Economic Development and Quality of Life for People and Communities
The Family & Community Connection
Issue
When families are torn by fighting, abuse, alcohol or drug addictions,
with parents too young or too tired to take care of children, they need
help. The Family & Community Connection, sponsored through the Arizona
Cooperative Extension, trains paraprofessionals to teach parenting to
high-risk families.
What has been done?
More than 40 paraprofessionals from the Department of Economic Security,
Head Start and other agencies are joining with extension volunteers
to work one-on-one with at-risk families. The Extension-developed curriculum
includes child development, parenting skills, home management techniques,
life skills and resource referral. Partnering of families and volunteers
works because they can relate to each other. Volunteers range between
16 and 75 years of age, and are of all ethnic backgrounds. They come
from the same communities as the family with whom they work. The program
has expanded to include court-referred truancy cases, about-to-be-released
prisoners, who will be returning to parenting roles, and welfare-to-work
(TANF) participants.
Impact
During 2000, a total of 1,698 families participated in Family &
Community Connection. Statewide surveys returned by 300 participants
show there were significant improvements in the parents ability
to control their childrens behavior in a positive manner. Eighty-nine
percent of the participants reported that the discipline they use at
home with their children is less harsh and has improved. Ninety-four
percent reported that their lives have changed in a positive way as
a result of the classes.
The Family & Community Connection program in Pinal County has worked
closely with the local court system to implement a series of educational
classes attended by the offending youth and their guardians. In 2000
the overall recidivism rate has been very low (5-10 percent), and in
the town of Eloy, the recidivism rate was 0 percent.
Funding
Department of Economic Security
Head Start
Arizona Cooperative Extension
Contact
Darcy Dixon, extension agent
Pinal County Cooperative Extension
The University of Arizona
820 E. Cottonwood Lane, Bldg. C
Casa Grande, AZ 85222-2726
Tel. (520) 836-5221, FAX: (520) 836-1750
Email: ddixon@ag.arizona.edu
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