News Release
For Immediate Release: January 12, 2010
Contact Person: Diane Lee, PIO, 301-334-7730
Relationships Matter
By: Brenda Sisler
Everyone recognizes that babies and young children need and love their parents, but what about middle school youth? Are you as a parent wondering how your loving child has come to reject you?
Several studies have found that positive relations or connectedness between parents and adolescents enhance the child's development. Adolescents who have a positive relationship with their parents tend to have better grades, have less behavior problems, and either avoid or have lower rates of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
Garrett County is participating in a national program that will benefit families with 12 -14 year old youth. The CARE to Wait Parenting/Family program focuses on building family strengths during the difficult transitions that occur during middle school. Parents and youth participate in joint activities that enhance positive communication between youth and parents, as well as teaching goal setting, decision making, problem solving and refusal skills.
Starting Tuesday, February 16, the Garrett County Health Department will offer a series of 12 weekly workshops at Northern Middle School . Each session starts with a free family meal at 5:30, and includes 30 minutes of parent/youth activities as well as individual workshops for parents, youth, and siblings. Monetary incentives are awarded to participants for completing the 12 week program and surveys.
For more information or to register for the workshops call Brenda Sisler, Parent/Family Facilitator, at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111. Parent and youth classes are limited to 20 participants.