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The Howard Center for Human Services First Call for Children and Families |
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First Call |
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The Howard Center for Human Services First Call for Children and Families |
To contact
First Call |
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PREFACE It is certainly true that great debates rage about the relative role parenting plays in the nurturing of children. Most research and practice support the fact that parenting plays a substantial role in child development, especially early child development. In a minority of studies, peer influences have been found to be more important than parental influences, especially for adolescent development. It is equally true that clinical research and common sense familial practice must blend if the United States is to have a healthier developing population. Although no book or training program can possibly give parents all the information and skill needed to positively nurture their children, there are many specific attitudes, skills and behaviors that may support a positive parental role in the development of their children. It is in that spirit that Because We Care is being presented. The text is meant to support parents’ efforts to improve their parenting skills as a way to prevent or reduce substance abuse and mental health problems in their children. The text is presented to allow flexible and comfortable utilization; professionals and parents may decide to use only very selective aspects of the knowledge and skills presented, or they may decide to use as many skills and knowledge as possible. Some parents may even decide to use this text in conjunction with professional intervention in their child’s life problems. The text is meant for professionals and parents; it may also be used by professionals working with families. It is very important to clarify how to use this information. The manual is divided into two sections. Because We Care fills two roles. It is a brief clinical manual for professional helpers working with parents, children and families; and, it is a guide for some parents, who may be more advanced in their understanding of effective parenting. The second part of the book, the Parent Practice Workbook is designed as a more basic parent training manual. This part of the book will be most helpful to parents who do not find the more technical first section very helpful. The section is written as if presented only to parents. Although the book is not presented according to formal stages of child development, many of the core principles and skills presented earlier in both parts of the book apply more to general parenting effectiveness. Therefore, most of the earlier principles and skills in both parts of this book deal with issues more appropriate to pre-adolescence. As the book progresses, and especially towards the end, the principles and skills apply more to adolescents. All families are different; therefore, any part of the book may apply to your child no matter how old she/he is. |
