Regional News

Parenting Series Concludes Successfully

Jun 02, 2015

Seven weeks of sharing, laughing, learning during the Strengthening Families Program have come to a successful conclusion with three families completing the entire course.

Provided by the What’s Right? Republic Reducing Alcohol and Drug use (RRAD) Coalition, the Strengthening Families Program is a research-based approach to improving communication between parents and children, increasing resistance to peer pressure, and expanding tools for resolving conflict.

Stephanie Connor, one of the trained facilitators reflected, “I think that families need a safe place to talk about what is working and what isn't. They need space to do that with other parents and they also need their kids to have some new skills that complement the ones they are trying out.”

She went on to describe the hands-on nature of the workshops as a vital element of the successful program, “The other missing piece in so many programs is putting the 2 together to encourage practicing those strategies as well as helping the families to find ways to have fun together,” said Connor.

Heather Maggi described her experience as a participant, saying, “It gave us, as parents, tools to communicate with our children on tough subjects without being overbearing or pushy and pushing our children further away from us.” She noted that, “My boys liked it because they were able to spend quality time together and learn the how each person of our family has different strengths and how those strengths and goals give each of us a place in our family.”

“We started the program as a way to be involved in the community and discovered that this program is wonderful,” explained participant Chris Rose. “It gives some great tools on communicating with your children. I think this program would be of benefit to everyone. We met some new friends and enjoyed getting together once a week.”

Participating families expressed a wish to continue meeting monthly for dinner, family fun, and additional activities once a month to support each other’s efforts to be “Strong families who care about each other and have fun together.” Family Fun nights will begin on Tuesday, June 16th, and will include a dinner.

Maggi went on to say, “I really recommend the "Strengthening Families" program to every family!”

For more information about the Strengthening Families program or other substance abuse prevention efforts by the RRAD Coalition, contact Janine Koffel, Coalition Coordinator, at (509) 207-9174. Updates on coalition activities are also provided on the What’s Right? RRAD Coalition Facebook page. The RRAD Coalition is funded by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Behavioral Health and Recovery under the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative.