Boys & Girls Club of Greater Victoria

Parents Together

PROGRAM NAME:	Parents Together

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:	Parents Together is a mutual-help/support program for parents who are experiencing parent/teen conflict. It is specifically designed to support caring parents who want to end the conflict in their homes and regain control of their lives. Parents Together offers new skills that help bring an end to the power struggle between parents and teens. The ultimate goal of the program is to strengthen family relationships. Groups discuss everything from communication skills to anger management, problems at school, trouble with the law, substance abuse, undesirable friends, and freeloading. Parents Together was started in 1998 and is now available in communities all over British Columbia.

PROGRAM INFORMATION:	Parents Together is a self-help support program for parents experiencing parent/teen conflict. The program offers support from other parents who really understand, hope from finding out you’re not alone, encouragement from learning of the successes of others, practical problem-solving ideas and plans that fit for you and your family, and an environment in which every parent is expected to respect the confidentiality of other participants. Parents Together groups meet weekly in three locations: Esquimalt, Cordova Bay, and West Shore. Regular attendance is required. Groups are volunteer-led/professionally supported and follow a structured meeting plan. Group members share success stories, offer support to each other, and help plan strategies for change. The emphasis is on sharing, supporting, and problem solving. Groups do not criticize or judge, say you have done something wrong, give advice, tell you what to do, or give you easy instant answers. Instead Parents Together will offer you a new way to look at your situation, teach you new skills to solve problems at your own rate, and offer you support and encouragement to follow through on your plans for change. Parents participate in group meetings until they feel satisfied that their needs have been met (average time is 9.6 months).

REGISTRATION PROCESS & FORMS	To find out if Parents Together is right for you… Call the Parentline at 474-6468 and a parent volunteer will respond as soon as possible. All new parents must attend an orientation session where they will find out more about the program's philosophy and structure. After attending three regular sessions you may decide to join Parents Together. The yearly membership fee is $20 per person. The Parents Together program is based on the concepts developed by Dr’s Robert and Bayard in their book “How to Deal with your Acting Up Teenager”. This book is required reading for all group members. The book maybe purchased from your local bookseller or through Parents Together.

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION:	Parentline: 474-6468 Fax: 474-6629 Email: parentstog@bgcvic.org Website: http://www.parentstogether.ca

PROGRAM MANAGER:	Ralph Hembruff, Executive Director Phone: 384-9133 Email:hembruffr@bgcvic.org


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