Parent Support Services (PSS)
Goals
The goals of Parent Support Services (PSS) are to:- Provide parenting classes which shall address how parents can create more satisfying relationships with their children through effective communication, anger and stress management, and greater understanding of child development.
- Provide children's classes which shall include instruction to improve communication and problem-solving skills, and personal safety. The class shall include self-esteem building activities.
- Provide interactive activities for parents and children in order to improve the manner in which family members relate.
- Provide in-home support services for families and individuals enrolled in the TIPS (Training in Positive Parenting Skills) classes.
- Provide training and supervision of staff and volunteers.
- Provide culturally relevant services to ensure equal access to services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) clients.
- Provide coordination of services to ensure that the class members receive consistent information, care and treatment.
Objectives
Parent Support Services intends to achieve its goals through the implementation of the following objectives.- A minimum of three parenting programs will be offered each quarter, for three quarters per year. Each quarter will consist of ten weeks of classes. The programs provided will each serve a unique population of the at-risk community. These programs will vary slightly in form and content, according to the needs of each class.
- Parents will receive instruction from an adult educator for one hour of each class period. Subjects may include such topics as behavior management, self esteem, problem solving, coping skills, and child development.
- Children will receive instruction from several Early Childhood Education Specialists, Early Childhood Education Aides, and students for one hour of each class period. Subjects may include improving communication, problem solving skills, and self-esteem building activities. Instruction will take the form of art and/or play activities.
- Parents and children will spend approximately one hour of class time participating in interactional activities. These may include crafts, large motor activities, snack, story time, singing, finger plays, and interactive games.
- Class members will be offered the opportunity for in-home and one- on-one individual
support. Each quarter, the Program Coordinator will attempt at least two
out-of-class contacts with each class member. These families will receive at
least one of the following services:
- Parent skill training
- Child development training
- Self-esteem building
- Goal setting
- Problem solving
- Home management
- Coping Skills
- Developing social support systems
- Supervision of staff and volunteers will include one-half hour designated for staff meetings each class session. Program Manager, Program Coordinator and Parent Educator will meet a minimum of two hours per week for staff and case consultation. Staff training will consist of quarterly in-service days and other opportunities as available.
- A qualified interpreter will be provided for any family who has limited proficiency in the English language and wishes to participate in a parenting program.
- An average of 60 contacts with other service providers will be made by the Program Coordinator for the purpose of coordination of family services. Such contacts may include court appearances, participation in DCFS staff meetings, and consultations with caseworkers, public health nurses, substance abuse counselors, doctors, teachers, mental health counselors, etc.
PSS Classes
PSS offers a variety of classes to parents who wish to improve their parenting skills and family relationships. While enrolled in child study labs and lectures, students are introduced to skills to use with children or adolescents through classroom participation, lecture and discussion. Areas of focus may include observation, child development, brain development, child guidance, behavior management techniques, separation anxiety, temperament styles and positive communication.TIPS—Training in Positive Parenting Skills:
Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30-11:30 am-or-
Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm
One-hour parent-child interaction lab component and one hour parent education component are offered each day. Competency-based parent education instruction and evaluation are offered in this (Training in Positive Parenting Skills) program. Although children's attendance is not required, it is a benefit to the parent as he/she learns and practices interactive skills and a benefit to the child as he/she develops a more positive relationship with the parent in a supervised and structured setting.
Class meets the requirements of a Court-ordered parenting program.
(4 credits) ($40 fee per adult per quarter)
Family Relationships:
Dates and times to be announced.Cascade School in Chehalis
Jefferson-Lincoln School in Centralia
America’s Most Practical and Entertaining Parent Training Class:
Becoming a Love and Logic Parent
A ten-week video parent training program designed by the Love and Logic® Institute, Inc.
This class does not have a laboratory (parent-child interaction) component
The class does not meet the criteria for a Court ordered parenting class.
(2 credits) ($20 fee per adult per quarter includes handbook)
Parenting Adolescents:
Tuesday evenings from 6:00 pm-8:30 pmThe focus of this class is on parents who have adolescent children (class during winter quarter focuses on pre-adolescent children ages 9-12) with whom they wish to improve communication and relationships. The adolescent children are required to attend with their parents. The class provides a separate learning experience for parents and teens, a meal, and a time for parents and teens to practice skills together. This class may meet the requirements of a court-ordered parenting program for adolescents.
(3 credits) ($30 fee per adult per quarter)
Winning at Fatherhood:
Fathers will understand positive parenting techniques while building a more positive relationship with their children. Includes discipline without fear or violence and nurturing relationships with children. Cost includes handbook.(2 credits) ($20 fee per adult per quarter)
First Relationships:
Spring Quarter, call for more information.This class is designed to help expectant and new parents understand the development of, while building a more positive relationship and encouraging bonding with their newborn. Students will participate in adult discussion and lecture. Areas of focus include: reading and responding to infant cues, attachment and infant brain development.
(.5 credits / $4.50 per quarter)
Crianza Con Cariño:
Thursday or Tuesday evenings, 5:30-7:30 pmNot every quarter. (Family Relationships in Spanish) (evening and location may vary).
Through an educational lecture/lab class, parents will have the opportunity to better understand the mental, social and emotional needs of children, and to improve their own parenting skills. The classes are based on parent/child activities and parent education. (2 credits) ($20 fee per adult per quarter).
Por medio de una clase de laboratorio educativo, padres tendran la oportunidad de mejor entender los necesidades fisicas, mentales, sociales, y emocionales de los ninos y mejorar las tecnicas de criar los hijos. Los clases incluyen actividades familiales y educacionales para los padres.
Learning with Infants and Toddlers:
Fridays, 10:00 am-12:00Parents learn to understand and enjoy their child's first three years of life. Lectures and discussions focus on physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development of children birth through 36 months. Children attend with parents and participate in learning activities, music, play and art interactively with their parents.
(2 credits) ($20 fee per adult per quarter $15 lab fee)