Thanks to a two-year grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), the area coalition in the Palisades community called Partners in Action for Community Togetherness (PACT) is sponsoring the research-based program called The Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP). The SFP has completed its inaugural seven-week course. This program was selected by the PACT coalition after they spent a year going through the Communities That Care (CTC) planning process.
The SFP is geared towards helping families prepare for the “teen years” with their children and provides a no-cost opportunity for families to strengthen communication and promote bonding. Each session is two hours long with an additional thirty minutes at the start of the evening for dinner. The first hour is spent with parents and youth and the second hour is spent together. Each week activities include games, activities, family meals, engaging youth activities and interaction with other parents. Childcare is also offered on-site for younger family members not participating in the program at no cost to families.
During this first series of classes, eleven families participated and all participants shared positive comments about the course. One participating teen commented, “I hope these classes never end!” The next series of classes is slated to begin February 2, 2012. If you are interested in learning more about enrollment call the PACT Community Mobilizer, Karen Richter at (610) 346-9629 or send her an email.
