5.5.11
Make Parenting a Pleasure – Parenting Groups
Make Parenting A Pleasure (MPAP) is the parenting curriculum used by Shasta Head Start. MPAP is an evidence-based child abuse prevention parenting group for stressed parents. MPAP is grounded in the five Protective Factors Framework: parental resilience, social connections, concrete support in times of need, knowledge of parenting and child development, and social and emotional competence of children. These five protective factors reduce the potential for child abuse and neglect and support healthy parent-child interactions as well as overall family well-being.
Family Workers (FW) will provide four MPAP parenting group sessions in the Fall and Spring of each program year. Geographic areas will collaborate to provide groups based on parent’s interest and opportunity for growth.
- Fall groups will be held September through the first week in November.
- Spring groups will be held February through April.
FWs will plan four consecutive sessions. See session title/flyer for list of session topics. See the MPAP Curriculum binder at each center for session materials. To prepare for the sessions, complete the following tasks:
- Complete the Family Opportunity and Interest Assessment (FOIA) with each family to identify opportunities for growth and family interest
- Provide a parent survey to see what day/time works best for the majority of parents
- Use the Make Parenting A Pleasure curriculum sessions to plan the weekly groups based on parent need or interest
- Create a flyer
- Create a way for parents to sign up for the MPAP parenting group (Learning Genie, Eventbrite, a form, etc.)
- A meal or snack will be offered before or during the group time
- Drawing or giveaways (Books, bubbles, etc.) are a good way to entice families to attend groups
- You may decide to offer childcare however, if childcare is not offered, SHS can reimburse for childcare and mileage at a set rate. See Parent Center Committee Meetings for Parent Reimbursement Policy