The Division of Youth Services, Department of Community & Cultural Affairs recognizes that the "raising of children" may be the single most important human activity.   Like other professions, parenting requires knowledge and skills.  The Division of Youth Services believes that children can become unhappy, maladjusted and unproductive when raised by ignorant and unskilled parents.  When parents have limited choices and means, their children are ultimately negatively affected and that effective intervention takes place when parents develop the knowledge and skills to achieve their parenting goals or are helped to clarify or change their goals so that they are achievable.  For this reason, the Division of Youth has organized available knowledge and skills into programs of education and training for parents with the establishment of the Parent Education program in October 1997.  The goal of the Parent Education Program is to reach as many parents as possible before problems even begin at the home, thus parents are welcome to use any of the programs at varying levels of need.

Unlike other mandated services of our division with a restriction to those referred to the Division of Youth Services, the Parent Education Programs are marketed to all members of the community.

The Parent Education Program was established with the belief that many parents can be helped in the serious task of raising their children if some of the basic skills and knowledge required are identified and specified, and if the parents have the opportunity to learn and practice these skills.  The ideas and skills in the Parent Education Program do not represent the "right way to raise children", rather the program attempts to provide parents with insight, and skills that will help them reach their goals.  The ideas and skills are offered with a deep respect for the integrity of the family and the ideas and goals of parents.  Each parent should feel free to accept, reject or selectively use any of the programs or skills offered.