2007 GRANT RECIPIENTS

PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION TRAINING $5,000 - Parent-Child Interaction Training (PCIT) is part of a comprehensive program, based on family support principles, provided by Encompass. PCIT is a research-based program focused on repairing and nurturing the parent-child relationship. PCIT strengthens the parent-child relationship by showing parents and children how to work as partners to re-establish a mutually nurturing bond with each other. Through one-on-one coaching, parents learn consistent behavior management skills, positive communication skills and ways to increase each child’s motivation to please and mind the rules. While engaged in play activities, each parent receives instruction through a receiver worn behind the ear and can immediately change unproductive responses to their child’s behavior. Criticism and questioning are replaced with praise and positive reinforcement. Parents are show how to give clear age-appropriate instructions and feedback while providing consistent well-communicated consequences. This coaching in a structured setting helps parents understand how best to apply these new skills when at home.

PRENATAL THROUGH FIVE YEARS FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM $10,000 - The Family Support Program at the San Juan Island Family Resource Center offers two parent-child support groups, five music and movement class, a grandparents raising grandchildren support group, two guided parent-child interactive activities, quarterly parent education classes, a literacy partnership program (including distribution of free books through First Books—San Juan County), and a home visiting program, as well as various financial assistance programs to help families meet their basic needs.

PARENTING FOR SUCCESS (IN SPANISH) $13,500 - Parenting for Success at West Hill Family Support Center utilizes the promising practice Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Communities and Families curriculum, which focuses on five core areas in order to instill protective factors and offset risk factors with parenting. Objectives are to increase parents’ sense of competence and involvement in community activities; improve parent-child and family interactions; and raise children’s self-esteem, self-discipline and social competency. In addition to the 12-week parent education class, the program includes: 1) parent and child together meals (with traditional Hispanic/Latino food) just prior to the start of each class and 2) an enriched childcare program with an emphasis on literacy. These two program components remove barriers to parent participation.

PARENTING PROGRAM $10,000 - The Parenting Program at the International Family Center is designed to support Chinese and Vietnamese speaking parents. The program is focused on supporting school-age and early childhood parent education offering linguistically and culturally appropriate resources, classes and play groups. We will provide realistic and practical solutions to the challenge of raising children in America. We aim to prevent child abuse and neglect by increasing parents’ knowledge and skills to strengthen their ability to support the development of bilingual and bicultural children and improve parent-child relations. The program includes two school age parent education series and two early child parent education series along with a weekly play group.

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES / PARENTS AS TEACHERS $10,000
The Family Support Services/Parents as Teachers (FSS/PAT) program at the St. James Family Center in Cathlamet, WA offers families with children ages 0-5 periodic parenting classes, access to printed and video materials in a parent resource room, parent-to-parent support groups that include a parent-to-child activity and information and referral to social services and other services in the county. The FSS/PAT lead parent educator coordinates meetings between all PAT certified staff, who share kits developed for parent/home visits. Home visiting with the PAT model is available to all who request it. Outreach for home visiting focuses on families with children 0-3. Developmental screening is an integral part of PAT home visits.

TEENS AS PARENTS PROGRAM $10,000 - Atlantic Street Center’s Teens as Parents Program (TAPP) is especially for teen parents. The program provides a weekly two-hour support group that meets once a week year-round, as well as a one hour parenting class that meets four times a week during the school year. Teen parents also receive one on one assistance and support as needed. The overarching goal of TAPP is to help teens become better parents.

STRENGTHENING MULTI-ETHNIC FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES PARENTING CLASSES $15,000 - Lake Stevens Family Center, South Everett Neighborhood Center/Familias Unidas and the Family Support Center of South Snohomish County have collaborated to provide the Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and Communities (SMEFC) program to local families. This strength-based Prevention-Intervention parent training program utilizes a cultural framework to assist parents in raising children to lead violence free, healthy lifestyles.  Recognized as a Promising Practice in parent/family education SMEFC also provides parents with the tools for healthy and respectful communication between parent and child, within the family, and in the community.  SMEFC also helps parents gain skills to become more involved within their child’s school, their community and in forming healthy support networks.

ME AND MY BABY $10,000 - First Step Family Support Center provided six sets of Me and My Baby classes for low income parents and their babies in Clallam County. Each series consisted of 6 classes that focused on: 1) promoting positive relationships between parents and their babies, 2) learning to communicate with your baby and reading your baby’s cues, 3) feeding the new family, important tips for staying healthy, 4) building a strong social support network and other ways to combat post partum depression, 5) understanding child development and how to stimulate a baby’s growing brain and 6) protecting your child’s health: sick and well baby care. Parents received six free new books for their babies and will be transported to and from class in the agency van, if needed. Childcare will be provided on site for older siblings.

NURTURING PROGRAM FOR PARENTS AND THEIR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN $5,740.95 - This family-based program at the Family Support Center of South Sound is designed to increase the health of families by strengthening parent-child bonding, supporting families in developing a social network of peers within their own community, and teaching positive parenting strategies. This support group style class gives parents the opportunity to share their personal strengths and discuss the challenges that they face within their families as well. Nurturing Parenting Programs are evidence based, and proven to decrease the risk of child abuse and neglect. Families who attend Nurturing Parenting programs have the opportunity to identify and address their attitudes and values surrounding parenting, and learn how these values affect their parenting behaviors. The eight week series combines discussion/ counseling, lectures, group activities, and the positive social support of peers to address common parenting concerns. Parents and children participate in activities together and learn how to have fun as a family.

CONNECTED FAMILIES $15,000 - The Darrington Family Resource Center grant will help fund the Connected Families program that supports parents, caregivers and their children in an effort to prevent child abuse and neglect. The program includes a monthly dinner, speaker family nights and parenting training and support.

FAMILY SUPPORT AND EDUCATION PROGRAM $15,000- The Family Support and Education Program at Tahoma Family Center provides an on-going twelve-week curriculum for parents that focuses on family communication, child development, managing stress, developing a social support system, family problem solving and negotiation, self-esteem, managing anger, discipline, family violence and trauma, problem solving, child development, school readiness, and understanding family dynamics.

THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM $10,000 - The West Hill Family Center, operated by Renton Area Youth and Family Services grant will support a parenting education program for Spanish-speaking parents and guardians. The goals of the program are to increase parents' sense of competence, enhance their involvement in community activities, improve parent-child and family interactions, and raise children's self-esteem, self-discipline and social competency.