Broadreach Family & Community Services has announced that Active Parenting Now classes will begin in Searsport on Tuesday November 1st at the Searsport Elementary School. Classes will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm. This program offers 6 two-hour sessions and has been shown to improve parents’ confidence and ability. This is the seventh scheduled series of classes offered by Broadreach in Waldo and Knox Counties.

Active Parenting Now is a video-based education program targeted to parents of 5 to 12-year-olds who want to improve their parenting skills. Class material promotes mutual respect among family members within a democratically run family. The program teaches 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. It also teaches parents to use natural and logical consequences to reduce irresponsible and unacceptable behaviors.

These parent classes will be open to all parents and child care will be provided during class. Because of grant funds awarded by the Maine Children’s Trust, there will be no cost for parents who want to participate.

Broadreach provides a variety of services to young parents and their children in Waldo and Knox Counties. Broadreach services have been making a critical difference in the lives of area children and families since 1983.  Each year over 2000 families with children benefit from the agency’s quality education and support programs.  Broadreach has over a quarter of century expertise in delivering parenting education, family support, early childhood education and family literacy programming. Other provided parent education options include Kids First, Guiding Good Choices, and the Nurturing Fathers Program.

If you would like to learn how to register for Active Parenting Now, or learn more about our parent education offerings, please call Patrick Walsh at 207-338-2200 ext 109 or e-mail pwalsh@brmaine.org.

Active Parenting Now is a video-based education program targeted to parents of 5 to 12-year-olds who want to improve their parenting skills. Class material promotes mutual respect among family members within a democratically run family. The program teaches 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. It also teaches parents to use natural and logical consequences to reduce irresponsible and unacceptable behaviors.

These parent classes will be open to all parents and childcare will be provided during class if needed. Because of grant funds awarded by the Maine Children’s Trust, there will be no cost for parents who want to participate. Pre-registration is required and enrollment will be limited.

Broadreach provides a variety of services to young parents and their children in Waldo and Knox Counties. Broadreach services have been making a critical difference in the lives of area children and families since 1983. Each year over 2000 families with children benefit from the agency’s quality education and support programs. Broadreach has over a quarter of century expertise in delivering parenting education, family support, early childhood education and family literacy programming. Other provided parent education options include Kids First, Guiding Good Choices, and the Nurturing Fathers Program.

If you would like to learn how to register for Active Parenting Now, or learn more about our parent education offerings, please call Patrick Walsh at 207-338-2200 ext 109 or e-mail pwalsh@brmaine.org.

Guiding Good Choices has been presented in many communities across the country and research has demonstrated that participating parents experience improved success in keeping their children drug and alcohol free. The program focuses on building family strengths and reducing risk factors that could make substance abuse by youth more likely. Children whose parents have completed the program have shown a 40% reduction in alcohol and marijuana use; a 54% reduction in the progression to use more serious substances; and a 26% increase in the likelihood that non-users will continue to remain drug free. But to be clear, this is a prevention program and not the best choice for parents whose son or daughter is currently using and in need of treatment.

This free five-session program will be offered at two sites and will meet weekly beginning on March 24th at Searsport District Middle School and on March 30th at Troy Howard Middle School. Sessions will begin at 6 pm and end at 8:15. Childcare and food will be provided. All parents are invited to participate, but preference in registration will be given to families whose children are enrolled in RSU 20.

Grant funds from the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant program and the Maine Children’s Trust make it possible to offer this program at no cost to parents. Sessions will be led by Patrick Walsh a parent educator from Broadreach and Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator for Healthy Waldo County. To register or for more information contact Walsh at Broadreach, 338-2200 ext 109 or by e-mail at pwalsh@brmaine.org.