Douglas County Youth Services offers a free 10-week program for those seeking new skills and support while raising teenagers.
The Parent Project aims to help parents and guardians better navigate conflict and improve relationships with their children. Sessions tackle issues related to youth struggling with deviance at home, school attendance, social media, violence, mental health and more.
Robin Rooks, juvenile services supervisor, said she and her colleagues hope to equip parents and guardians with skills for healthy dialogue and disciplinary measures.
“The big part about Parent Project is focusing on children that are having difficult behaviors,” Rooks said. “Our behavioral approach is lots of love and affection, but clear rules and consistent consequences, as well as structure and active supervision, those are all things we work on teaching in the Parent Project.”
Every week, participants have an assignment to complete before the next session — the first week’s being to tell their child they love them, according to Rooks.
Youth services staff members have been facilitating the Parent Project since 2022. The first session had around seven participants, but more recently that number had dwindled down to three, according to Rooks.
Rooks said in preparation for the round of sessions this past fall, she and her colleagues tried promoting the program via social media for the first time. Their post on the county’s Facebook page garnered attention and spots filled up with 14 applicants. Eight people ended up participating, and six completed all sessions.
Participants in classes this past fall appreciated creating a support network with people with similar experiences, Rooks said, and they could learn from one another’s perspectives.
The biggest challenge, however, has been maintaining a consistently full class as people often sign up but don’t attend. Rooks said although the weekly commitment can be difficult, she encourages folks to stick it out.
“You are in a class with other parents having some of the same issues, so you are building a support within your class that, you know, these might be people that once the class is done, if you’re having issues, you can lean on them and call on for help,” Rooks said.
The five youth services staff members, including Rooks, have earned certification through the national Parent Project training to teach the classes. The Kansas Department of Corrections set up the training, and Douglas County’s program is funded by a KDOC reinvestment grant, according to Rooks.
The program is free and welcomes to anyone helping to raise preteens or teens in Douglas County.
Classes are scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays from Feb. 4 through April 15. There will be no class on March 18. They’re held at the county’s New Hampshire Office, 1006 New Hampshire St. in downtown Lawrence.
Rooks said the program can take up to 16 people. Apply by emailing parentproject@dgcoks.gov or filling out a referral form. That’s available at this link.
For questions, send an email or call 785-331-1300 to speak with staff.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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