Families Receiving Support Services 

We examine the individual, couple, and family well-being of families receiving government support services and how couples relationship education can support them by providing skills to improve their relationships and reduce stress. 

Families who receive government support services (e.g., Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, home visitation services, child protective services) often experience challenges such as unemployment/underemployment, financial hardship, and family instability.

We examine the associations between relationship skills and quality, relationship and parenting behaviors, family dynamics, and individual well-being of couples receiving services.  

Funding Sources 

  • U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (2015-2020, 2020-2025, 2025-2030) 

Select Publications

  • Hargrove, C. M., Futris, T. G., Richardson, E. W., & Oshri, A. (2026). Trajectories of change following relationship education for couples raising children with disabilities. Child & Family Social Work. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.70150.

  • Richardson, E. W., & Futris, T. G. (2026). The associations between trait mindfulness, relationship efficacy, and interparental relationship quality for couples receiving support services: A dyadic data analysis. Child and Family Social Work, 31 (2), 1138–1149. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.70046

  • Campbell, A., Futris, T. G., Richardson, E. W., & Gilbert, A. (2025). Changes in relationship skills and parenting stress among vulnerable couples participating in couple relationship education before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Family Process, 64(1), e13099. https://doi.org/10.1111/famip.13099

  • Stanford, W. D., Futris, T. G., Richardson, E. W., Koss, K. J., & Brown, G. L. (2022). Social integration buffers the impact of financial distress on coparenting. Journal of Family Psychology,36(6), 919-931. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000995

  • Dai, Y., Futris, T. G., Stanford, W., Richardson, E. W., & Koss, K. (2022). The association between financial distress, conflict management, and co-parenting support for couples receiving child welfare. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39(11), 3329-3350. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221096783

  • Palmer, L., Richardson, E. W., Goetz, J., Gale., J., Futris, T. G., & DeMeester, K. (2021). Financial self-efficacy: Mediating the association between self-regulation and financial management behaviors. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 32(3), 535-549. http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/JFCP-19-00092

  • Karlsen, A., Futris, T. G., & Richardson, E. W. (2020). The dyadic effects of relationship uncertainty on relationship maintenance and damaging behaviors. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 19(4), 347-367. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2020.1837323

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