University of Wisconsin - Extension

People who work with parents of teenagers can learn to use a new parenting curriculum, "Positive Parenting of Teens," at a University of Wisconsin-Extension workshop Feb. 20. The workshop will be from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Administration Center, 1320 Pewaukee Road, Waukesha.

This workshop is designed for family professionals, parent educators, staff of faith communities and others who work with parents or teach parenting education. According to Tom Riese, youth and family development educator for Waukesha County, parents and teens need effective tools to keep lines of communication open, to handle conflict effectively and to live and work collaboratively in the greater community.

"Positive Parenting of Teens" was developed as a collaborative project, using the valuable participation of teens, parents, educators and family life professionals from the University of Minnesota Extension Service and University of Wisconsin-Extension.

This curriculum was created by the same team that developed the nationally-recognized Positive Parenting I and II curriculums used widely by Early Childhood Family Education Programs and Headstart.

Waukesha County Extension educators who are part of the Positive Parenting team include Tom Riese and Laura Dombrock. "Positive Parenting of Teens," intended for use with parents of teenagers, includes eight lessons dealing with such important family processes as communication, conflict, discipline, misperception, development and peer pressure.

The curriculum includes nine video segments, lesson guides, background information for facilitators, parent handouts, discussion aids and resource lists. In addition, the curriculum includes 15 fact sheets to help youth and parents deal with tough issues like sexuality, chemical substances, school, work and money.

Registration forms are available from the Waukesha County Extension Office at 262-548-7770. To be accepted into the training, persons must own or have access to the "Positive Parenting of Teens" curriculum.

Workshop cost, including the curriculum, is $225.00. If participants already have access to the curriculum, the workshop fee is $30.00.