1. Parenting Programs for Homeless Families: A Psychodeducational Model
Presented by: Mary C. Herrington, Coordinator
Richmond Regional Homeless Education Program
Richmond Public Schools
2020 Westwood Ave.
Richmond, VA

2. Barriers to Healthy Parenting

3. Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse
need for security
need for support
need for encouragement to be separate, unique individuals
need to feel protected
need to experience consistent feelings of love, belonging and feelings of their own worth

4. Societal and Cultural Beliefs in the Value of Physical Punishment
use of corporal punishment has been condoned in our society
denial

5. Recovery from Substance Abuse
effects of physical/emotional withdrawal
fears of relapse
lack of family support
feelings of isolation
guilt
narcissism/lack of empathy

6. Fear of Intimacy and Responsibility of a Committed Relationship
dealing with loss
inability to form a close bond with their children

7. Chronic Mental Illness
need for psychiatric interventions
psychiatric evaluation and medication assessment

8. Group Model

9. A Psychoeducational Approach to Parenting
Premise:
Education in appropriate parenting and child rearing practices coupled with insight into past experiences with parental role models are important treatment and intervention strategies in which to offset the generational perpetuation of dysfunctional parenting practices.

10. The Psychoeducational Model
hybrid of education and personal insight
therapeutic learning in a psychoeducational structure

11. Group Experiences cognitive level (knowledge based)
affective level (emotional)

12. Cognitive Level Constructs:
developmental expectations
self-esteem
communication skills
behavior management
anger management
personal values

13. Affective Level childhood and adult history becomes the focal point
GOAL: Integration of the ideas about child development, parenting, and the relationship between past parenting experiences

14. Teaching Empathy
shift from ego-centered to becoming more child centered
using group process to connect child’s feelings through their own experiences using group process

15. Open Group Challenges: group cohesiveness trust resistance
cognitive functioning
lack of child care