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Development Topics
Raising Successful Kids
The Church Can Be a Hero to Parents
Can churches take
this asset-building resource to parents in the community? Will this build relationships
with hurting, motivated parents? Absolutely! One surprising opportunity now available
is to reach them through neighborhood schools.
Why reach parents at schools? Many parents will attend parenting
workshops at schools, whereas they may not go to the same program held at a
church.
Many schools are motivated to let parent
outreach teams from churches help parents become asset-builders. Did you
know that public schools across America are being required to help parents become
more involved in building their children’s success? Educators have recognized
that parents are a “can’t be missed” foundation to children’s success in school.
One resource for outreach to parents is Parenting Partners™,
a series of seven parenting workshops for small groups. The series gives parents
a practical, immediate way to develop the assets in their children. More than
5,000 parents have completed the workshops — all in small groups that build
close relationships.
Pastor Jeff Harrington brought a parent
outreach team to the public elementary school next to his church. He and
his team now lead the series of workshops twice each school year. He says:
- “Parenting
Partners provides a key touch point for us in our community. It helps us get
to know more young families who live right here.
- “They
in turn know and trust us. This is both a relationship and credibility builder.”
- As a result,
community parents felt safe to check out the church and have found a place
to belong there.
You can find out more about the Parenting Partners resource
at www.positiveparents.org. The next step is finding out about starting
a parent outreach team.
— David Bunker
Do you have thoughts, questions, advice on this topic? Post your stories and comments in the forum for other parents to respond to. Enter the forum now.
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