Parents/caregivers are the primary influence on a child’s development. Contact’s parenting programming is designed to help parents / caregivers communicate effectively with their children and become better advocates for them. We also provide consultation to schools and community groups to increase parent involvement and help them provide parenting support.

Parenting Support and Education consists of

• Parent Workshops
• Programs
• Training
• Consultation

Parenting Workshops

Workshops are available on a variety of subjects including discipline, cooperation and sexuality. Workshops engage parents in enriching their lives and relationships with their children. Interactive parent and teen sessions are also available.

The Future Fund of Central New York has awarded a $5,000 grant to Contact Community Services for "Living with Teens," a parenting education and support program.

Parent Time

"Parent Time" is a four-part parenting education program that provides support for parents and caregivers. Parent Time works from a parent’s strengths and personal values while providing parenting information and skills-building, including:

• Strengthening parent-child relationships through communication
• Accomplishing personal goals
• Managing stress

Parent Involvement Training and Consultation

Contact offers training for staff from schools and community-based agencies to help them:

• Increase parent interest and involvement in their children’s school and other activities.
• Work directly with parent/caregivers to increase knowledge, coping skills, and comfort level in communicating with children about stress, conflict, and sexuality issues.

Creating Parenting-Rich Communities

"Creating Parenting-Rich Communities" is a community collaborative based on a model developed by the Child Welfare League of America www.cwla.org/ . A "parenting-rich community" is defined as one that wants "all parents to have the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to raise their children well. In these communities, investing in parents is seen as essential to improving the outcomes of children, the strengths of families and the vitality of neighborhoods."

For more information, please contact Alis Sefick, Training Specialist, (315) 251-1400 ext. 119 or asefick@contactsyracuse.org .