5,000 San Diego Children Benefited from New Skills Learned by Parents

San Diego CA— Even in the best of times, raising children is not easy. As countless families in San Diego County search for a sense of normalcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation and stress – for both parents and children – have dramatically increased, on top of routine parenting challenges.
The good news is help is available. Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) announced today the 2019-20 results of its Positive Parenting Program (PPP), which helps parents and caregivers in the region find positive solutions to common childhood behavior issues using strategies proven by more than 35 years of research. All PPP programming is open year-round to any parent or guardian of children ages 0-12 in the county and is provided for free through a contract with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health Services.
This type of parenting support is especially important today as data shows the “well-being” of low-income families continues to diminish rather than improve as the pandemic goes on, “exposing and even increasing the inequities that exist within households with fewer resources.”
The Positive Parenting Program is available through schools across San Diego. Elementary schools, head starts, and preschools can host Positive Parenting services by calling 858-637-3375. Any parent looking for more effective ways to take the guesswork out of parenting and create positive, happy family environments can visit jfssd.org/positiveparenting to learn more or request services through their school.
Also, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, JFS leveraged two comprehensive digital programs to guide parents through core positive parenting skills. The curriculum is based on Triple P, a global, evidenced-based program that has been shown to promote family harmony, reduce parent-child conflict, foster successful peer relationships, and prepare children for successful school experiences.

• Positive Parenting Program Online Course
  A self-guided, “go at your own pace” class series designed to help parents better manage a child’s behavior, build positive relationships and reduce stress for the entire family. For more information or to register, visit www.jfssd.org/ppponlinecourse.
• Positive Parenting Program Live Webinar Series
  A 3-part online live webinar series in which a cohort of parents learn data driven strategies to improve a child’s behavior from experienced parent educators. This new online program currently has over 100 active users, with new sessions beginning October 6 and 8. For more information or to register, visit www.jfssd.org/pppwebinars.

Highlights of JFS’s PPP program for the 2019-20 fiscal year include:

• 100% of individual session participants showed improved scores, most significantly in the areas of feeling more supported as a parent; having less difficulties with a child’s behavior, less demanding and stressful parenting; more confidence undertaking responsibilities as a parent; and partners agreeing over discipline techniques
• 100% of group session participants showed improved scores, with the greatest improvements in decreased levels of: depression, anxiety and stress; problem and intensity of behavioral concerns; and relationship distress between partners
• 96% of live webinar participants said the program helped them deal more effectively with their child’s behavior

“For this past fiscal year, JFS’s Positive Parenting Program provided services to more than 2,400 parents, supporting over 5,000 children – the highest numbers in the history of the program,” said JFS CEO Michael Hopkins. “And the resulting data we’ve collected shows that participants experiencing the most severe problems at home are often the ones who take away the greatest benefits from the program. We want to remind all San Diego County parents who are struggling to find a balance between working from home, parenting, educating and round-the-clock caregiving – JFS is here to help.”