Prominent Relationship Training Organization Appoints Vice President to Lead Innovative Fatherhood Grant

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Healthy Relationships California (HRC), the nation's largest Relationship and Marriage Education (RME) organization, announces the appointment of K. Jason Krafsky as Vice President and Project Director of the West Coast Dads & Kids Initiative.

Mr. Krafsky, who has 19 years experience in community organizing around healthy relationships and responsible fatherhood and is a nationally recognized expert in these fields, has served as a marketing consultant to HRC since 2007, and has been instrumental in establishing the organization's outreach arm, Healthy Relationships International. As Vice President, Mr. Krafsky's involvement with the organization will increase, along with new responsibilities directing the West Coast Dads & Kids Initiative.

"I'm extremely excited to accept this position," reports Mr. Krafsky. "Over the past eight years, I have watched HRC grow beyond anyone's expectations, in the capacity of its service delivery, in RME expertise, and in national prominence. I look forward to helping steward this outstanding organization to even greater accomplishments through its work with fathers."

As a four-time recipient of Federal grants in support of healthy relationships, HRC has served over 200,000 individuals during the past decade with innovative RME programming that teaches participants the communication and problem-solving skills that are key to establishing and maintaining healthy, successful relationships in all areas of life.

This year, HRC received a five-year, $5,000,000 Federal grant to expand on the organization's work with fathers through a network of R3 Academies that will be established in seven West Coast cities. These 40-hour Academies will pioneer a comprehensive approach to Responsible Fatherhood activities, encompassing programs and support services that will equip fathers to succeed at their three most important relationships (the "3 Rs"): their relationships with their child, at work, and with their intimate partner and/or co-parent.

Participants will move through three program elements during the Academy:

• World Class Relationships for Work & Home—a 16-hour evidence-informed, skills-based RME curriculum that helps fathers strengthen their relationships both in the workplace and at home.
• JAM (Jobs and Money) Session—a 6-hour workshop that teaches financial literacy and offers employment support services.
• Raising World Class Kids—a 16-hour evidence-informed, skills-based RME curriculum that helps fathers strengthen their relationships with their children and with their partner or co-parent.

"The R3 Academy has the potential to become a best practice for the Fatherhood field," notes HRC President Patty Howell, "and I'm delighted that Mr. Krafsky will lead this effort. His expertise in the areas of program strategy, development, implementation, and marketing, and his proven track record working with our organization, gives me great confidence in a bright future for the R3 Academies and the fathers they will serve."

The inaugural R3 Academy programs will kick off this spring in metropolitan areas throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

For more information about the West Coast Dads & Kids Initiative and HRC's other RME programs, visit www.RelationshipsCA.org.

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SOURCE Healthy Relationships California