Event Oct. 21 at golf club
What do a health planning consultant, a nursery school teacher, a law enforcement professional and a salesman all have in common? They are all parents looking for ways to stay in touch with their teenagers.
In addition, they are the founding facilitators of a pilot program called Parent Leadership Corps. As Parent Leadership Corps Facilitators, they are Hopewell Valley’s choice for Volunteers of the Year.
Residents are invited to help recognize these volunteers at the fourth annual Mayors’ Breakfast on Sat., Oct. 21, at 8:30 a.m. at the Hopewell Valley Golf Club.
When Timberlane Middle School was chosen as one of 12 middle schools frpm across the state to participate in the project, the call went out to parents for volunteers to attend a training weekend. Rob Seiz, Bernadette Furlong, Ken Beckman and Phil Volpe answered the call, attended training and in teams of two facilitated two six-week parent training sessions.
The sessions are designed to encourage parental self-examination and to develop healthy teen attitudes and behaviors.
Sessions included: Getting to Know You; Talking With and Listening to Your Adolescent; Looking at You, Your Teens, and Substance Abuse; Managing Stress; Supporting Healthy Practices: Revisiting Family Rituals and Traditions.
Although they were committed to conduct only two trainings they have continued to organize and run groups for parents, not only at the middle school, but also for parents of fifth-graders heading into middle school and a parent group in a local faith community.
They already have groups in place for this fall and have teams of parents who have participated ready to join the ranks of trained facilitators.
"Parents talking with children is a key element for every community looking for ways to address at-risk behavior. The Parent Leadership Corps is giving parents in Hopewell Valley the tools and support to be more effective parents and the community is more child-centered and healthier because of their efforts," said a spokesman.
For more information call the Alliance at 737-0120.