Parenting Education and Support Program (PEAS)

PEAS is a 12-week parenting program that consists of classes for parents and children.  We have classes for parents of children ages 0-17 years:

"All About Baby" is a 12-week program targeted towards parents who are raising a baby under 2 years.
Topics include:

• Sign with Baby (how to communicate using sign language)
• Happiest Baby On The Block
• Happiest Toddler On The Block
• Introduction to The Incredible Years

"The Incredible Years" is an award-winning 12-week parent training program for parents of children 2-11 years old that improves parenting skills and strengthens families by:

• Encouraging positive and nurturing parenting
• Improving problem-solving skills, anger management and communication skills
• Decreasing negative behaviors and non-cooperation with parents
• Decreasing disruptive behaviors in children

"Staying Connected with your Teen" is a 12-week educational skill-building program created for families with children between the ages of 12 and 17.  The program focuses on strengthening family bonds and establishing clear standards for behavior, helping parents more appropriately manage their teenager's behavior while encouraging their adolescents to grow toward independence. 

Children are in classes while the parents are in their classes:

"Nursery" is available for children under age 3.

"Milestones" is an early literacy program that focuses on learning songs, crafts, numbers and letters.  This program uses a socio-emotional approach, which helps children how to learn to deal their feelings appropriately.  This program is for children ages 3-5 years.

"SMART Moves" (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training) prevention/education program addresses problems such as drug and alcohol use and premature sexual activity.  More than simply emphasizing a "Say No" message, the program teaches young people ages 6 to 10 how to say no by involving them in discussion and role-playing, practicing resistance and refusal skills, developing assertiveness, strengthening decision-making skills and analyzing media and peer influence. The ultimate goal: to promote abstinence from substance abuse and adolescent sexual involvement through the practice of responsible behavior.

"All Stars" is a  school-based program for middle school students (11 to 14 years old) designed to prevent and delay the onset of high-risk behaviors such as drug use, violence, and premature sexual activity. The program focuses on five topics important to preventing high-risk behaviors: (1) developing positive ideals that do not fit with high-risk behavior; (2) creating a belief in conventional norms; (3) building strong personal commitments; (4) bonding with school, prosocial institutions, and family; and (5) increasing positive parental attentiveness. The All Stars curriculum includes highly interactive group activities, games and art projects, small group discussions, one-on-one sessions, a parent component, and a celebration ceremony.

All classes are offered at the same time in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.  For more information or to register contact Cari Cook at (540) 433-4438 or ccook@rhcc.com.

PEAS program is funded by the Drug Free Community Support Grant, the Department of Social Services, the Governor's Office on Substance Abuse Prevention and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.

2008 Coupon Books are available

To Order your Strong Families/ Great Youth 2008 Coupon Book call Cari Cook at 540 433 4438.

The Coupon Book has over $600 worth of local coupons and will benefit many local agencies. Cost of the coupon book is $20.00, make checks payable to Strong Families Great Youth Coalition and mail to PO Box 184, Harrisonburg 22803