Parenting program helps build strong families

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Eight local families have been meeting for the past two months to learn ways to build stronger families now and into the future.
As part of a program coordinated through Riverside Health Care’s Community Counselling office in Rainy River by Counselor Hal Wilhite, the Strengthening Families for the Future began on March 20th.
Wilhite said it is important to note that, “One does not have be a bad parent to participate in this program.” It is all about strengthening families. Wilhite noted that this program has allowed several agencies that normally would work independent from one another together to work with families for improvement.
To date the weekly sessions have covered Developmental Stages, Rewards, Achieving Wanted Behavior, Communication 1: Feelings, Communication 2: Family Meetings, Managing Anger, Alcohol, Other Drugs and the Family. Topics they will cover over the next several weeks include Prevention: The Parents’ Role, Giving Directions and Outlining Consequences, Consequences versus Punishment, Problem Solving and Giving Helpful Comments and Managing Stress.
Every week the families and agencies gather at Riverview Elementary School from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. They begin with a sit down meal and then break off into adult and child sessions and then come together at the end of the evening for a family session. “They often get homework to take home and use over the course of the week,” said Wilhite. They are then asked if the skills they learned worked.
Wilhite said that in today’s world families often have both parents working. “Often they say they are too busy to do family things.” He noted that some feel that by taking their kids to events where the parents are spectators is thought to be family time. “We are teaching them to play again as a family and to make time for family.” Even things like eating together has often been lost in today’s families.
“We are setting the foundation for a long term (positive) change,” explained Wilhite.
The program focuses on every families strengths and builds on them. “The skills are already there and through this program we are identifying them and promoting them them as effective parenting skills,” said Wilhite.
While the program is done in strictest confidence, Wilhite said that he can say he has been truly impressed by the families in it. “They struggle but then quickly energize efforts to apply it to their lives.”
This is the first time the program has been offered in this region. It was run in Southern Ontario and was met with great success there. “Families do not have as much in terms of support here, but this type of program truly helps,” said Wilhite.
Seeing success already in this local program there are plans to offer it annually and next year it will likely be held in the Fort Frances area.