Parenting Classes

Toll-Free Number Sponsored by the Alaska Children's Trust

Parent Line: 1-800-643-KIDS (5437) Get answers to all of your parenting questions from trained parent educators 9 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week.

Parenting Tips from the Alaska Children's Trust

• Listen, talk and play with your child.
• Be warm, loving and responsive.
• Be a role model for respectful behavior and values you believe in.
• Listen to your child without judging what you hear.
• Establish rituals and routines.
• Encourage your child to keep trying when he or she fails.
• Set goals and celebrate accomplishments.
• Set boundaries that are appropriate for your child.
• Never leave your child alone or unattended.
• Get to know the people in your child's life; coaches, relatives, friends, babysitters, ministers.
• Monitor your child's internet use.
• Choose quality day care and stay involved.
• Be selective in your child's television watching.
• Take care of yourself.
• Enjoy your child and have fun together!

General Web-Based Resources

• Free web- based tutorials to help think you think about how YOU want to parent:
  • www.uptoparents.org (for divorced or divorcing parents)
  • www.whileweheal.org (for parents working through a separation)
  • www.proudtoparent.org (for parents who have never been married)
• List of Alaska Resources for Parents of Teens
  • www.focusas.com/Alaska.html

School Districts
Check with the counselor at your local school. They may offer parenting classes. Get school district calendars in Superior Court Locations.

Akeela

Classes: Strengthening Families
Focus: Parents with children ages 6 through 11 years.
Class Description: The Strengthening Families program is designed to:
1. Decrease alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, and discourage intentions to use.
2. Decrease emotional, behavioral and social problems in school.
3. Improve communication and academic skills.
4. Improve parenting skills and the family environment.
5. Increase children's ability to cope.
6. Provide information to parents about alternative ways to increase positive interactions with their children.

Program begins with family dinner, then 1 hour of separate sessions for kids & adults and 1 hour together for fun and activities. Child care is provided for younger children.

Class Schedule: A 14 week program for the entire family offered throughout the year.
Cost: $135.00 for the entire family for 14 weeks. Scholarships are available for families who cannot afford to attend.
Contact: 907-565-1200

Alaska Christian Ministries

Classes: Positive Parenting, Building Foundations for Strong Families
Focus: Parents with children of all ages.
Class Description: 6 weekly workshops designed to strengthen the foundations of family life. Each workshop begins with a family meal. Then the children and teens will go to age appropriate activities designed to strengthen character and compliment the topic parents are discussing. Parents meet together for a group study one of six topics: Positive Self Esteem, Character Development, Family Communication, Positive Discipline, Behavior Modification and Resource Tools for the Family. After the study, parents discuss in small groups with other parents of similar age children how to implement in their families the principles they have learned. Child care is provided for younger children.
Class Schedule: Please call or email for schedule.
Cost: $25.00 for the entire family for 6 weeks.
Contact: 907-272-8760 or e-mail EStarAK@aol.com

Alaska Women's Resource Center
No classes offered at the time of publication (June 2008)
Contact: 907-276-0528 for more information.

Alaska Youth and Family Network (AYFN)

Classes: Parenting with Love and Logic
Focus: Parents of children and youth with significant behavioral, emotional, or substance abuse issues.
Class Description: Our classes meet weekly with 10-14 participants who review reading, videos and engage in lively discussions during the 7 modules presented.
Class Schedule: Classes meet on Thursday evenings from 7-9 pm.
Cost: Cost is $75 per person and includes a workbook and completion certificate for all students meeting the hour and assignment requirements.
Contact: Call Jacquie Erickson @ 907-764-4441 for registration information or visit www.ayfn.org to get current class listings and down-load registration forms.
Location: Call to verify location.

