More and more evidence appears each day that shows the interconnectiveness of different forms of violence, i.e. violence against the self (drugs/alcohol, depression/suicide), violence against the family (domestic violence, child abuse), and violence against the community (juvenile delinquency, crime, gangs). In addition, the inabilities to manage emotions, express feelings, and resolve conflict have been shown to be related to violence against others.
Parent education/training has received national recognition as a critical violence prevention strategy. That is why the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) and the New Jersey Parent Information Resource Centers (NJ PIRC) are pleased to introduce a new Violence Prevention initiative, which provide training, support and information for the 30 urban Abbott districts. The parenting program and trainings will help to reduce youth violence and behaviors such as alcohol and drug use that increase the likelihood of violence in the following ways.
(a) They can help parents communicate more effectively with their children, including verbal and nonverbal communication, and thus build stronger family bonds.
(b) They can help parents help their children make good choices and avoid bad ones. Too often parents feel that merely by prohibiting a particular behavior their child will conform, even without having the skills to avoid those behaviors.
(c) They can help parents feel and be more competent in dealing with their children in a variety of arenas, from rule-setting and imposition of effective consequences to working with education, health and other professionals to support their children’s education and healthy development.
These impacts on parents will result in increased child self-esteem, self-discipline, social competency skills, and capacity to withstand pressures to engage in substance abuse and violence.
If you would like additional information, please call 1-800-654-SPAN
Violence Prevention Workshops
STRENGTHENING MULTI-ETHNIC
FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES: A VIOLENCE PREVENTION PARENT TRAINING PROGRAM
This twelve (12)-session
curriculum is a unique integration of various prevention/intervention
strategies geared toward reducing violence against self, the family and the
community. Information is
presented with a “cultural framework” and focuses on helping both parents
and children enhance life skills necessary for functioning in today’s
society. The program integrates
positive discipline approaches as a vehicle for fostering high self-esteem,
self-discipline and social competence in children.
Parents are provided with a mechanism to connect with community
resources and encouraged to form community action groups to address social,
political and economic issues related to the prevention of family and
community violence.
The program is structured into five component areas:
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CULTURAL/SPIRITUAL |
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RITES OF PASSAGE |
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ENHANCING RELATIONSHIPS |
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POSITIVE DISCIPLINE |
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT |
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM
(SFP) is a family focused behavior oriented prevention/intervention program designed specifically for high-risk substance abusing parents and their at-risk children. The program helps to improve parenting skills, reduce the risk of children of substance abusers becoming abusers themselves, improve communication, establish clear family rules and decrease family conflict. SFP includes a parent skills training component, a children skills training component and a family skills training component. All three components are included in each of the 14-sessions of two hour trainings.
POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS
FOR CHILDREN WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS
This workshop provides an
overview of a cycle of failure that often results for students with behavioral
challenges. The focus of this
training is intervention with students who exhibit challenging behaviors (e.g.
aggression, self-injury, tantrums). The
emphasis on educational strategies helps students learn alternate behaviors
that can lead to long-term change. Information
on due process rights of children in the discipline process will also be
provided.
CREATING POSITIVE SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENTS
This workshop helps parents and
professionals understand the factors that contribute to positive school
environments. Strategies for
evaluating and improving school climate are discussed, and examples of the
impact of those strategies are provided.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
This workshop defines parents’
due process rights and ways to resolve conflicts, emphasizing working through
the ranks to resolve conflict as close to the source as possible.
It is designed not only for parents who are experiencing serious
communication breakdown, but also for those who are perceiving initial
problems.
FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR
ASSESSMENT AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS
This workshop provides parents
and professionals with information on how to conduct the functional behavior
assessment required under IDEA, and how to develop and implement positive
behavior support plans for individual children with challenging and/or violent
behavior.
EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE
PRACTICES FOR FAMILIES
This workshop provides parents with tools for effective, consistent discipline at home.