New program supports parents

A new program is being offered at the Superior Mental Health Department. The program, Oasis Family Support Project, will include both parents and children and seeks to provide support to parents who are raising children. The program is being funded by a grant for $5,490 from the Early Childhood Comprehensive System, which supports early childhood development projects and is funded by a segment of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Laura Harris, a therapist at the center and who has also specialized in early childhood development, said that she applied for the grant as soon as she had heard of it and within a week they had received it. Harris believes that this program will be beneficial to the county.

"The program came out of our concern that the rural area we're in is isolated and we don't have access to what Missoula has. We just don't have the early childhood opportunities down here," Harris said. "This is meant to be proactive, prevent family stress, prevent child abuse and prevent certain problems from emerging."

However, Harris said that you don't necessarily have to have a problem to attend as she believes that it is something that every parent should have an opportunity to attend a program like this. She said while you might not be having any stresses, there's probably been a moment where you have and Harris stressed that anyone with a young child needs time with adults.

"Whether or not they're having serious stresses or not, it's designed for people who do have serious stresses, but I think that doesn't really eliminate anybody that has a young child who has had times when they just need to be with other adults," Harris said.

Harris said that through the program she is hoping to teach parents things such as positive guidance. She said there will also be informational sessions for parents where she hopes to have others come in and talk on nutrition, safety and other basics while the children are playing. There will also be time for group discussion where parents can talk about issues that they are having individually. Harris said one of the important things will be to make sure that the parents have access to phone numbers of other resources if they need them.

Harris said that she will also be addressing typical behaviors of young children-fighting with other kids, tantrums, whining, begging- and showing some simple techniques on how to redirect the child's behavior. Harris said that the environment should also help to establish correct behaviors as the children will be around other children.

"Even when children see other children responding it just kind of gets the ball rolling," Harris said. "In preschool, when a child sees a bunch of other children doing something then they come and want to do it too."

Harris said that gently reinforces that the adults are in charge.

"It's teaching that we're the adults and were in charge, but were also here to nurture and support you instead of what happens with everybody no matter how much they know about it is you get power struggles," Harris said.

Harris feels that the unique environment will offer learning to both adults and parents, while allowing them to have fun and enjoy each other.

"If we have them just sit down and lecture them, they're not really taking the information in and it's sort of like hands-on," Harris said. "It's also a chance for them to have fun with their child and when other people are around, the stress level goes down, and you're just having fun in a child-centered environment. There'll be plenty for children to do and you can just relax and enjoy your child with others who are experiencing the same challenges we all do."

Harris said that the hands-on approach, as well as interacting with the children through eye-contact, talking is the equivalent to exploration which in turn will help make the children school ready as that is also a goal of the Early Childhood Comprehensive System. Harris said the structure, while loose, will expose children to a community outside of what they are used to.

Harris said that ultimately the group is about providing support to parents and showing them what can work for them and their child.

"Parenting is hard and it's not something you can just read a pamphlet about and know how to do," Harris said. "It isn't about being perfect, we're all human, and there's no perfect way to raise kids so let's find what works for you."

The program begins June 12 and will run from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The first cycle of meeting will run for five weeks as the grant is only enough money to get the program going and Harris said they will need to apply for more, but she believes this is the first step of an emerging program. Parents must attend with a child and the ages of that child can fall between birth and five years. Those wishing to attend should call and register by calling Harris at 406-532-9150.

"There's a saying. To make a child good make a child happy and so when children have had a happy day there going to behave better," Harris said.