It's all all in the family…
Program aimed at strengthening families
By James Moate Endeavor News

Parenting is no easy job. It requires patience, understanding and sacrifice.

Few parents become educated on how to do their job. For most, it's a matter of instinct, mixed with trial and error.

Three Cameron County families have been picking up some valuable pointers in recent weeks through the Strengthening Families Program (SFP), a joint project of Cameron County Collaborative Board and Penn State Cooperative Extension Service.

The weekly program, held Monday nights at Woodland Elementary School, emphasizes communication and conflict resolution skills. Over a 14-week period, parents are learning how to give positive reinforcement for good behavior, how to ignore minor bad behavior, and how to give their children clear instructions that leave little room for interpretation.

"Kids seek attention," said Kristen Eckert, an SFP facilitator with the Extension Office. "If they're getting attention for all of the good stuff, and getting none for the bad stuff, they're more likely to keep doing the good stuff."

A Pa. Commission on Crime & Delinquency grant covers the SFP and the Olweus Bullying Program in Cameron County. New participants are welcome.

"We have had a very difficult time recruiting families to participate," Eckert said. "Another group starts in mid-January and should run until the end of April."

Dinner is provided and care is available for kids five and younger. Children participating in the program receive stickers for completing tasks while in group sessions. Each child who receives enough stickers gets a prize.

Each week, participants play the "Child's Game" and the "Parent's Game." In the former, parents and children spend ten to 15 minutes of uninterrupted time doing something that the child chooses. In the latter, parents are taught how to give clear instructions for children to follow.

Penn State Cooperative Extension in Elk and Cameron counties plans to also offer a separate SFP for kids ages 10- 14, starting in January.

"Strengthening Families is a wonderful program," Eckert said. "We have seen family lives completely transformed in just a few months. Every family has room for improvement, no matter what level they are starting from."

Katie Coppock and Lori Eckert are assisting with child care. Tana Smith and Carrie Burns teach the children's session and Ruth and Randall Metcalf administer the parents' session.

Additional information is available from Kristen Eckert at 486-3350, Ext. 4.