The new statewide Twogether in Texas healthy marriage initiative is offering $60 off San Saba County couple’s marriage license fee. All the couple has to do is attend a free eight-hour healthy marriage workshop. The workshop will be held at the San Saba Health Services Center (Dove Project), 2005 West Wallace, Suite 5, San Saba, TX, from 8 a.m. to5 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2009.

Through a recent provision passed by the Texas Legislature, couples who complete a state approved eight-hour marriage workshop do not have to pay the state’s marriage license fee – which was recently increased to $60, double the previous rate. These couples will also have the 72-hour waiting period to receive their marriage license waived. The secular marriage education workshops are offered at no cost to engaged couples.

“Recent studies show that couples that take pre-marital education classes have a 30% higher success rate in their marriages,” said Patricia Polega, Director of Marriage Education with Lutheran Social Services of the South, the agency selected by the state to coordinate the Twogether in Texas initiative in 30 Central Texas counties, including San Saba County.

“Statistics show that children from healthy marriages do better in school, enjoy better physical and mental health, and have a reduced rate of alcohol and substance abuse,” said Polega. “Married couples tend to make more money and live longer lives. Studies show that couples who take pre-martial education courses like what we’re offering through the Twogether in Texas program stay together longer. We want couples all over Central Texas to reap the benefits of these workshops.”

The Twogether in Texas healthy marriage initiative promotes free, skills-based marriage education and provides couples with the tools they need to manage the challenges inherent in relationships. Research has shown that couples who receive relationship education have more stable relationships, increasing favorable outcomes for themselves and their children.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission recently named Lutheran Social Services of the South (LSS) as one of 12 Regional Intermediaries across Texas for the Twogether in Texas Healthy Marriage initiative. As Regional Intermediary, LSS will be responsible for ensuring healthy marriage services are available in its 30-county region, (extending from Hill County to Hays County and from San Saba County to Grimes County).

Lutheran Social Services of the South is a 126-year-old agency that serves more than 35,000 children, elderly and poor annually. Its ministry includes children’s residential centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, children’s emergency shelter, senior retirement communities, long-term disaster response and emergency assistance.

For more information on the Twogether in Texas initiative, please call Tina Zych at Lutheran Social Services of the South at (800) 396-4611 or email twogether@lsss.org.

To register for the (date) Feb. 7, 2009, Twogether in Texas pre-marital education workshop in San Saba, please call (325) 372-4357 or email doveproj@centex.net.