Print Issue: March 21, 2002

National Program Provides Networking And Support To Bolster 'Overprotective' Parents

By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

ATLANTA - "Overprotective" parents unite. The Parent to Parent program, which has been implemented in several archdiocesan schools, gives parents an opportunity to network with each other about the challenges they face in trying to raise children in today's world.

The program is run for parents by parents as an interactive workshop. Parents meet during the workshops to discuss how to get their children into adulthood safely and productively.

John Clarkin addresses parents at a recent workshop of Parent to Parent held at St. Jude The Apostle Church, Atlanta. "There is an entity that is bombarding our children with messages-whether it's sex or drugs-that I believe are evil," he said. "Parents in the Catholic community are saying 'we want to do something to get between our kids and those messages,' and that's what this program does."

Eight one-hour sessions are conducted by a trained facilitator, and feature a video presentation and group discussion, during which parents can share their ideas, concerns and experiences with each other. Sessions include topics such as "The Toxic Culture;" "Put Yourself in the Way"; "Awareness is Your Best Friend"; "Remember the Difference"; "Expect and Inspect"; "Never Cry Alone"; "Traps to Avoid"; and "Building a Family Vision." All subjects give parents the opportunity to learn skills to become better parents.

Carol Cuviello, conference coordinator for Parent to Parent, has four children, two of whom attend St. Jude the Apostle School and one of whom attends St. Pius X High School. She said that she was immediately struck by the impact she felt the program could make in the lives of parents and their children.

"When I heard about the program, I thought 'Wow, this is the kind of work I would really like to be involved in, because you can make a difference,'" she said. "It's like we are singing out of the same hymnbook. When your child tells you that you're the most overprotective parent in the world, you know you're not alone. This program tells parents that it's OK to be strict."

After a crisis with his daughter's chemical dependency, Atlantan Bill Oliver became informed about drug use and prevention, and through his knowledge formed the Passage Group, an organization that provides communities, schools and other groups with parent-oriented training solutions, including the Parent to Parent program.

In the archdiocese, St. Jude's, Christ the King School, Atlanta, and Marist School, Atlanta, are currently using the program while St. John the Evangelist School in Hapeville and St. Pius X High School in Atlanta have just purchased Parent to Parent. Cuviello said she is excited about the response from the Catholic schools and would "love to see all of the schools in the archdiocese participating."

"This is a way that in a planned format, you can sit with other parents that you wouldn't necessarily be networking with," she said. "Everyone has different ideas."

John Clarkin, director of operations for the Passage Group, who is Catholic, said he isn't surprised by the response from the Catholic schools.

"The Catholic church promotes values . . . and today there is this idea that there is an evil undercurrent in our children's lives...There is an entity that is bombarding our children with messages-whether it's sex or drugs-that I believe are evil," he said. "Parents in the Catholic community are saying 'we want to do something to get between our kids and those messages,' and that's what this program does."

Cuviello recalled one group where a parent was questioning how to keep her child away from the violent and sexual influences of the media. When Cuviello told the other parents that her family does not have cable television for that very reason, she found that she was not alone.

"It puts the ideas out there and gives you the courage to do these things that the kids were saying were 'wacko,' like not having cable," she said.

Cuviello also believes that the Parent to Parent program helps bring parents and their children together.

"I think every kid begs for boundaries-children are given to us as a gift from God and, in a way, we are representatives of God," she said. "We have the responsibility to lead them through this life as best we can, by hopefully hitting the least number of obstacles. Putting yourself between them and that toxic culture is the most important job you have. And that means you have to be there for them."

In addition, by having more informed parents, the schools their children attend will also reap the benefits.

"It's a win-win situation for parent and for schools," Cuviello said. "The more you get the parents involved in their kids' lives, the better it is for the school."

For more information about the Parent to Parent program, call (770) 565-5257.