Parenting Programmes

Family Works Northern recognises that parenting is one of the most difficult and important jobs an adult ever undertakes. In response we offer a number of practical programmes that help parents and/or caregivers develop a wide range of parenting skills and strategies. Brief details are provided below. For more information please contact the Family Works Northern office nearest to you.

The Incredible Years is a group programme that provides parents and caregivers with useful information and practical guidelines on how to handle a variety of challenges involving children/tamariki and/or young people/rangatahi.

Through The Incredible Years programme, which was developed in the United States by Professor Carolyn Webster-Stratton, participants learn about the most effective approaches to
build positive relationships with your children; encourage desirable behaviour and discourage undesirable behaviour.

During weekly two-hour group sessions for a minimum of 10 weeks there is a lot of a discussion about important parenting principles and strategies, often stimulated by viewing video clips of parents interacting with children in common family life situations. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and to identify their own strengths, which they can build on to develop more positive interactions with their children. They are also able to practice new skills through practical exercises and various homework tasks.

Topics covered include: helping your child learn through play; using praise and encouragement to motivate your child; using incentive programmes to teach your child new behaviours; setting limits; following through with limits and rules; decreasing your child’s inappropriate behaviours; teaching children to problem solve.

The Incredible Years is available at all Family Works Northern service centres.
TheParenting through Separation information programme, developed and funded by the Ministry of Justice, is for parents who are separated, going through or considering separating.

It is aimed at helping them to understand their children's needs and how to communicate with each other and their children in order to achieve the best outcome for the children.

The programme provides parents with an understanding of separation from a child's point of view and helps them manage the effect of separation on their children. It also highlights the advantages of parents reaching agreement without the need to go to the Family Court. Both parents are encouraged to attend the two, two-hour sessions, but not at the same time.

The Separated Parenting programme is available at most Family Works Northern offices.
The Strengthening Step-families programme is specifically designed for couples forming or already in a step-family.

It aims to help participants to better understand and manage their step-family by providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to create a flourishing family.

Written by Australian experts Irene Gerrard and Margaret Howden, the programme is focused on helping couples parenting in a step-family to understand the unique issues, expectations and roles within step-families. It also aims to provide participants with strategies that will help them cope with the inevitable challenges and enable them to strengthen their step-family.

During weekly two-hour group sessions for a minimum of six weeks, a mixture of facilitated group discussion and fun, practical activities are used to achieve the programme goals. Participants are also given some suggested reading and a range of exercises to try at home.

Topics covered include: knowing your step-family, the past and new beginnings, parents’ roles in a step-family, children in a step-family, the couple in a step-family, the step-family journey.

Strengthening Step-families is available ata number of our Family Works Northern offices.