So you have a teenager... Now what?

You know better than anyone the challenges parents and teens face in this community.

Learn new strategies, and share some of your own, for talking to your children about making good decisions about difficult topics:

  • Risky behaviors, such as sexual activity, and tobacco, alcohol, or drug use.
  • Violence, including physical fighting, use of weapons, dating violence, and more.
  • Personal care and safety, ranging all the way from good nutrition to safe driving practices.

The Parent Forum is a work group of 12-14 parents
who will:

  • Meet once a week for 11 weeks.
  • Learn strategies to talk about risky behaviors.
  • Share their parenting experience and ideas to develop new strategies as a group.
  • Try the strategies at home with their own teens and pre-teens.
  • Report back to the group about what did or didn't work for them.
  • As a group, document successful methods based on experience.
  • Provide feedback to local agencies about their services.
  • Have the opportunity to continue by finding other parents and sharing ideas that were developed.

You may be a parent or caregiver* that the HOPE Project needs if you:

  • Live in Broome County
  • Have a child ages 10-14.
  • Desire to learn and try new parenting skills and share their experiences and skills.
  • Are concerned about the many difficult decisions our children face.
  • Enjoy team work.
  • Want to help other parents.
*Caregivers can include anyone who is centrally involved in the care of a teen (grandparent or other relative, foster parent, etc.).

Lourdes HOPE Project will provide:

  • Child care and transportation as needed.
  • A clean, safe meeting environment.
  • Refreshments.
  • The resources and support needed for:
    - developing communication skills
    - team building
    - stress management
  • A network for parents.
  • A place within our own community to openly share ideas about how to parent teens and pre-teens.
  • An experience that will be personally rewarding and will benefit your own family and the larger community.

Get Involved!

If you want more information, or are interested in being a part of the Parent Forum, contact:
Cherie Wooden
Lourdes Youth Services
219 Front Street
Binghamton, NY 13905-2454
607-584-4500
CWooden@Lourdes.com