Changes Parent Support Network Programs
Our programs and services benefit parents and the community by offering:
Weekly support groups that meet in Seattle, Shoreline, Des Moines, Redmond and Everett.
Each group adheres to a structured format based on cognitive behavioral principles set forth by the ChangeInsight Program. Experienced peers facilitate the groups, which are entirely confidential. New participants can start at any time, with orientation occurring at their first meeting. An individual support team forms after a parent attends a support group for 6 – 8 weeks; the purpose of this team is to gather outside of the scheduled meeting time to focus on specific family situations. Additionally, there is a lending library at each chapter comprised of a wide variety of parenting resources.
Community-wide educational seminars that are offered twice each month at two separate locations These forums feature a wide-range of experts in fields of interest to parents dealing with acting-out children. Examples of areas addressed include topics related to the criminal justice and mental health systems, behavior management interventions and strategies for self-care.
A 24-hour parent information line is staffed by experienced volunteers who provide information, referrals and support to parents, guardians or others with parenting concerns.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
We were approached by the City of Shoreline early in 2010 to start a new parent support group in conjunction with the Shoreline Parks and Recreation Department. With a steering committee comprised of experienced parent volunteers, we designed a template inclusive of all necessary ingredients for starting a new sustainable group. This effort resulted in the opening of the Shoreline Chapter in September 2010. Part of the Shoreline contract included providing community-wide educational seminars that addressed the needs of parents challenged with destructive behaviors their children exhibit; these monthly seminars began in January 2011.
The call for options in meeting the need for critical human services that promote healing in fragile families is mounting, yet many available resources are either prohibitively expensive or limited in scope. Changes Parent Support Network provides a broad-base of support that is free of charge to parents regardless of the reason for a child’s issues. Our hope is to expand the number of participants served by 20% over the next year, allowing us to assist more families in their efforts to raise self-reliant, capable young adults. However, we lack the infrastructure to respond to community requests for systematic outreach, community partnerships, programmatic support and the formation of new chapters. Expanding our centralized core of paid professionals is vital for the facilitation of these processes.