“Sparing the rod” easier with innovative support program helping parents cope with child-rearing challenges
TORONTO, February
24, 2005 — As a new Statistics Canada report
reveals that gentle,
hands-on parenting reduces the risk factors for aggression in children,
Family Service
Association of Toronto (FSA) announces the launch of a new session
of its COPE Parenting
Program.
Based on McMaster University research into how families develop
and nurture healthy
relationships, COPE’s trained facilitators help parents build
and share skills around effective parenting. “There is no ‘right
way’ to raise kids
but there are certain principles, such as avoiding abusive behaviour,” says
Jeff Bowen, one of FSA Toronto’s
COPE facilitators.
“The COPE approach is effective because parents interact, share experiences and tend to learn more. This is not a treatment program, it’s a prevention program. COPE enables parents to solve problems that they haven’t even faced yet so they don’t become dependent on attending the program forever.”
“Because we’re prevention-based, we attract a range of parents. Not just those in trouble, but people who want to tune up their parenting skills as well,” says Jose Benvenuto, also a COPE Facilitator, who leads the program in Spanish when there is demand.
The six weekly sessions can cover a range of issues. Because parent-child interactions vary from family to family, the sessions are not prescribed. “We do show videos that bring up common parenting issues and show parents making mistakes. Then our parents discuss what they see happening and other possible approaches. It gives these parents permission to be imperfect,” says Benvenuto
FSA Toronto also has trained COPE facilitators who can lead
programs in Chinese and
Farsi. The spring sessions for COPE begin on Monday, April 4, 2005,
and run from 6:00
p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for six weeks. While each session is $10 per individual
or couple, some
subsidies are available.
To register, parents can phone FSA Toronto’s
Service Access Line at 416-595-9618.
About Family Service Association of Toronto
Family Service Association of Toronto (www.fsatoronto.com) is a non-profit,
social service
agency offering a wide range of multilingual counselling and support
programs that reflect
the needs of Toronto’s diverse communities. For 90 years, FSA
has sought to end family
violence, support inclusion of marginalized citizens, help children
and families through
difficult life transitions, support seniors and build strong, healthy,
inclusive communities.
FSA also works with government and other community organizations to advocate for social change to enhance the quality of life for all members of our community. FSA is a United Way member agency.
Contact: Jeff Bowen
Counsellor, COPE Facilitator
416-595-9230, ext. 273
Jose Benvenuto
Counsellor, COPE Facilitator
416-595-9230 ext. 278
