Parenting!

Parenting! Classes

Parenting! classes include both parents and children. During class children and parents are in two separate classrooms learning about family life and behavior. On occasion, parents and children are brought together to practice tools learned in class. What is learned during the Parenting! Classes? Parenting Styles Ages and Stages Understanding your children’s behavior Anger Management Discipline Choices and Consequences Special Note Due to class-size limitations, your class location may be reassigned To accommodate another family, please call if you must cancel your registration Registration in advance is required

Things You Should Know Fee for the entire 9-week course is $35 for a single parent or $45 for two adults Includes childcare (Infants up to 12 years old) Includes light meals or snacks Includes a parenting workbook Two hours of class instruction weekly with two, one hour parent-child activity sessions No charge for those in CAPS Healthy Families or the Building Blocks Laboratory Preschool BABE store coupons are given to parents with children under 5 who complete the class Participants who complete the program will receive a certificate To Register Contact CAPS at (574)295-2277

Class Schedules   Day Start Finish Time & Location* Elkhart Monday Evening January 11 March 8 Every Monday from 5 to 8 pm at First Brethern Church 24197 CR 16, Elkhart IN July 12 September 13 October 4 November 29     Day Start Finish Time & Location* Elkhart Wednesday Morning January 13 March 10 Every Wednesday from 9:15 am to 12 pm at the Joy Rose Center home of Caps 1000 W. Hively Ave, Elkhart IN April 14 June 9 July 14 September 8 October 6 December 1     Day Start Finish Time & Location* Elkhart Thursday Evening January 14 March 11 Every Thursday from 5 to 8 pm at the Joy Rose Center home of CAPS 1000 W. Hively Ave, Elkhart IN April 15 June 10 July 15 September 9 October 7 December 9     Day Start Finish Time & Location* Goshen Monday Evening April 12 June 21 Every Monday from 5 to 8 pm at 8th St. Mennonite Church 602 S. 8th Street, Goshen, IN

Parenting! Play Groups

Beyond Baby Play Group (for mothers, babies, toddlers and preschoolers)
Where: Crossroads Community Church
Address: 57415 Alpha Dr., Goshen
When: Tuesdays from 10:00 until 11:30 a.m.
Contact: CAPS at (574) 295-2277.

For more information on other parenting groups in the community, please call 2-1-1.

Parenting! Community Education

Community Parenting Education provides support and instruction to parents throughout the community - in churches, libraries, jail, hospitals, schools, support groups and play groups. We recognize that parents benefit from good ideas and information, as well as the support of other parents. Our staff is available to meet the needs of families in our community. We can provide education using a single session or series format on a variety of subjects such as effective discipline, learning through play, Internet safety, single parenting, bullying, what to expect from different ages and stages, getting your child ready to learn, and many more.

CAPS believes that there are people throughout our community with the interest and ability to teach others about parenting. It is our goal to help train, support, and mobilize these individuals.

For more details, contact CAPS at 295-2277.

Baby, Think It Over

Middle School students throughout Elkhart County have an opportunity to get a taste of what parenting might be like. From late night care-giving sessions to unexplained crying to the smell of baby powder, these computerized "babies" provide students with a very valuable learning experience.

The Elkhart County Community Foundation awarded CAPS a generous grant to begin the program with 30 "babies". Other donations from the community have allowed us to buy another 34. These "babies" have a computer box installed in their backs and are set to cry randomly. They can only be quieted when a special key is inserted by the student and held in the “baby” back until the care session is over.

Upon completion, the computer read out tells the teacher what kind of care the baby received: how quickly the student responded to the crying, how many times the "baby" head was not supported, the total number of minutes cried, and if the baby was roughly handled, shaken, or dropped. The goal for this program is for students to realize what is involved in caring for a baby, so that they will come to good conclusions about their readiness and what kind of time and lifestyle changes it will require. Also, the experience allows a good opportunity for a dialogue to develop between the students and his or her parents concerning a subject that is important to all.

For more information, please contact CAPS at 295-2277.