Child Care Connection

Focus: Families and child care providers.
Description: Child Care connection staffs a warm-line for families and child care providers, with an early Childhood Development Specialist who can provide individualized child development information, discipline suggestions, or other appropriate supports. The warm-line is a support line around parenting choices and child development issues; they do not provide ongoing counseling: however they will provide referrals to other appropriate agencies if callers are in the midst of a crisis or need more comprehensive social service assistance.
Contact: 907-563-1966 or email parentservices@chldcareconnection.org. Monday Friday, 9:00 - 5:00

Cook Inlet Tribal Council

Classes: Fathers Journeys Fatherhood Support Program
Focus: Fathers Journeys Fatherhood Support Program: this program will promote responsible parenting that is aimed at improving the quality of father /child interaction.
Class Description: Fathers Journeys Fatherhood Support Program: This program is to equip fathers who are facing economic challenges or involvement in the child protection system with social, parenting, financial, and life skills that will enhance their effectiveness as parents and will improve the well-being for their families.
Class Schedule: Fathers Journeys Fatherhood Support Program: 13 week education group.
Cost: Call Cook Inlet Tribal Council for details and registration.
Contact: Fathers Journeys Fatherhood Support Program, 907-793-3157.

Creative Solutions for Families

Classes: Co-Parenting – "Divorce ends the marriage – not the family unit. Working together for our children."
Focus: Help parents navigate through this time with co-parenting skills that help maintain the family unit and decrease unnecessary burden and stress on the children.
Class Description: Classes use curriculum from Children in the Middle (CIM) and After the Storm (ATS), both developed by the Center for Divorce Education and endorsed nationally by attorneys, judges, psychologists, mediators, and teachers. CIM focuses on educating parents on the effects of divorce on the children. ATS was developed for parents with high conflict, whether married, divorced, or never married. Benefits for parents are learning anger management strategies and developing sensitivities to the effects of their conflict on their children. Class includes workbooks for both programs.
Attendees receive 2 hours of post-class parenting mediation services to be used within 60 days of attending the course. ($270 value)
Class Schedule: Classes in Anchorage and Eagle River - Contact Creative Solutions for current scheduling (907) 622-9452 or visit our web site at www.CreativeSolutionsForFamilies.com.
Cost: $150 per person (scholarships and sliding scale fee available).
Contact: 907-622-9452; info@CreativeSolutionsForFamilies.com

Providence Hospital

Classes: Parenting with Providence
Focus: New Parents and parents of young children who need to understand early childhood development.
Class Description: Classes focus on the care & development of Infants& Toddlers and Discipline for 5-10 year olds.
Class Schedule: Ongoing classes of 1-2 hours. Discipline class last for 5 weeks. Check on line for the schedule.
Cost: Varies with the classes taken.
Contact: http://www.providence.org/alaska/tchap/maternity/parenting.htm or 907-212-8474

The Salvation Army, Booth Memorial Youth and Family Services

Classes: 1. Parenting for Toddler, 2. Caring for Your Infant
Focus: Parents of toddlers & infants & Pregnant women and fathers to be.
Class Description: Parenting for Toddler classes: Growth and Development, Safety Issues, Communication with Toddlers, Positive Discipline, Stress in Parenting and Anger management Caring for Your Infant Classes: Growth and Development, Stimulating Your Baby's Learning, Discipline Starts Early, Infant Health and Nutrition, Safety Issues, Selecting Child-care and Stress in Parenting.
Class Schedule: Series (Toddler - 5 classes, Infant- 6 classes) are offered throughout the year Monday evenings, 6 to 7:30pm.
Cost: Cost is on a sliding fee scale. For example if the children are on Denali Kid Care the cost is $5.00 for all the classes. The rage is $1.00 to $10.00/class.
Contact: Family Services office, Joyce Guest, at 907-375-3515, joyce_guest@usw.salvationarmy.org

Southcentral Foundation

Classes: The Young Families Project
Focus: Parents and kids welcome. Native Culture only.
Class Description: The Young Families Project is designed to enhance the quality and quantity the quality and quantity of services provided to young children and their families in Anchorage. This project has two program emphases: to improve the educational aspects of the organizations center based Head Start programs and to help young parents become active partners in the education of their children, through parenting skill training.
Class Schedule: Tuesdays 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Cost: Call Southcentral Foundation for details and registration.
Contact: 907-729-2500
Location: 4341 Tudor Centre Drive, 3rd Floor

Stone Soup Group

Classes: A variety of classes and programs that provide support and assistance to families caring for children with special needs.
Focus: Children with special needs.
Class Description: Classes are developed to provide training and support for families with special needs children.
Class Schedule: Contact Stone Soup Group for current/upcoming class schedule and to register.
Cost: Free. Childcare is provided with advanced notice.
Contact: www.stonesoupgroup.org or 907-561-3701 for class schedules, registration, and for additional information. Trainings are held at: 3350 Commercial Drive, Suite 100

Volunteers of America

Classes: No Empty Nest
Focus: Support group for grandparents raising grandchildren.
Class Description: A group atmosphere that allows grandparents to share their stories, joys, struggles, successes, ideas, and support one another through both the easy and the hard times.
Class Schedule: Last Tuesday of the month from 6:30 8:00 p.m. Each month a different Anchorage church sponsors a Grands' Breakfast on the last Saturday of the month for grandparents raising grandchildren and their grandchildren.
Cost: Free. Supervised children's meeting with activities and games are offered during this time.
Contact: www.voaak.org or (888) 522-9866 for additional information and to sign up for Grands' Breakfast
Location: 1675 C Street Ste. 201 in Anchorage

Arctic Women-in-Crisis (AWIC)

Classes: Nurturing Parenting Curriculum
Focus: Nurturing Parenting is a process that involves: having the right attitude to want to try a new behavior; having the right knowledge to be able to understand the importance of a new behavior; and having the right skills to be able to do the new behavior.
Class Description: 15 sessions divided into 3 sections; Section 1: Parents learn how to incorporate nurturing parenting into their families; Section 2: Parents embark on a journey of self-discovery and complete self-growth exercises; Section 3: Parents practice their new skills, knowledge and attitudes and review homework assignments.
Class Schedule: Men & Women Tuesday 12 1 p.m. at 5200 Karluk (upstairs); Women only on Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:30 2:30 p.m. at AWIC.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907-852-0261 Surrounding communities are able to call in: Anaktuvak Pass, Atqasuk, Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, Point Hope, Point Lay, and Wainwright.

Tundra Women's Coalition (TWC)
No classes offered at the time of publication (June 2008)
Contact: 907- 543-3444

BBNA Social Services
No classes offered at the time of publication (June 2008)
Contact: 907- 842-4139

Cordova Family Resource Center (CFRC)

Classes: Group and individual sessions.
Class Schedule: No set schedule call the center for details about registration.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907-424-5674
Location: 705 2nd Street

Public Health Office

Class Description: Group and individual sessions.
Class Schedule: No set schedule call the center for details about registration.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907-895-4292
Location: 2857 Alaska Hwy, Room #210 (Jarvis Center)

Emmonak Women's Shelter (EWS)

Classes: Parenting classes are offered as a part of the weekly Women's Support Group.
Focus: Healthy parenting lessons for parents of children of all ages.
Class Description: A variety of alternating topics including: Sexual Abuse A Threat to our Children; Family Violence when there's Trouble at Home; Reporting Child Abuse Its Everyone's Responsibility; You Can Prevent Child Abuse; A Parents Guide to Children's Problems.
Class Schedule: Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907-949-1443; P.O. Box 207, Emmonak, AK 99581
Location: Delta Street

Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption

Classes: Nurturing Parent Program
Focus: The Nurturing Parenting Program is a family-centered initiative designed to build nurturing parenting skills as an alternative to abusive and neglecting parenting and child-rearing practices.
Class Description: The Nurturing Parenting Program is family-centered and designed to build nurturing parenting skills. The class is taught in a group which builds self-awareness, positive concept and self-esteem and levels of empathy. The program teaches alternatives to hitting and yelling and how to replace abusive behaviors with nurturing behaviors. It teaches appropriate role and developmental expectations, enhances family communication and awareness of needs and promotes healthy physical and emotional development.
Class Schedule:Tuesdays from 6-8 pm
Cost: $50.00 for 12 sessions which includes the parenting handbook. Payment arrangements can be made as needed.
Contact: Linda Huffaker at Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption (456-4729), http://www.fcaalaska.org/nurturing_parent.html
Location: 726 26th Ave., Suite 2

Resource Center for Parents and Children (RCPC)

Classes: 1) Cuddle Cure; 2) Positive Parenting; 3) Parenting on Thursdays.
Focus: Cuddle Cure: How to best deal with crying babies. Positive Parenting: General parenting skills. Topics vary, call for current class topic(s). Parenting on Thursdays: Identify strategies for being a successful single parent and explore ways to ensure that you and your child(ren)s needs are met.
Class Description: Cuddle Cure: recommended for pregnant women, couples, grandparents, or anyone who has an interest in the well being of infants, birth to 3 months of age. Positive Parenting: Designed to help great parents become even greater parents. Parenting on Thursdays: General parenting support group relaxed setting; stay for the whole session or just a few minutes. We have Story-time the second Thursday of each month for the kids.
Class Schedule: Cuddle Cure: Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m., or Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Positive Parenting: Thursdays 6-7:30 p.m.; Parenting on Thursdays: Thursdays from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. through May 8, 2008.
Cost: Cuddle Cure: $30 per couple participants receive a Parent Kit (a baby bag with a blanket, The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD and a soothing sounds CD). Positive Parenting: $10 per person or $15 per couple. Limited child care is provided. Scholarships are available.
Contact: To pre-register call 907-456-2866 or e-mail parentline@rcpcfairbanks.org ; www.rcpcfairbanks.org.
Location: 726 26th Ave., Suite 2

Railbelt Mental Health

Class Description: Individual sessions only.
Contact: 907- 683-2743
Location: Dry Creek Road

Changing Tides Child and Family Enrichment Center

Class Description: Individual sessions only.
No classes offered at the time of publication (June 2008)
Contact: 907- 235-1264

The Family Resource Center at St. Anne's
(a program of Catholic Community Service's Child Care and Family Resources)

Class Description: 8 week session 12 week sessions (some scholarships available).
Class Schedule: Thursday evening from 6 - 8:30 pm
Cost: $100
Contact: 907- 463-6180
Location: 419 6th Street Juneau, AK 99801

Lee Shore Center

Focus: For women only.
Class Schedule: Thursdays 1-3 pm
Cost: $5 per class - scholarships are available.
Contact: 907- 283-9479
Location: 325 Spruce Street

Kenai Peninsula Community Care Center

Classes: 1) Active Parenting of Teens; 2) Active Parenting Today; 3) Cooperative Parenting and Divorce.
Focus: Active Parenting of Teens: Parents of teens or pre-teens. Active Parenting Today: Parents of children 2-12; Cooperative Parenting and Divorce: Single parents who are co-parenting, divorced or divorcing parents, step parents, and grandparents.
Class Description: Active Parenting of Teens, and Active Parenting Today: Both courses are video based programs which include, scenarios relevant to teen/parenting issues, group discussion and support, practical ideas for raising teens in today's world, relationship development between parent and teen/child, alcohol, substance abuse and sexual behavior (teens), and helping your child develop high self-esteem; Cooperative Parenting and Divorce: This video based, interactive group format is designed to provide information to parents who are looking for ways to make their divorce or separation as healthy as possible for their children. How to shift from exes to co-parents and create a more relaxed home atmosphere.
Class Schedule: Contact the KPCCC for schedule and registration information.
Cost: Active Parenting Classes are Free; Cooperative Parenting is $20 to purchase course book.
Contact: 907-283-7635
Location: 320 South Spruce St. Kenai, AK 99611

Nakenu Family Center

Classes: Active Parenting
Focus: Parents of children 3 11 years old.
Class Schedule: Class begins end of February; Weekly (Monday) 6 8 p.m.
Cost: Free Childcare provided.
Contact: 907- 283-6693
Location: Elders Center call to verify location.

