Family Reunification
Parent Education Classes. Parenting classes are based on Parenting Inside-Out, an evidence-based, parent-training program designed to meet the needs of justice-involved parents. Teaching parenting skills to justice-involved parents can positively impact their children and possibly prevent a child from repeating the cycle of criminality. Curriculum topics include child development; emotion regulation; effective discipline techniques; child safety, health and mental health; and effective limit setting. This twelve-week program includes lectures, group discussion and group activities. Parents may participate voluntarily or by referral. In 2008, 71 percent of the women who completed the program showed at least a 19 point increase (on a scale of 1 to 100) in their knowledge of parenting and child development.
Parent Support Groups. Parent support groups provide a safe environment in which parents learn to cope with the daily difficulties of child rearing. Parent support groups are affiliated with the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance and facilitated by professionals from THE PROGRAM. They are on going, parent driven and based on the mutual support and concern of parents for one another. With the support of the facilitator, parents determine the content to fit their immediate needs. Participants may join at any time for as long as they want. Participants may remain anonymous. There are two weekly groups and there is no charge. In 2008, 46 women participated in the group on a regular basis.
In-Home Visitation. In-home visitation services provide intensive, individualized parenting and child development services to women at risk of child abuse and/or neglect, and their children. Parents receive one-on-one instruction, observe role modeling of parenting skills and learn and practice positive discipline strategies. The parenting educator assesses the child’s social, emotional and behavioral needs and provides age-appropriate play and pro-social activities. Participants are referred to the program through Lehigh County Children and Youth Services and Northampton County Children, Youth and Families Division. Of the mothers who received in-home visitation services in 2008, 100 percent showed an improvement in their parental discipline practices over a period of 12 months.