PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT CLASSES AT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION Being a parent is a demanding and responsible job. Did you ever wonder why licensing and training are required for so many of life's tasks yet not for this most important task of our lives? The Mental Health Association's Parent Education and Parent Support program (PEPS) evolved from our community's recognition of the need for just such training to be available. PEPS originated as an extension of the Parents Anonymous program, a nationally recognized and proven effective program model which offered parents an alternative to abuse and neglect. Using a combination of skill building and peer support, the parenting groups and classes helped to build healthy families. Success builds success, and the effectiveness of the PEPS program soon became known to the Courts, to the Department of Children and Families and to other organizations which provide services to families in need. From modest beginnings, PEPS now provides services to over ? parents each year. For some, participation is in response to a crisis or conflict, but to many others it is a preventive effort which builds skills before any harm or risk occurs. Today's parents recognize that children don't come with instruction books. Today's parents are willing to make an investment in their child rearing skills for their children and for the generations that will follow. Themes and topics include: Child development and age appropriate behaviors. Differentiating discipline from punishment/ Positive Discipline. Enhancing children's self esteem. Stress/ Anger management Resolving conflict/ Problem Solving Understanding why children misbehave. Alternatives to corporal punishment. PEPS services are offered by the Mental Health Association in cooperation with several community schools and program provider sites. Registration is via intake through The Mental Health Association‘s Parenting Department. Class and group sites are available throughout the community and offered at a variety of times and days. Classes are conveniently located along major bus routes. Options include: PARENT EDUCATION: Eight week class cycle - 90 minute sessions. Skill areas include knowledge of stages of child development, communication, stress and anger management, alternatives to corporal punishment and positive discipline techniques. PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS: Twelve week group cycle - 90 minute sessions. Reinforces the principles taught in the 8 week class. Gives parents an opportunity to express needs and assess their competence in practicing new skills. REUNIFICATION/EXTENDED PARENTING: Sixteen weeks of individual classes geared toward reunification. Participation in the Parenting Skills class and Support Groups are a pre-requisite for registration in Extended PEPS. Parents should have unsupervised access to their children in order to benefit from this component of the program. SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTING services are available for families with unique circumstances. Conducted at MHA and in-home, classes are designed around the special needs of the client. SUPERVISED PARENT EDUCATION (SPEP): Supervised parent training. Parenting staff will observe and interact with parents to assist them in achieving goals for healthy parenting. 8 session class. Sliding scale fees apply. CO-PARENTING AND DIVORCE. This program is designed to work with moderate to high conflict divorced couples and for parents living in separate households for the purpose of reducing parental conflict and the risk factors that influence the child’s divorce adjustment.     Specialty classes and groups are available for parents of teens, for parenting children ages 2 - 12 and for parenting infants. Support groups parallel these themes and also include groups for dads. Extended family and caregivers are welcome to participate. Call for additional information on PEPS CLASSES, GROUPS and SPECIAL SERVICES. The Intake Coordinator can provide information on schedules and fees. Sliding scale and special discounts are available. Certificates of completion are provided at the close of each program block. PEPS information is available through the Mental Health Association offices by calling 954.746.2055 or by CLICKING HERE .