Parenting Programs:

ICP maintains that involving parents in school-wide initiatives significantly increases the effectiveness of comprehensive programming. Several area school districts have expressed interest in involving parents, guardians, and community members in their diversity and school safety initiatives. ICP has met that challenge by developing the following workshops:

Conflict Resolution for Parents of Teens: This presentation provides parents with strategies and skills for helping their teens resolve conflicts effectively.

Cultural Diversity for Parents: This workshop assists parents in understanding the ways in which an appreciation of diversity will help their children succeed in an increasingly diverse society. Parents will be encouraged to explore how their own culture can become an asset in understanding and valuing difference, and introduces ways to help children build the cultural competency necessary for success in school, college, the military, business and social environments.

Preventing Hate Group Recruitment: Led by a former hate group youth recruiter, this presentation focuses on what, where, how and why youth are recruited into hate groups from the Central Pennsylvania region. Strategies for preventing recruitment are also discussed.

Parenting for Prejudice-Free Kids: Led by a clinical social worker who developed and teaches a course called “Skilled Parenting,” this workshop addresses ways that parents can contribute to their child’s ability to live, learn and ultimately work more effectively in our increasingly diverse society.

Excerpts from parent evaluations in the Dover School District:

“This program has given me great insight on my own prejudices. I liked the ideas of using problem solving verses punishment.”

“I learned to be more patient with mistakes.”

“Great Information!”

“I want more parenting programs such as these!”

Inter-group Relations:

ICP can also offer programs for parents which provide a forum for community members to discuss the problems that they are facing. The programs are meant to improve inter-group relations. Study Circles is the most notable of these programs. Study Circles is a group of 15-20 parents, community leaders, or concerned individuals meets six times for a facilitated discussion about a diversity issue affecting their school or community. ICP provides facilitation and activities that maximizes the group’s potential to discuss multiple perspectives and generate a myriad of ideas for addressing the issues at hand.

If you are interested in having ICP conduct parenting workshops in your community, contact Sally Jo Bronner, Director of Training Programs or call (717) 238-1770.