John Howard Society of Durham Region

Parenting Programs

3 Programs:

  • Cooperative Co-Parenting through Separation/Divorce (shielding children from co-parent conflict)

  • Active Parenting Now (for parents of 5 to 12 year olds)

  • Active Parenting of Teens (for parents of teens)

A certificate of completion will be issued when all requirements are met and program is complete.

 To Register:

Please call for an Intake at 905-579-8482, press “0”

 

1. Cooperative Co-parenting through Separation/Divorce

Goals:                                                                                                 

  • Shifting the focus from the conflict of the co-parents to the best interest of the children
  • Assisting parents in shifting their thinking, and role, from former spouses to co-parents
  • Educating parents about the impact of parental conflict on their child’s development
  • Helping parents identify their contributions to conflict while increasing impulse control
  • Teaching parents anger management, communication and conflict resolution skills and children’s issues in divorce
  • Consists of 7, 1.5-hour weekly classes
  • Leader facilitated and supported with Parent’s Guide and videos
  • Blends skill development, small and large group discussion, participant interaction, and weekly homeworkCooperative Coparenting through Separation or Divorce Parent's Guide

Impact to Children:

  • Reduces the child’s symptoms of stress, as parental conflict decreases
  • Diminishes the child’s sense of loyalty binds
  • Allows the child to love both parents, and all family members
  • Creates a more relaxed home atmosphere, allowing the child to adjust more effectively
  • Teaches effective communication and conflict resolution skills as modeled by their parents
  • Increasing the likelihood of keeping two active parents in the child’s life.

Impact to Society:

  • Decreases future litigation, court costs and time
  • Expands the definition of ‘family’, thereby preserving and strengthening the family structure
  • Potentially reduces adolescent drug and alcohol problems, teenage pregnancy, school drop out rates, and crime associated with children of divorce and separation
  • Potentially diminishes the likelihood of future relationship difficulties and divorce for the child

2. Active Parenting  (parents of 5-12 year olds)

  • This program has been designed to teach you a method of parenting and problem solving that will help you prepare your children to courageously meet the challenges that life will pose
  • Consists of 6, 2 hour weekly classes
  • Leader facilitated and supported with Parent’s Guide and companion video
  • Blends skill development, group discussion, parent interaction, and weekly homework
  • Highlights specific, proven-effective activities

Goals:

  • How to build courage and character in your child
  • Effective, non-violent discipline skills
  • Learn why children misbehave and how to redirect them
  • Learn about the 3 styles of parenting and why one is more effective
  • How to deal with issues of drugs, sexuality and violence
  • Natural and logical consequences
  • Active parent-child communication techniques
  • Teaching responsibility                                                              
  • Coping with bullies
  • Problem-solving in groups
  • How to hold family meetings

Impacts:                                                               

  • Better parent-child relationships including:
    • mutual respect
    • improved communication
    • increased co-operation
  • Decreases power struggles
  • Creates more confident parents and children

3. Active Parenting of Teens

  • This program has been designed to ensure that your teens develop the skills and character they need to not only survive but to thrive as they gain independence
  • Consists of 6, 2 hour weekly classes
  • Leader facilitated and supported with Parent’s Guide and companion video
  • Incorporates skill development, group discussion, parent interaction, and weekly homework
  • Highlights specific, proven-effective activities

Goals:

  • Methods of respectful disciplineAPTeenLogo_LoRes
  • Skills for clear, honest communication
  • Concrete strategies to prevent risky behaviour
  • How to be an encouraging parent

Impacts:

  • Better parent-child relationships including:
    • mutual respect
    • improved communication
    • increased co-operation
  • Decrease power struggles
  • More confident parents and children

Racism Awareness for Families

Every month is a good month for racism awareness.

“What we must do is commit ourselves to some future that can include each other and to work toward that future with the particular strengths of our individual identities. And in order for us to do this, we must allow each other our differences at the same time as we recognize our sameness.” ~Audre Lorde

These inspired words by late, great poet and civil rights activist Audre Lorde propose that if we can embrace our differences as we acknowledge our sameness as humans, we will be able to move forward together towards a world without racism. What can we do as Active Parents? Plant a seed for our children. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  1. MODEL POSITIVE BEHAVIOR.  Because children take their cues more from what we do, rather than what we say, you cannot teach respect if you speak disrespectfully. Model the behavior you hope to see in your children. Be the reflection of not only a non-racist but an anti-racist.
  • Diversify your social group. Make an effort to interact with people of all different backgrounds.
  • Speak respectfully and with kindness to all the people you encounter in your daily life.
  • Be open to learning about cultures that are different from your own.
  1. TALK.  Talk with your children about the problem of racism and the damage it causes. Parents can foster their development with their own children. The conversations don’t need to be long but there should be many. If parents do not speak to their children about racism, someone else may fill the void of their silence.
  1. EXPOSE. EXPLORE. EXPERIENCE.  Expose children to a variety of different cultures. For example, take them to Multi-Cultural Fairs and other community events where you can experience food from other cultures and learn about customs and holidays. Be inclusive not exclusive. Travel if you can, or just travel in your imagination—read books, listen to music, view art, and watch films by authors and artists from all races and cultures from all over the world. And, again—TALK about what you see and hear and feel. Talk about racism, stereotypes, and discrimination in the media to increase racism awareness.

Let’s stand together and embrace both our differences and sameness to work towards ending racism and hatred and build a better world for our future—our children.  ~Active Parenting Publishers~

General resources

From Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital