Parenting Skills Support and Education

The Fathering Initiative:

The program focuses on providing activities that encourage the involvement of a significant male role model in the child's life. They are given opportunities  to attend planned activities such as a train ride, a movie night, Dinner with Dads (where “dads” actually cook the meals), simple repair projects such as repairing a fence, roto-tilling the garden, painting the porch, etc) and many other activities

Parenting Education Resources:

In an effort to provide access to resources that support the development of parenting skills and healthy family dynamics, and encourage reading activities with children in the home; a resource library is being established for parents so they can "check out" books or other resources (videos, books on tape) that might be of interest to them, or be recommended by staff to assist them. We will be hosting library-related workshops such as “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk,” as well as offering shared activities, classes and events. The goal is to increase parents’ skills in recommended areas.

All parenting support programs incorporate pre and post-assessment tools that educators administer to program participants at the beginning and end of each program. We use these tools to assess how well parents are doing in the program, and to identify areas where they may need additional support. Perceived strengths, areas in need of improvement, self-awareness and care, relationship and parenting skills, and core beliefs are examined. Parents are offered resources and activities that encourage teamwork and support within the family structure, strengthen relationships, decrease stress, and help them pay closer attention to who their child is, so that a whole new understanding of intimacy and connecting to others can emerge.