The five-week program, which
begins on October 15, was started four years ago for parents of
pre-teens and teens. It offers strategies for students to resist peer
pressure to use drugs and alcohol.

"What the program focuses
on is helping parents to strengthen family bonds and help children
develop healthy behavior and increase involvement in the family, which
can sometimes break down in those adolescent years," said Lovelee
Heller, SCAP Community Organizer.

According to Heller, the series' past success has been substantial.

"The
children who have participated in the program, they've been really
excited," said Heller. "They feel like they've been empowered…that
they're not afraid."

One significant focal point of the program
discusses how to say no to peers without excluding oneself from social
relationships. Heller explained that this has particularly impacted
adolescents' response to the program.

"[We're] trying to help
[children] maintain their friendships. They feel proud that they could
say no…and do it in a way that they're not pushing away their
friends.," Heller said.

But increasing enrollment in the program
can be a challenge, explained Heller. She said that getting parents to
commit to a five-week program is not easy. So as an incentive, $50 gift
cards are now being offered to participating parents. According to
Heller, this is not the only method the program organizers use to keep
parents involved.

"We really work to get what [parent's]
schedules are like and tailor the program to fit the times they're
available," Heller said. "We try to work with parents as much as we
possibly can."

Heller said that time is often a key issue
throughout the program. After considering evaluation forms that are
filled out after each course, it was decided that more time was needed
in between sessions for parents to carry out certain tips, such as
holding family meetings or engaging in family activities.

As Heller sees it, paying such attention to interaction with participants is what makes the program so beneficial.

"It's
really an engaging program. It's not sort of just staring at a screen
or talking at parents," Heller explained. "They engage the whole time
with role play and discussion between parents and as a large
group….It's lots of fun."

The five-week course is available in
both Spanish and English. It is funded through the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Systems Administration and through the City of
Somerville. The program is free of charge to residents. Those
interested in attending can contact Lovelee Heller by calling 625-6600,
extension 4322, or emailing lheller@somervillema.gov.