County Study Indicates Promoting Father Involvement in Child-Rearing has Unexpected Outcomes

Positive Opportunities for Parenting Success, also known as the POPS program, offers a 13 week parenting course for San Luis Obispo County families.  The program, which has been running for 9 years in the county, has a unique goal: seeking to increase and promote father involvement in child-rearing.  Most parent-support programs focus on the child and child-development; with POPS, the focus is on the couple as a unit and even more so on fathers.

The POPS program was created as a longitudinal research study to provide data to a team of researchers from UC Berkeley, Yale University, and Smith College.  Participants who go through the POPS program are provided numerous tools encouraging fathers to become more involved in parenting, and to improve the overall family dynamics.  In exchange, the participants provide measurable data for the research team.  The parents are monitored via survey responses, and video-taping of them inter-acting with their children before and after completion of the program.  Participants are scored on their body language, tone of voice, eye-contact and other parameters.  The data collected is then analyzed by graduate students and used for the research team’s study.

As expected, the research study has shown that the children of fathers who went through the program became much less aggressive, hyperactive, depressed or socially withdrawn than the children of fathers in the control group.  However, more surprisingly, the results also showed that both the mother’s and father’s levels of depression and anxiety were decreased measurably; the parents’ mutual satisfaction in their relationship with each other remained stable – compared to declines in the control group; and the families’ income levels went up.

POPS’ success is achieved through a series of groups focusing on five key areas: the couple relationship, the parent-child relationship, generational issues, couples communication and community support.  At each group, the mothers regroup with a female therapist, and the fathers regroup with a male therapist.

“Providing talking skills and improving communication between couples is certainly the number one point of this program,” says Group Leader, Bill Schmidt.  When couples have an issue, Schmidt helps them discuss it by breaking it down into the following: he asks that each parent voice his or her issue, explain what their thoughts and then their feelings are about the issue, state what results they ideally want to accomplish and then discuss their action plan.  Schmidt refers to this drill as the “communication circle.”

Leon, participated in the program over a year ago, with his girlfriend.  He was the father of a two year old and four year old at the time.  “We were at a point in our relationship when communication did not happen,” Leon explains.  Now, a year later, the two have married and Leon states he tries to use the communication circle on a daily basis.

He also says he thought that by providing financially for the family, he was doing his job as a father.  “I didn’t know how to parent,” admits Leon, “the program made me realize I was not involved in my sons’ lives.”  This year he is coaching his children’s T-Ball team.  “I want to be involved in my sons’ lives more than ever,” says Leon.

Another father who recently completed the program in Arroyo Grande emphasized he “liked that the program focused on the parents’ ability to change in order for the family dynamics to change.”  Putting it even more simply, another said he “learned not to sweat the small stuff and focus on the kids.”

POPS is overseen by Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County.  The program is starting a course in Arroyo Grande and beginning a new one in Paso Robles the first week of March.  Participation is entirely free.  The families meet one evening per week, dinner and childcare is provided, and each couple will receive $200 upon completion of the workshops.  Families interested in participating in the program may call (805)474-2018 for more information.

For more information about P.O.P.S. please call project director Melinda Sokolowski at (805) 541-4122 ext. 25.

Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County is a non-profit agency that focuses on helping people and changing lives through serving nearly 40,000 persons across Central and Southern California. We are committed to eliminate poverty by empowering individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency and self-determination through a comprehensive array of community-based programs.

* * * *

Bring your “A” game because the “Battle of the Brains” is back! The Community Action Partnership Adult Day Center in Templeton is hosting Trivia Brain Challenge once again on March 3, 2012 at the Paso Robles Senior Center at 270 Scott Street. The festivities start at 1 PM and proceeds from the fierce, but friendly, competition benefit the Adult Day Center. This facility serves the frail elderly, those with dementia, and mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease while also providing respite to their caregivers. There will be 26 tables of 4 contestants and tickets are $25. The winning table receives a small prize and BIG bragging rights.

The Trivia Challenge is Sylvia Biddle’s project. Biddle serves as a volunteer and advisory board member for the Adult Day Center. Biddle, a Paso Robles resident, is motivated by the Center’s work with her late mother, Ethyl, who had been a client. Biddle shared: “at first, my husband and I worked, and we wanted my mom, known to her friends and family as “Cherry”, to be happy and safe during the day. After we retired, mom wanted to keep coming here because she liked it.” It’s easy to see why older people enjoy coming to the cheerful, homelike Adult Day Center. The day we spoke with Biddle residents were playing “Name That Tune”, while a cheerful employee set up an arts and crafts table. The Center provides a full day of activities. Musicians visit frequently, Bingo is a perennial favorite and there are exercise classes. Lunch is prepared by the Paso Robles Culinary Academy. The Adult Day Center is simply a happy place.

Rosa Lee Sonney, also of Paso Robles, had a mom who was a client, and like Sylvia Biddle, she stayed on as an advisory board member at the Adult Day Center because she too is grateful for the quality care her mother received. Sonney stated, “this place is gift to the community.”

“We don’t turn anybody away because they are unable to pay,” says Mara Whitten, the program manager for the Adult Day Center. The Center relies heavily on private donations and fundraising. The Trivia Brain Challenge is run completely by the advisory board as well as helpers from local high schools and the family members of former clients. Local vendors help out as well. Quota International of Atascadero has been a major sponsor of the Trivia Brain Challenge.

For the last 5 years Idler’s has donated a wine cooler that is also raffled off after the tournament. The Trivia Brain Challenge sells out quickly. For more information about the event or Community Action Partnership’s Adult Day Center, contact Mara Whitten at (805) 434-2081.

