The Family Center: A Case Study

Raising children between two homes can be a very difficult task. When families encounter different transitions, careful attention should be taken because children need, desire and deserve the love, care and support from both of their parents. The Family Center is a private, not for profit 501(c) (3) corporation established in Mobile, Alabama in 1991. According to the Alabama Family Law, Statute 30-3-150, it defines this guideline: "It is the policy of this state to assure that minor children have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of their children and to encourage parents to share in the rights and responsibilities of rearing their children after the parents have separated or

Their mission is to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect by providing free and low cost education, training and support to parents and caregivers in Southwest Alabama (http://www.familycentermobile.org/). Parenting classes are used widely by child welfare agencies to assist with improving parenting practices among families at risk for child maltreatment, with over 800,000 families referred to parenting programs each year (Barth,2005). Classes that are taught by The Family Center consist of the following: Guidance and Discipline Part 1 and 2, Age expectations and family rules, Giving choices and consequences, Praising behaviors and behavior charts, Home and personal safety, Stress management skills, Anger management and communication skills, and Child abuse and

Programs that provide parenting education teach parents new skills that will improve parenting resources, coping skills, and competencies in child rearing (Cowen, 2001; Reppucci, Britner, & Woolard, 1997; Wodarski, 1981). Parental support training programs have proven the most effective way to treat child behavior problems (Abrahamse, Junger, Wouwe, Boer, and Lindauer, 2015). In addition, “parenting education provides a mechanism for parents to learn positive parenting techniques outside their own upbringing” (Cowen, 2001; Reppucci et al,