible to couples across Georgia.
From April 2021 through June 2025, 3,239 couples from 140 Georgia counties expressed interest in ELEVATE, and 1,662 couples from 120 counties enrolled in either the online or in-person program.
Participants represented couples with varied backgrounds and life circumstances, including 65% who were married, 62% who were parents of children under age 18, and one in seven who lived in rural areas.
Learn more about the couples we reached and their experiences with ELEVATE (PDF).
Most importantly, participants reported positive experiences and relationship outcomes: 88% reported increased relationship satisfaction after the program, and 95% rated the quality of ELEVATE good or excellent.
This statewide effort was powered by 104 faculty and staff and 99 students, working through 20 Dissemination Centers across Georgia. These included 12 UGA Extension county offices and 8 community partners, whose local leadership helped bring ELEVATE directly to couples and communities across the state.
- UGA Extension County Offices: Athens-Clarke, Baldwin, Chatham, Clayton, Cobb, Colquitt, Crisp, Dougherty, Houston, Monroe, Richmond, and Ware.
- Community Partners: Brightpaths, Economic Opportunity Authority, Georgia Center for Opportunity, Lanier County Family Connection, Overcomers House Inc., Refresher Community Inc., Right from the Start
Continuing to Strengthen Relationships Across Georgia
Today, Elevate Couples Georgia is building on this foundation through our 2025–2030 statewide initiative, supported by ACF (Grant #90ZB0040).
We continue to provide ELEVATE to committed couples across Georgia while expanding flexible ways for couples to participate. Couples can choose between live online workshops and a flexible On-Demand program with individualized coaching support.
Our work continues through collaboration with UGA Extension and key state and community partners, including Georgia Family Connection Partnership, Positive Childhood Alliance Georgia, and Resilient Georgia, who help us connect couples with relationship education and other resources that support healthy relationships, strong families, and greater economic stability.
Connect With Elevate Couples Georgia
For Couples
Ready to invest in your relationship? Explore upcoming ELEVATE programs and find an option that works for you and your partner.
For Community and State Partners
Interested in learning more about Elevate Couples Georgia or exploring opportunities to partner with us? We welcome connections with organizations working to strengthen couples, families, and communities across Georgia.
Email: elevatecouplesgeorgia@uga.edu
Phone: 706-542-9004