Ted Futris
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Extension and Outreach, Human Development and Family Science
Professor and Extension Family Life Specialist
227 Hoke Smith Annex
300 Carlton St.
Athens, GA 30602
workFax: 706-542-1799
Education
| Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. | Human Development and Family Studies | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 2000 |
| M.S. | Human Development and Family Studies | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 1997 |
| B.A. | Psychology/Child and Family Development | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 1994 |
Research
I research couple and coparenting relationships across various contexts in order to inform the development of educational programs and resources that promote healthy and stable families. As well, I evaluate the efficacy of family life programs in order to better understand educational practices that lead to healthy couple and family relationships.
Awards
| Award Name | Awarded By | Year Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Margaret E. Arcus Outstanding Family Life Educator Award | National Council on Family Relations | 2018 |
| Bill and June Flatt Outstanding Extension and Outreach Faculty Award | College of Family and Consumer Sciences (UGA) | 2015 |
| Best Research Article Award | American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences | 2015 |
| Outreach Faculty Award | College of Family and Consumer Sciences (UGA) | 2010 |
| Junior Achievement in Extension/Outreach Award | Gamma Sigma Delta, University of Georgia Chapter | 2010 |
| Best Research Article Award | American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences | 2009 |
| Publication Award – Guide for New Parents | National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences | 2009 |
| National Family Life and Human Development State Specialists Early Achievement Award | USDA/NIFA Division of Family and Consumer Sciences | 2005 |
Editorial Appointments
| Position | Name of Journal | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | NCFR Report: Family Focus | 2020-present |
Outreach
As an Extension Specialist, I provide statewide support in promoting family health and stability through relationship and marriage enrichment, parenting education, and community-capacity building efforts. To learn more about my active projects, visit www.gamarriages.org.
Books
Futris, T. G., Mallette, J. K, & Richardson, E. W. (2015). Relationship and marriage education program design and implementation. In J. J. Ponzetti (Ed.), Evidence-based approaches to relationship and marriage education (pp. 31-59). New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis
Current Research
I am the director of the Couple and Relationship Enrichment (CARE) Laboratory. Also, I direct the Healthy Relationship and Marriage Education (HMRE) projectfunded by an $8.2 million grant from the Administration for Children and Families. This five-year, multi-disciplinary, campus-community partnership project involves the implementation and evaluation of research-based services designed to improve healthy marriage and relationship skills and promote economic stability for families in a 12-county, mostly rural, region in northeast Georgia. I am also in the process of evaluating the impact of a new program, ELEVATE, on foster parent couples. To learn more about my active research projects, visit http://www.fcs.uga.edu/hdfs/care-lab
Journal Articles
Recent Publications. See my Curriculum Vita for a complete listing of journal articles
Richardson, E. W., Futris, T.G. & Mallette, J. (2020). Fostering confidence: Foster caregivers’ relationship efficacy and associations with marital and coparenting relationship quality. Child and Family Social Work., 25, 62-73. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12654.
Mallette, J., Futris, T.G., Oshri, A., & Brown, G. (2019). Paternal support and involvement: Impacts on long-term maternal mental health. Family Process. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12456.
Richardson, E. W. & Futris, T.G. (2019). Foster caregivers’ marital and coparenting relationship experiences: A dyadic perspective. Family Relations, 68, 185-196. doi:10.1111/fare.12354
Futris, T.G., O’Neil, C. W., Adams, T., Mancini, J., Brown, G., (2019). Variations in outcomes between foster and non-foster youth following sex and relationship education. Child & Youth Care Forum, 48(3), 377-403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-018-9484-8
Mallette, J., Futris, T.G., & Schramm, D. (2018). Fostering a culture of family-centered care: Child welfare professionals’ beliefs about fathers, family instability, and the value of relationship education. Child and Family Social Work, 23 (3), 354-363. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12422
Duncan, J., Futris, T.G., & Bryant, C. A. (2018). Association between depressive symptoms, perceived partner emotional expression, and marital quality. Marriage and Family Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2017.1414726
Futris, T. G., Sutton, T. E., & Duncan, J. (2017). Factors associated with romantic relationship self-efficacy following youth-focused relationship education. Family Relations, 66 (5), 777-93. doi:10.1111/fare.12288
Publications
See my Curriculum Vita for a complete listing of outreach publications, and visit www.gamarriages.org to learn more about my projects.
The National Extension Relationship and Marriage Education Model: Core Teaching Concepts for Relationship and Marriage Enrichment Programming. (Publication No. HDFS-E-157). Available at http://www.nermen.org/NERMEM.php
ELEVATE: Taking your Relationship to the Next Level. Available at http://www.nermen.org/ELEVATE.php
Healthy Relationship and Marriage Education Training Curriculum. Available at http://www.hrmet.org
Guide for New Parents (Publication No. CHFD-E-86). Available at http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/reach_new_parents.php
Cultivating Healthy Couple and Marital Relationships: A Guide to Effective Programming (Publication No. CHFD-E-82). Available at http://www.fcs.uga.edu/nermen/program-guide