Prevention Programs

Programs are designed to strengthen, educate and empower participants on how to keep safe and maintain healthy lifestyles. Programs are delivered through parenting groups, family programs, children’s groups, a home visiting program and school based prevention programs.

· Parenting Programs
· Grandparents as Parents
· Child Custody Stress Prevention Program
· Strengthening Families

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Parenting Programs

Focus upon the various needs of caregivers in search of education and support during the challenging times of parenting.

Groups are designed to meet the needs of caregivers interested in improving their parenting skills and developing child-rearing knowledge and skills. Program content may include:

• Using love and limits
  
• Encouraging good behavior and using consequences in a positive way
  
• Building family communication and using family meetings
  
• Developing own personal parenting goals
  
• Understanding family values and roles
  

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Grandparents as Parents

Grandparents as Parents is a support group for grandparents who are currently caring for their grandchildren. The group provides a forum in which to share concerns and assist one another in developing solutions to many difficult situations. Program content may include topic such as:

• What can I do to raise a child in this day and age?
  
• How can I maintain healthy relationships with family and friends during this stressful time?
  
• How can I help us all cope with my grandchild’s parents?

Grand Parenting - Last Tuesday of each month
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Child Custody Stress Prevention Program

Child Custody Stress Prevention Program works with separating/divorcing parents to focus attention on the needs and development of their children.

Striving to prevent more serious social and emotional harm to children, the program attempts to reduce the conditions which produce stress.

The program focuses on the need for stability between separating parents, to more constructively address custody issues and enhance co-parenting, where it is safe to do so.

Children and parents benefit by experiencing less stress in their lives at an already difficult time.

Since its inception in 1982, this program has helped thousands of families through the difficult process of divorce.

Topics include:

Parents and Children
• Changes caused by marital separation
• Separating marital from parental issues
• Establishing a business like relationship
• Cooperative and parallel parenting

Children's Needs
• Children's reaction to divorce, loss, change
• Helping children cope with family re-adjustments
• Successful outcomes for children of divorce
• Talking to children about family change Conflict Resolution and Mediation
• Conflict reduction methods
• Mediation and its application
• Continued parenting and taking
• responsibility for meeting children's needs The Legal System
• Child custody law, history, trends
• How courts determine custody

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Strengthening Families

Strengthening Families is a nationally recognized and evaluated program for parents and youth ages 10 – 14 years. The program is designed to improve family communication, improve family problem solving skills and prevent drug/alcohol use. In the first hour of each session, parents/caregivers and youth meet separately; in the second hour they come together to share and discuss what they’ve learned. The program includes a light family meal. The program runs for 8 weeks meeting once a week. Program content includes:

Parent/Caregiver session includes:
· Protecting against substance abuse
· Handling stress
· Using love and limits
· Encouraging good behavior and using consequences
· Getting help for special family needs

Youth Session includes:
· Drug and alcohol prevention, including skills to resist peer pressure
· Understanding the importance of rules and consequences
· Anger management skills to help deal with frustrations
· Appreciating parents

Family session includes:
· Improving communication and problem solving skills with youth
· Learning to appreciate the importance of having fun together
· Holding family meetings used to improve overall family functioning