Improving Parental Effectiveness

Guiding Light Family Services, LLC

Improving Parental Effectiveness

Based upon Dr. Klusky’s, “Transforming Youth – One Parent at a Time” curriculum and his book "What Every Parent Wants for Their Child and How to Get It"we provide support in three general areas:

1. Internal Strength/Resilience, 2. Communication, and 3. Self-discipline/Self-direction.  Fathers meet twice a week for two-hour classes.  At first, fathers meet one-on-one with Dr. Klusky, then after learning the basics, they work in group settings.  Training begins with providing fathers opportunities to develop their internal strength and resilience.  Check out the book

Our Parent Program Outline


1.   Internal Strength/Resilience

      (To address Nurturance and Support as an Essential Family Role

      a.  Stress Relief and Inoculation

      b.  Developing Optimism and the Fortitude to Maintain It

      c.  Building Self-Worth


2.  Communication Training 

       (To address the Life Skill Development as an Essential Family Role)

      a.  Being Present

      b.  Listening and Accepting

      c.  Building Patience

      d.  Expressing Yourself

                e. Building Literacy

                f.  Parent-Child Communication Training

                g.  Establishing Parent Support Groups


3. Self-discipline/Self-direction

     (To address Maintenance & Management of the Family System and Provision of

               Resources as Essential Family Roles)

    a.  Developing Single-Minded Focus

    b.  Building Extreme Self-Discipline

    c.  Directing Your Life: Goal Setting/Problem Solving/Planning


        4. Home Management

    (To address Creating a Healthy Environment as an Essential Family Role)

   a.  Home Organization and Time Management

   b.  Nutrition Basics

   c.  Advocating for Your Child

Each portion of the curriculum is presented from two perspectives: personal development and family development.  If parents are going to pass these skills on to their children, it is critical that they have them for themselves.  Of course most, if not all, fathers have some of these.  Hence, we help parents fill in the gaps and build these capacities.  Then we explore methods of bringing these skills to their families. 

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