After a long, busy and sometimes stressful holiday season, getting the kids back in school and falling back into your family’s routines can be a huge relief. The annual January “reset” allows us to reflect on the past year and look forward to what’s to come. Setting new year's resolutions or selecting a “word of the year” are popular ways to focus on our intentions for the upcoming year.
We hear resolutions like, “I am going to be a better parent,” or “I am going to spend more quality time with my children.” However, goals like these often fail because they are too vague, too big and lack a defined plan.
If you want to start 2025 by strengthening your parenting skills and growing closer together as a family, a parenting program may be the right opportunity for you!
What are parenting programs?
We’re here to set the record straight on what parenting programs are and what they are not. Many people perceive that parenting programs are just for “bad” parents, perhaps mandated by the court to “fix” what may be wrong with a mom or a dad.
While parenting programs may look and feel different, they all have the same goal: to add skills to a caregiver’s parenting toolbox, strengthen families and ensure kids thrive. When a family invests in learning how to work better together and address needs across generations—parents, kids and even grandparents—everyone wins, now and for generations to come.
Parenting programs vary in size, frequency, length, child’s age(s) and location – which means they can fit into any family! Some are “evidence-based, " meaning there is a model that, when followed, is proven effective in helping parents grow their skills, develop a stronger bond with their children and improve familial communication.
While many kinds of parenting programs are available, three are available throughout South Carolina.
Home Visiting
Home visiting programs are voluntary for parents of young children, often infants. They offer support, mentoring and coaching at home and meet families where they are. These programs help new moms and dads be their children’s first teachers, build positive parenting skills, identify child development gaps, and connect families to resources and community support.
The home visiting specialists assist mothers and their young children with a wide range of issues – including health concerns, developmental milestones, ensuring a safe environment and school preparedness – during home and pediatric visits. They also work to support the parents with nutrition counseling, smoking cessation and continuing their education. Home visitors generally have a nursing, social work or child development background.
Home visiting programs can vary in eligibility requirements, length, children’s age(s) and frequency of visits. However, most programs work with expectant parents from pregnancy through the child's infancy.
Children’s Trust makes three evidence-based home visiting models available to families in South Carolina – Healthy Families America, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers.
Triple P (Positive Parenting Program)
With more than 35 years of ongoing research, the Positive Parenting Program, or Triple P, is a practical, evidence-based parenting program. It offers simple, practical strategies to help parents build strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage their children’s behavior and promote positive child development.
Triple P is available for parents and caregivers of children from birth through the teenage years. English and Spanish programs, as well as online and in-person sessions, are offered. Triple P is customizable to each family’s needs, from short parenting seminars to individualized therapy.
Triple P practitioners are available throughout the state. Find a Triple P program that will work well for you and your family.
Strengthening Families Program
The Strengthening Families Program helps families with children ages 7 to 17 develop positive discipline practices, build resilience, reduce conflict and improve communication skills. Weekly, three-hour group sessions are held at a community location and begin with a family meal. After eating, parents and children meet separately to work with group leaders before coming together for shared activities. Participants who complete the 11-week program enjoy a graduation celebration.
How can I find a parenting program?
There’s an easy way to search for parenting programs in your area! ScParents.org is home to a resource database with many parenting programs available throughout South Carolina.
Follow these three simple steps to search for parenting programs near you:
- Navigate to the SC Parents’ resource database.
- Search your ZIP code.
- Filter the search for parenting programs by hovering over the “Parenting” category and selecting “Parenting Education.” The results will show you the available parenting programs in your area!
Parents are some of the strongest and most resilient individuals in our communities, but asking for help can be difficult and can feel shameful as a caregiver. When parents embrace vulnerability and reach out for help, it can lead to meaningful growth and transformation.
Consider starting your new year by committing to yourself and your family by enrolling in a parenting program!
Special Contributor: Children’s Trust of South Carolina