Parents Anonymous®
What is Parents Anonymous?
Parents Anonymous is a family strengthening program, founded in 1969 by Jolly K., a single mother seeking to provide a safe and caring home for her family. Parents Anonymous is committed to providing evidence-based, culturally responsive and innovative programming to parents, children, and youth wishing to change their lives for the better.
Guiding Principles:
- Meaningful Parent Leadership: Parents are effective and necessary leaders who shape the direction of their families, communities, policies, programs, etc.
- Effective Mutual Support: Parents give and receive support from each other.
- Successful Shared Leadership: Parents and staff build partnerships to share responsibility, expertise, and leadership.
- Long-Term Personal Growth & Change: Parents, children, and youth transform their attitudes, learn new behaviors and build on their strengths.
Parents Anonymous Groups
A Parents Anonymous group runs all year round and meets weekly to talk, share and learn from each other. While parents and caregivers meet, at the same time – children and youth meet to enjoy age-specific activities. The weekly groups have helped to strengthen relationships and connect participants to local resources and supports.
Adult Group at a Glance
- Begins with a parent reading the opening statement.
- Adult Group Facilitator or a parent lead group in a meditation.
- Check-in and Scaling Question: 0 being I am having the worst week and nothing seems to be going right and 10 being I am having the best week; things are going well for my family and me.
- Adult Group Facilitator or Parent Group Leader asks questions/has a discussion related to the monthly theme.
- Parents engage in discussion.
- The group ends with closing activity.
Important Information
- Meets weekly and is free of charge
- Are completely confidential
- Are co-led by trained Parent Group Leader or a Group Facilitator
- Are open to parents/caregivers are their children between 0-18 years old.
Parents Anonymous is…
- Voluntary: Parents Anonymous is a drop-in program. Parents can come as much or as little as they feel needed.
- Confidential: Group Facilitators are unable to disclose information regarding a family. Only with the individual’s/ consent are facilitators allowed to disclose whether they attended a group.
- Parents Anonymous: Facilitators are trained in the Parents Anonymous principles and standards of practice and have to operate within these. This means facilitators cannot: transport families, supervise access, etc.
- A Support Group: Parents Anonymous is NOT a parenting class.
Connecting Families to Parents Anonymous
If you have a family you would to connect to Parents Anonymous:
- Parent must first agree to be contacted by Stephanie to discuss what the program is about. This can be done by phone or in person.
- Family can contact Parents Anonymous directly at 613-735-6866 ext. 2004 or at parentsanonymous@fcsrenfrew.on.ca
Volunteer and Partnership Opportunities
Parents Anonymous is looking for volunteers to assist with the child & youth groups. We are also looking to build partnerships with other service providers. This opportunity can include:
- Staff being trained in the Parents Anonymous standards and competencies
- Staff can become Adult and/or Child & Youth Group Facilitators
- Provide space to hold group
- Cost share for program supplies and snacks
- Open to other partnering ideas