The “Teen Parents Parental Guidance” article in the Santa Maria Times featured Community Action Partnership Teen Academic Parenting Program participant Vanessa Villalba. She shares her experiences as a teen mother and the challenges of dealing with a Down syndrome baby who will soon undergo heart surgery. See the entire story here.

Paso Robles is in the very enviable position of having been chosen as home base for a phenomenal program called Generation Next Youth Leadership. This program was originally founded in 1997, in Nipomo; but since June 2011, now offers its core activities via a Teen Center located on 28th Street in Paso Robles. The program can best be described as a leadership, community service learning, career mentoring, job readiness, and pregnancy and gang prevention project for teenagers.

Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County oversees the Generation Next program, which itself is run by two amazing staff: Colleen Ryan and Hunter Hasheider. Jenny Gustavson, who is employed by the San Luis Obispo County Mental Health Services, also provides assistance by offering 8 week young adult counseling sessions to the teens registered with the program. Ryan specifies that the program has received tremendous support from the Paso Robles School District, including access to set up the program in unused school space for a minimal monthly fee.

There are currently 38 teenagers registered with Generation Next, between the ages of 13 and 19 years old. The program runs on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, and the registered teens can take part in activities, on any or all of those days, at absolutely no cost. Each day of the week comes with a proposed theme, per the monthly calendar established by Ryan and Hasheider with the lively input of the participant teens.

The theme for Mondays is “artistic and creative expression,” and for the month of February, the teens chose guitar lessons. Thursdays focus on leadership development opportunities and this coming month will see the finalization of two team projects: a Generation Next outdoor mural entirely designed and created by the teens, and the construction of vegetable planters. Fridays have been labeled as the “recreation” days and usually involve playing team sports, going bowling or playing board games. “The program builds a sense a family between the kids,” says Ryan.

The program, at its inception, was geared towards “at-risk” youth: teenagers who are at a high risk of dropping out of school, becoming involved with gangs and drugs, or being affected by teenage pregnancy. In practice, however, Generation Next has in fact attracted youths from all walks of life.

One 14-year-old participant, who has supportive and involved parents, has been dealing with bullying issues at his Middle School. He says that before being involved with Generation Next, he would go home after school and have nothing to do. “This place is heaven,” he says, “I’ve made new friends, learned about leadership. I love everything we do here!”

Another participant, who will soon be turning 16, says that coming to the Generation Next Teen Center “keeps [her] out of trouble.” She jokes that her mother wanted to send her to the California National Guard Grizzly Youth Academy. However, it seems that her participation in Generation Next has given her the friendly supportive environment she needed to channel her rebellious spirit into meaningful activities.

Ryan highlights that a number of the participants are talented artists. In an attempt to further nurture their talents, she took them on a field trip to the Paso Robles Art Association, which in turn offered art scholarships to some of the participants. Ryan also showed the interested teenagers a video about career opportunities in art such as marketing, and clothing and auto design. In that same vein, Ryan and Hasheider help the teens schedule their SATS, as well as complete scholarship and college applications.

Generation Next believes that By providing youth, ages 12-18, with leadership development opportunities, meaningful community service projects, comprehensive sexual health education, one-to-one and group mentoring, career exploration, job site shadowing, academic and homework support, outdoor education, music and art, and sports/recreational activities, Generation Next helps realize the “potential” of all youth to become engaged in their community and set positive goals for their future. In this way, our participants can become productive, healthy adults, who are contributing members of their community. By providing youth, ages 12-18, with leadership development opportunities, meaningful community service projects, comprehensive sexual health education, one-to-one and group mentoring, career exploration, job site shadowing, academic and homework support, outdoor education, music and art, and sports/recreational activities, Generation Next helps realize the “potential” of all youth to become engaged in their community and set positive goals for their future. In this way, our participants can become productive, healthy adults, who are contributing members of their community. By providing youth, ages 12-18, with leadership development opportunities, meaningful community service projects, comprehensive sexual health education, one-to-one and group mentoring, career exploration, job site shadowing, academic and homework support, outdoor education, music and art, and sports/recreational activities, Generation Next helps realize the “potential” of all youth to become engaged in their community and set positive goals for their future. In this way, our participants can become productive, healthy adults, who are contributing members of their community. By providing youth, ages 12-18, with leadership development opportunities, meaningful community service projects, comprehensive sexual health education, one-to-one and group mentoring, career exploration, job site shadowing, academic and homework support, outdoor education, music and art, and sports/recreational activities, Generation Next helps realize the “potential” of all youth to become engaged in their community and set positive goals for their future. In this way, our participants can become productive, healthy adults, who are contributing members of their community. By providing youth, ages 12-18, with leadership development opportunities, meaningful community service projects, comprehensive sexual health education, one-to-one and group mentoring, career exploration, job site shadowing, academic and homework support, outdoor education, music and art, and sports/recreational activities, Generation Next helps realize the “potential” of all youth to become engaged in their community and set positive goals for their future. In this way, our participants can become productive, healthy adults, who are contributing members of their community.by providing youth with leadership development opportunities, meaningful community service projects, comprehensive sexual health education, one-to-one and group mentoring, career exploration, academic and homework support, outdoor education, music and art, and sports and recreational activities, it can help realize the potential of all youth to become engaged in their community and set positive goals for their future. The participants can become productive, healthy adults, who are contributing members of their society.

For more information about Generation Next please call program director:
Tracy Lang Wood (805) 544-2484 ext. 720

Click here to visit Generation Next's Website

Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County is a non-profit agency that focuses on helping people and changing lives through serving nearly 40,000 persons across Central and Southern California. We are committed to eliminate poverty by empowering individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency and self-determination through a comprehensive array of community-based programs.

* * * * *