Nurturing Program
The Elizabeth Stone House Nurturing Program is a structured, 15-week, curriculum-based course focusing on family interaction, communication and the development of healthy parent-child relationships. Facilitators lead the weekly, three-hour classes. For the first hour and a half of each evening session, children and parents separate for age-appropriate group discussions on such topics as praise, discipline, family rules and expectations. The curriculum for children’s groups parallels that of the parent groups, with topics presented and discussed in an age-appropriate manner. During the last hour and a half, families and Parent-Child Center staff members come together to enjoy their evening meal. During this time, families also engage in directed family activities – a game or an art project, for example. The goal of both the dinner and the family activity is for facilitators to model appropriate use of family time together.
The curriculum for the Nurturing Program is adapted from a previous curriculum developed by the Family Nurturing Center to meet the particular needs of a population that has experienced the constellation of issues faced by the families we serve: homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health issues. We have specialized curricula for parents, infants and toddlers, children ages 3-6, children ages 7-12, and teens. In addition to mothers and children, fathers are welcome to participate in the Nurturing Program.
For more information on these programs in English and Spanish please contact: