| Contact: | Stephen Bavolek, Ph.D. 3160 Pinebrook Road Park City, UT 84098 Tel: (801) 649–9599 |
| Main Purpose: | To build nurturing skills as an alternative to abusive parenting and child-rearing attitudes and practices |
| Target Group: | Families with children ages 0 through 19 at risk of abuse or neglect |
| Description: | The program is based on a reparenting philosophy. Desired outcomes are to stop the generational cycle of child abuse, reduce recidivism, reduce juvenile delinquency and alcohol abuse, and reduce teen pregnancy. Parents and children attend separate groups engaging in cognitive and affective activities that build awareness, self-esteem, and empathy. They learn alternatives to yelling and hitting, enhanced family communication patterns, and expectations that are realistic in terms of the child's stage of development. The Nurturing Parenting Program includes 13 different versions that target specific age groups, cultures, and needs. For example, there are special programs for infants, school-aged children, and teens; Hispanics, Southeast Asians, and African Americans; and children with special learning needs and families in recovery. Group sessions are held weekly for 2 to 3 hours, and for a period of 12 to 45 weeks. Programs can be held in group sites or delivered in the home setting. |
| Evaluation: | The initial program for parents of children ages 4 through 12 has been extensively field tested and validated. The evaluation studied 121 abusive adults and 150 abused children. Following the program, significant improvement was noted in parenting attitudes, personality characteristics of both parents and children, and family interactions. Programs subsequently developed for other age groups are showing similar outcomes, with significant pre-post changes in parenting attitudes and child-rearing practices. |
(Source: Strengthening America's Families Project, University of Utah, Model Family Strengthening Program Descriptions)
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| Parenting IS Prevention Training of Trainers Workshop, 1998 |
SAMHSA |
Office of National Drug Control Policy