FAMILIES
Parents have one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs, and we recognize the importance of providing parents with support, tools, and resources to raise healthy happy children and prevent child maltreatment.
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In Sitka there are several programs designed to equip parents with healthy parenting skills, ways to talk to their children about healthy relationships, and opportunities to connect and share resources with other parents.
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There are also numerous ways that healthcare practitioners can work with families to interrupt the cycle of violence and provide families with healthy relationships guidance.
COMMUNITY CAFES
During community cafe meetings, parents capture the "harvest" from the day's conversation. Conversations typically center around the five protective factor framework linked to preventing child maltreatment and neglect.
Center for Community's Early Learning Program has been hosting Community Cafes with parents in Sitka since 2012.
Based on the World Café Model, Community Cafes are steeped in the philosophy that change occurs as a result of meaningful conversations. These series of conversations use the strengthening families’ protective factors framework to increase community wisdom, build parent voice and inspire action to improve the lives of children.
For information about upcoming community cafes, contact Lisa at 907-966-4229 or lhodges@cfc.org.
ACTIVE PARENTING NOW &
CHILDREN IN BETWEEN
Sitka Counseling and Prevention Services is a key partner on the Pathways coalition and has been implementing programs like Active Parenting Now and Children In Between to support healthy parenting.
These programs teach parents how to raise a child by using encouragement, building the child's self-esteem, and creating a relationship with the child based upon active listening, honest communication, and problem solving.
Children in Between is a co-parenting program for divorcing or separating parents. (Photo from the CIBB website)
Children in Between teaches specific parenting skills, particularly good communication skills, to reduce the familial conflict experienced by children from divorcing or separating parents. To learn more about these programs, contact Sitka Counseling at 907-747-3636 or info@scpsak.org.
TRIPLE P~POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM
Triple P is currently used in 25 countries and has been shown to work across cultures, socio-economic groups, and a variety of family structures. (Photo from Triple P website)
The Triple P ~ Positive Parenting Program is one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs in the world, backed up by more than 30 years of ongoing research. Triple P gives parents simple and practical strategies to help them confidently manage their children’s behavior, prevent problems, develop and build strong, healthy relationships.
Sitka was recently selected by the All Alaska Pediatrics Partnership to become the first community in Alaska to pilot this program. The Center for Community/Early Learning Program, a key partner of the Pathways coalition, will be coordinating the planning committee for successful implementation of the Triple P.
Triple P is designed to give parents the skills they need to raise confident, healthy children and teenagers and to build stronger family relationships. Triple P doesn’t tell people how to parent. Rather, it gives parents simple and practical strategies they can adapt to suit their own values, beliefs and needs. The benefits can be dramatic and long-lasting. For more information contact Lisa Hodges at lhodges@cfc.org.
TALK NOW TALK OFTEN
Talk Now Talk Often AK is a statewide effort developed by parents and caregivers to help increase conversations with teens around healthy relationships. As parents, you have a unique opportunity to connect with your kids and begin fostering healthy relationship conversations and skills that can be carried into adulthood.
Are you a parent of a teen? Do you have a teen in your life that looks to you for support and guidance? The more resources you have to help communicate, the better prepared you both are for the ups and downs of adolescence.
While talking with teens may not always be easy, most parents agree that it is important to have these conversations. These Conversation Cards focus on strengthening relationships and connections between youth and adults. SAFV can provide resources and training for those interested in Talk Now Talk Often AK.