Here at the Garfield Park Academy, we understand that those who are raising children and teenagers may feel hard pressed on all sides. However, in spite of the societal pressures and regardless of our backgrounds, communities, and cultures, it is possible to raise healthy, productive, and responsible young people in today's society. With this aim in mind, the Garfield Park Academy is offering a year long Parent Education Program (P.E.P) to help parents deal with the problems of raising their children and adolescents.
Parents, social workers and psychologist will all work together in order to facilitate maximum support and education in the monthly sessions. The goals of the program are to encourage mutual respect between parent and child as well as foster cooperation, responsibility, and self-reliance. There will also be opportunities for parents to discuss their own feelings and ideas as well as find support and encouragement from other group members.
PEP will meet in the Garfield Park Academy School once a month. Parents may choose to attend the morning sessions (9:30 a.m.) or the evening sessions (6:30 p.m.). The sessions begin in September and end in June.
Babysitting and transportation are provided. Call your child's social worker to make arrangements.
| 2008-2009 PEP SCHEDULE |
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| Date | Time | Topic | Description |
| Wednesday, October 15, 2008 | 6:30 P.M. | Open School Night | Take this opportunity to meet teachers and other school personnel who support your child on a daily basis. Students' school success improves when families and school personnel are partnering together. |
| Wednesday, November 12, 2008 | Session I at 9:30 A.M.
Session II at 6:30 P.M. | Anger Management | In this session, parents will discuss anger and its triggers for both adults and youth. The various ways people respond to anger will also be discussed. Parents will learn strategies for responding to provoking circumstances as well as children who are demanding, disruptive, and defiant. Stress management and cool-down techniques will be discussed. |
| Wednesday, December 10, 2008 | Session I at 9:30 A.M.
Session II at 6:30 P.M. | Drug Awareness | Drugs have become an epidemic in our society. Common street drugs as well as prescriptions drugs are being used by children and teenagers. These drugs and their effects will be discussed. The warning signs that a child may have begun using drugs will be reviewed. Parents will learn ways of steering their children away from drug use. |
| Wednesday, January 14, 2009 | Session I at 9:30 A.M.
Session II at 6:30 P.M. | ADHD/ODD, Mood Disorders | Difficulties with attention can be extremely disruptive for children, preventing them from being able to concentrate on their academics, get along with peers, or jeopardize their safety. Feelings of depression can cause a lack of motivation, poor attitude, and withdrawal from friends and family. We will discuss these disorders and how to deal with them within your family. |
| Wednesday, February 11, 2009 | Session I at 9:30 A.M.
Session II at 6:30 P.M. | 1. Navigating the DYFS System
2. The Education Process | There are various state and municipal programs that help to support individuals and families. This PEP meeting will focus on what the programs are, what they are designed to do, and how you can get the assistance that you need. Some specific topics will be the Division of Youth & Family Services, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Social Security, and Catholic Charities. Please join us if you need help navigating your way through any of these complicated structures! |
| Wednesday, March 18, 2009 | Session I at 9:30 A.M.
Session II at 6:30 P.M. | Changes in Family Structure (Divorce, Foster Care, etc.) | When the family structure changes, it can cause a child tremendous stress, even if they do not show it outwardly. Our discussions will deal with how children cope with these kinds of changes and what you can do to help. |
| Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | Session I at 9:30 A.M.
Session II at 6:30 P.M. | Self Esteem | Whenever we take inventory of ourselves, we find that we have both personal strengths and weaknesses. For some children, weaknesses may appear as challenges that we learn to improve or overcome. For other children, they focus almost exclusively on their individual weaknesses, minimizing any personal strengths that they may have. When this occurs, children can develop inadequate self-concepts and poor self-esteem. In this session, the language of encouragement will be reviewed and parents will develop strategies and interventions to reinforce feelings of self-worth in children and adolescents. |
| Wednesday, May 13, 2009 | Session I at 9:30 A.M.
Session II at 6:30 P.M. | Transitioning at Each Phase of Education Process | There are many decisions for a student to make throughout the various phases of their education, from transitioning to middle school, high school, or graduating. Help your child plan for the next phase. The meeting will focus on how to support your child through the various changes in their life. Come to our PEP meeting and you will be provided with information to help make the changes easier! |
| Wednesday, June 3, 2009 | Session I at 9:30 A.M.
Session II at 6:30 P.M. | Parent Appreciation | The GPA family is taking the time to show our appreciation to all of the families who support the students who attend our school. Come out, celebrate, and be recognized. It's no easy job being a parent! We guess you already know that! |
