FAQs

What is a Circle of Parents® mutual self-help group?

Answer: Circle of Parents® is a mutual support and self-help program for parents based on a framework of shared leadership, mutual respect, shared ownership and inclusiveness. Mutual support and self-help programs promote positive parenting and help prevent child abuse and neglect in communities by providing social support, reducing isolation and building self-esteem of parents.

What is the cost of implementing the Circle of Parents® model?

Answer: There is no cost for facilitator training, children’s program training, or for the training manuals, parent handbooks, brochures and facilitator packet of handouts. However, all facilitators and children’s program specialists must have a current background check, and this cost will be incurred by the sponsoring agency.

How do mutual self-help groups benefit parents?

Answer: The support of others who have experienced similar situations reduces stress and helps encourage parents to learn alternative strategies for coping successfully with the challenges of raising children.

What happens in a Circle of Parents® support group?

Answer: Circle of Parents® support groups are gatherings where parents talk about their parenting and the changes they are striving to make in their home life.

Who leads the support group?

Answer: Parent empowerment is the cornerstone of our work. Circle of Parents® support groups are led by a trained facilitator (or co-facilitator) and a parent group leader, all of whom share the responsibility of the group’s success.

Who is appropriate to refer to a Circle of Parents® support group?

Answer:

Any parent or caregiver who is interested in strengthening their family relationships
Parents or caregivers who feel isolated
Parents or caregivers who are frustrated with the challenges of parenting
Parents or caregivers who wish to increase their parenting skills and abilities
Parents or caregivers who are worried about their feelings of anger
Parents or caregivers who have low self-esteem
Parents or caregivers who need assistance in developing specific parenting skills
Parents or caregivers who would benefit from more concrete information on child development and available community resources
Parents or caregivers who have hurt, or fear that they may hurt their children

Who is inappropriate to refer to a Circle of Parents® support group?

Answer:

Parents or caregivers who are chronic substance abuse users and are not in treatment
Parents or caregivers with mental health issues that keep them from productively participating in the group process
Parents or caregivers who have been convicted of sexual abuse and are not in treatment

Is the Circle of Parents® mutual self-help group model evidence-based?

Answer: In terms of evidence-based practice, the Circle of Parents® program currently meets all the criteria for programmatic characteristics and research and evaluation characteristics for classification as a PART CBCAP "Promising Programs and Practices" as a result of the recently completed national research project.

What is the first step to get started?

Answer: Contact the executive director at 850-921-4494 ext. 164 and ask for an information packet. After reviewing the packet, the sponsoring agency representative will sign the partnership agreement found in the information packet and return it to the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida office at 111 N. Gadsden St., Tallahassee, FL 32301. After the partnership agreement has been reviewed and signed by the Ounce of Prevention Fund representative, a facilitator training will be scheduled at the sponsoring agency’s location.