Public Health Center

Classes: Pre-natal classes only.
Class Schedule: Call for current schedule.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907- 335-3400
Location: 630 Barnacle Way Suite A Kenai, AK 99611

WISH Family Services

Focus: Tools that provide alternatives for parents of infants and toddlers that result in healthy parenting practices.
Class Description: No classes offered at the time (March 08)
Class Schedule: Annual class presented; call for winter 08 class schedule. (Class typically begins at 5:30 dinner provided.)
Cost: Free; child care provided with advanced notice.
Contact: 907- 225-6722
Location: corner of 1st and Whitecliff Avenue

Kodiak Women's Resource and Crisis Center (KWRCC)

Focus: Positive Discipline
Class Description: 5 week series
Class Schedule: Thursdays 7 9 p.m. beginning February 21, 2008.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907- 486-6171
Location: 422 Hillside

Maniilaq Health Center Counseling Services

Classes: Parent Skills Training, (individual counseling by appointment).
Focus: Parenting support and education. Child development, health care needs, basic child care, and positive discipline. Refreshments provided. Culturally sensitive.
Class Schedule: Tuesdays from 1:00 2:30.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907- 442-7400
Location: Public Health Conference Room (Old Courthouse)

Nome Community Center

Classes: No Classes Offered At This Time (March 08)
Contact: 907- 443-5259

Alaska Family Services

Class Description: Variety of alternating topics including: Preparing Children for the Real World; Teaching Children Responsibility; Letting Empathy and Consequences do the Teaching; Teaching Values and Messages of Love; Alternatives to Punishment; Stress Management for Parents.
Class Schedule: 12-week classes held Wednesdays; 12:30 2:00 and 6:00 7:30.
Cost: Free
Contact: Call 746-6243 for info and registration. www.akafs.org
Location: 1825 South Chugach Street Palmer, AK 99645

Seldovia Village Tribes Health Program

Class Schedule: Call for class schedule. Childcare provided.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907- 234-7898
Location: 206 Main St.

Sea View Community Services; Family Support Services (SCS)

Classes: Active Parenting Curriculum
Focus: Active Parenting of Teens: Parents of teens or pre-teens. Active Parenting Today: Parents of children 2-12.
Class Description: Active Parenting of Teens, and Active Parenting Today: Both courses are video based programs which include, scenarios relevant to teen/parenting issues, group discussion and support, practical ideas for raising teens in today's world, relationship development between parent and teen/child, alcohol, substance abuse and sexual behavior (teens), and helping your child develop high self-esteem.
Class Schedule: Contact SCS for schedule and registration information.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907- 224-5257
Location: 302 Railway Avenue

Sitka Counseling & Prevention Services, Inc.

No Classes Offered At This Time (June 2008)
Contact: 907- 747-8994

Tok Area Counseling Center

Class Description: Individual sessions only
Contact: 907- 883-5106
Location: W 1st St # 8

Unalaskans Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (USAFV)

Classes: No scheduled parenting classes. Books and other educational materials available at the center.
Contact: 907- 581-1500
Location: W. Broadway Unalaska, AK 99685

Valdez Counseling Center Providence Hospital

Classes: Love and Logic
Class Description: This unique approach unlocks the secrets of successful parenting. Participants will learn the specific "how-to's" of successful parenting.
Class Schedule: 6 week class for 1.5 hours each week. Call for class schedule and registration information.
Cost: $45.00 scholarship available with donation of $10 for workbook.
Contact: 907- 835-2838
Location: 911 Meals Avenue Valdez, AK 99686

Alaska Family Services

Classes: Classes are offered through Alaska Family Services in Palmer
Class Description: Variety of alternating topics including: Preparing Children for the Real World; Teaching Children Responsibility; Letting Empathy and Consequences do the Teaching; Teaching Values and Messages of Love; Alternatives to Punishment; Stress Management for Parents.
Class Schedule: 12-week classes held Wednesdays; 12:30 2:00 and 6:00 7:30.
Cost: Free
Contact: 907-746-4080 Westside Center 899 W. Commercial Drive Wasilla, AK 99654
Location: Classes conducted in Palmer at 1825 S. Chugach St., Palmer, AK

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