Resilient Families Program Graduates Proud of New Parenting Skills

    Last fall, the University of Louisville's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and the Office of Community Engagement partnered with Wayside Christian Mission in an effort to strengthen family skills and parenting strategies.   The Resilient Families Project's Co-Director Dr. Lora Haynes explained, "We are working with families and children to promote the excitement and adventure of reading and family story time.  Our programs emphasize warm, responsive care giving and pro-social behaviors in an interactive environment to promote community involvement and school readiness."  Meeting once a week at Hotel Louisville, families in the care of Wayside Christian Mission attended classes designed to enhance parenting skills and learning development.  Recently, program directors Dr. Barbara Burns and Dr. Lora Haynes hosted a graduation event for the parents who participated in the Resilient Families Program.  So what had the parents learned?   New parenting skills include disciplining without anger, learning better communication techniques, keeping children happy through positive affirmation, understanding a child's way of thinking, and enhanced family support.  One young mother said she had learned how to manage her children without losing her composure.  Another mom expects to regain custody of her child thanks to the new parenting skills she gained from the classroom exercises taught by Drs. Burns and Haynes and their graduate level students.   There were very few dry eyes as moms and dads marched through the graduation line.  Wayside Christian Mission is grateful to the faculty and students from the University of Louisville for their investment of time, energy, and knowledge.  Much was put into the preparation of these weekly classroom events, but dividends such as stronger families and happier children are well worth the efforts!