Parent University

About Parent University
What are parents saying about Parent University?
Help Your Child Read to Succeed
Evaluation Results
5-Year Evaluation Results
METH PREVENTION AWARENESS!

Parent University

FINDINGS SUMMARY

What We Set Out to DO:

Empower parents to effectively serve as first line of defense against deviant behaviors and negative habits of their children

Decrease various risk factors facing youth and promote healthy positive lifestyle choices within the community

How we were going to DO it:

Increase the capacity of parents to raise productive and drug-free; violence-free children.

Utilizing a 'asset-building' approach to helping parents identify and provide the scientifically determined internal and external protective factors necessary for children to remain resilient .

What we BELIEVE:

It is our belief that parents must serve as the first line of defense in our community toward raising resilient children and positively impact youth development.

What we KNOW for Sure:

Youth NEED Protective Factors

Nationally held common goals and desired youth outcomes share one thing in common when it comes to the four basic development needs of children and youth. It is agreed, that those needs are: 1) food and shelter; 2) supportive, caring relationships; 3) safe places; and 4) opportunities for growth.

Researchers have identified the several RISK factors that are present when youth develop drug and/or alcohol problems and difficulty obeying social norms and laws. There also exists several PROTECTIVE FACTORS that must be present in order for youth to grow into healthy, happy, and productive adults.

Detroit Community Justice Partnership has taken these PROTECTIVE FACTORS into consideration throughout its planning and execution of its seven-week Parent University Series.

Resiliency Defined:

The ability to bounce back from, or withstand major and multiple life stresses. The ability to persevere despite adversity - to overcome the odds. This definition is stressed throughout the program and remains in eye sight of all participants.

Youth Protective Factors

Parent University FIVE CONCENTRATION AREAS	YOUTH PROTECTIVE FACTOR OBTAINED
Physical Development (Nutrition and Health; Sexuality; Substance Abuse)	improved physical heath improved concept of self increased interest in community/school extracurricular activities improved goal setting skills involvement with positive non-violent friends and peers
Intellectual Development (Education; Finances; Time/Anger/Stress Management; Fire Safety and Gun Violence Prevention)	academic achievement positive connection to school high expectations from caring adult(s) building capacity to strive despite adversity financial security overall sense of safety and wellbeing strong sense of autonomy and independence
Emotional Development (Self Esteem; Decision-Making; Goal Setting; Discipline)	effective problem solving improved abstract thinking improving analytical thinking increased ability to solve cognitive and social difficulties ability to act independently and have control over one's self
Social Development (Effective Communication; Divorce and Single Parenting; Peer Pressure)	Social competence empathy and caring for others positive sense of humor positive social behaviors positive expectations greater sense of self
Spiritual Development (BEST Formulas; Morals/Values/ Languages of Love)	increased sense of purpose positive expectations for future

OVERALL PARTICIPATION	KEY FINDINGS FROM SPRING 2004 SESSION
124 Parents have graduated from Parent University since its inception in 2000. 233 Parents have participated in at least two sessions since 2000.	100 % of the participants reported an improved relationship with their children
	82% of the participants reported an improved ability to communicate with their children
	82% of participants reported an increase in their patience levels with their children
	64% of participants rated their child's overall self-efficacy as better than it was prior to their participation in the Parent University. The remaining 36% indicated they felt their child's self-efficacy was good-to-average prior to - and thus had no change.
	100% of participants reported that the 7-week session met their expectations.

Some comments from participants included:

"I am now better able to listen and give options."
"I am more happy with my patience with my children and my ability to talk to them."
"I have sharpened my listening skills by not interrupting as much."
"I am becoming a better listener."
"I learned so much about how to be a good parent."
"This was a very unique approach to parenting class compared to other classes."
"This course gave me the strength to be a better parent."

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