COMMUNITY EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT
Family and Caregiver education classes are provided as a means of supporting and preserving the family and caregiver unit. Connections believes that a child or teens behavioral disruptions requires a family solution and a supportive community to facilitate lasting change. Simply, children do not have the ability to make these changes alone. We also believe parents and caregivers know what is best for their child and are committed to learning more about how to best meet their needs. Various education courses are provided onsite multiple times per week. Funding may be provided through contracts with the Departments of Child Services & Mental Health, private payment, waiver Family & Caregiver funds, and scholarship or professional courtesy donations from Connections. Routine courses offered each week at Connections which are available include:
Nurturing Parents (also offered in Spanish):
The Nurturing Parenting Program is an evidence based program validated by the National Registry of Evidence-based Parenting Programs and Practices (NREPP), a branch of the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA). It will be offered three times per week (twice in English and once in Spanish). The primary objectives of the Nurturing Parenting Program are to stop the intergenerational cycle of child abuse by building nurturing parenting skills, reduce recidivism for families receiving social services, and reduce the rate of delinquency amongst high risk youth. The Nurturing Parenting Programs have been field tested with families at risk for, or identified as, exhibiting abusive or neglectful behavior, families in recovery for alcohol and other drug abuse, families at risk for delinquency, incarcerated parents, and individuals seeking to become adoptive or foster parents
Parenting a Difficult Child:
Connections will offer a weekly evening adult course to focus on parental roles and obligations, understanding child development, and effectively problem solving in difficult circumstances. Parent courses will be guided by the philosophy of Howard Glasser, MA and. Jennifer Easley, M.A. who created The Nurtured Heart Approach: Transforming the Difficult Child. The courses will involve a rotating curriculum which can be entered into at any time. The focus of parent sessions will take the perspective that behavioral disruptions are not a child problem, and that it requires a family solution to facilitate family system changes. It is for all parents who experience frustration in parenting a behaviorally difficult child.
Parenting a Safe Child:
A monthly community seminar series on issues related to social and behavioral health issues as they impact child hood safety. Topics may include information about how to best interact with your child to address concerns related to internet safety, gang affiliation, drug and alcohol exposure, teen driving, bullying, dating violence, etc.
Divorced Kids:
A monthly four hour interactive class for parents to learn how to strengthen the family unit by focusing on what the children are going through and ways to help children cope with a parental divorce and their feelings of loss. We recognize that it is not just the adults who suffer from the affects of the event. It will also address warning signs of childhood depression and anger within your children; as well as assist them in how to handle the trauma children face during and after the family unit changes due to divorce or separation. |
Collaborating with many outstanding community partners who share our vision, we support people through creative implementation of the following services.
Click on each service for details:
Behavioral Health Services
Evaluation Services
Community Alternatives for Youths & Families in Crisis
School Based Treatment Services
Mentoring Services
Day Treatment Services
Community Education & Engagement
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