• Half of new parent couples experience moderate to severe declines in marital satisfaction (Belsky & Kelly, 1994).
• One-third to one-half of new parent couples experience as much marital distress as couples already in therapy for marital difficulties (Cowan & Cowan, 1995).
• One-third or more of both mothers and fathers experience significant depression as they become parents (Cowan & Cowan, 1995; Jordan, 2000).

The Becoming Parents Program was developed to mitigate these negative effects, fortify the adult couple relationship, and prepare couples for success in the most important job they will ever have.

Unfortunately, the emphasis in the United States has been on preparing parents for the events of labor and birth rather than the lifetime of parenting that follows. During labor and birth couples are surrounded by more lay and professional support than they ever will be again unless they experience a life threatening illness. Then they are thrust back out into a culture of individualism and isolation.

The Becoming Parents Program provides couples with survival skills for taking care of their couple relationship, taking care of themselves, relating to their baby, and dealing with the many ways becoming parents impacts their lives. The program empowers couples to make their own decisions and use their unique capabilities to strengthen their relationship and create a healthy environment for their child.

Implementing the Becoming Parents Program is a profound gift to your community. There is no other program like it. Although developed for the initial transition to parenthood, it can be used with couples adding a subsequent child, adopting couples, and foster parents. It is appropriate for both married and unmarried couples and couples of any age, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. The Becoming Parents Program will be available in Spanish in the winter of 2005.

Preparing to be a Becoming Parents Program instructor does not require a particular degree. One just needs to be passionate about childbearing or expanding families, committed to learning the program content and adhering to the curriculum, and a dynamic and engaging presenter. The comprehensive 4-day instructor training provides the foundation and specifics to implement the program.

"If you’re having a baby, the Becoming Parents Program will help give your baby the most important gift of all—parents who know how to keep their relationship happy, satisfying, and stable—the kind of relationship your baby can count on and learn from."
-Diane Sollee, MSW, director, Coalition for Marriage, Family, and Couples Education