CLEARFIELD – The Children’s Aid Society in Clearfield County was recently awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency to implement a new home-based parenting program.
The $157,663 grant is intended to target evidence-based programs that reduce violence, juvenile delinquency and the incidence of child abuse and neglect.
Funds will span a two-year period, which began July 1. Also, funds will be used for staff, training and development of the project, which will bring the internationally accredited Triple P – Positive Parenting Program to families in Clearfield County.
According to a press release, the Triple P System is one of the world’s most successful parenting programs. It was developed by Professor Matt Sanders, Ph.D. and colleagues in the Parenting and Family Support Centre at the University of Queensland, Australia and is being implemented in 25 countries.
According to a press release, delivered in several different formats, Triple P is designed to give parents the skills they need to raise confident, healthy children and teenagers and to build stronger family relationships. “It doesn’t tell people how to parent but gives parents simple tips and strategies they can adapt to their own situations.”
For this project, the Children’s Aid Society will implement Level 4 Triple P. Level 4 Triple P is an intensive training in positive parenting on a one-to-one basis consisting of 10 individualized one-hour weekly sessions.
Staff members assess the level of risk the family faces through assessments, monitoring and observation of parent-child interactions. Parents are encouraged to develop a parenting plan that makes use of a variety of strategies and tools and are asked to practice their parenting plan with their children.
“The target population is parents and caregivers of children ages birth to 12 with moderate to severe behavior and or emotional difficulties or for parents who would like to gain a more in-depth understanding of positive parenting,” said CAS Executive Director Bonnie Floro, “We expect to serve 58 families over the two-year period.”
Following a planning period, in which three staff will be trained and accredited in Triple P delivery, the CAS will start receiving self-referrals from families and community agencies. All services will be at no cost to participants.
This grant proposal received support from the Clearfield County Collaboration & Prevention Board, a community-based partnership focused on improving positive outcomes for individuals and families.
For more information, please call 814-765-2686, Ext. 222, or e-mail triplep@childaid.org.