WHY MUTUAL SELF-HELP
SUPPORT GROUPS?
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Parent mutual self-help support groups play an
active role in strengthening families.
In group settings, families find support and gain
information, both of which help parents develop
resilience and the ability to better handle life’s
stressful events.
The premise of parent mutual self-help support
groups is that they help promote protective
factors
What is Circle of Parents?
Circle of Parents is a weekly parent
support group program which provides
parents a place to connect with each
other, learn from each other and be
sources of strength to each other.
Established in 1999, Circle of Parents is a
national network of parenting support
groups which operates in 25 states and
territories throughout the United States.
Foundations of Circle of Parents
Circle of Parents is built on three
foundations:
 Family support
 Mutual Self-help
 Shared Leadership
How does Circle of Parents “Work”?
Weekly meetings are co-led by parents and
trained “qualified”facilitators/professionals.
Groups size varies (Usually 5 – 9
participants but can be more or less)
 Participating parents gain a sense of
belonging and relief as they learn that
family dynamics and their child’s behavior
are more typical than problematic.
How does Circle of Parents
“Work”? (continued)
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Parents become resources to each other inside
and outside of the group by sharing coping
strategies and parenting skills from parents who
have “been there”.
Parents advocate for themselves and other
parents as they both give and receive help and
thereby recognize that seeking help is a sign of
strength – not a sign of weakness.
Are You Really Listening?
Have you ever felt like this man
when a group member opens
their mouth to “go there again?”
How do you rate your group in terms of their
listening skills?
As the parent leader/facilitator, do you provide a
good role model to group members to become
better listeners?
Does your group create an atmosphere in which
everyone feels they have a chance to be actively
listened to?
What's So Great About Active Listening?
•It shows the other person you are involved with him/her as a
person.
•It shows the sender that you have understood him/her.
•It gives the other person a chance to air his/her feelings. It
lowers that person's emotional temperature.
•It helps the other person to be his/her own problem solver. The
receiver "stays out of it," is a facilitator, not a problem-solver.
•It may help the sender to see the problem at a deeper, less
superficial level.
•It gives courage to the sender to be more open and honest with
you because you are showing acceptance.
•You, the receiver, hear more data and information.
•Best of all, this kind of listening (understanding and accepting)
promotes a warm, intimate relationship.
Source: University of Wisconsin-Extension. Listening Lesson
How does the Circle of Parents model encourage
an environment for active listening and sharing?
Dinner time conversation – sets a tone; provides an opportunity to
observe the family interaction and gives group leaders a “heads up” as to
parents stress level.
Opening statement, followed by introductions with the positive goaround lead in… - sets the tone for group – gets everyone “ready to listen
and be listened to…”
Parent Education topic – provides helpful parenting information and an
initial “safety zone” for the discussion to begin…
Open discussion time – this is when the group leaders really need to use
their active listening skills to encourage the group to move to the
“norming stage” of group development or perhaps even a “performing
stage.”
Closing statement – Important to remember to do it as it
creates an assurance of confidentiality which will encourage
parents to return.
Remember the question to ask yourself as you
reflect on the group discussion as you are driving
home….
Is not – Did I lead a good group tonight??
But is should be …Is the Parent Leader
exhibiting stronger group leader skills?
Is the group functioning in an “effective flow” which
encourages an atmosphere of “sharing ideas and
sharing support.”?
Circle of Parents is Effective in
“Strengthening” Families
Through its Strengthening Families Initiative, the Center for the
Study of Social Policy has determined that there are five
protective
factors paramount in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
As adapted by the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention
Program (CBCAP), these five protective factors are:
nurturing and attachment of the children
 knowledge of effective parenting
 knowledge of child and youth development
 parental resilience
social connections and solid support for parents
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Research results indicate that
Circle of Parents is an effective
child abuse prevention program
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Parent mutual self-help support groups adhere to
these five guidelines in their core philosophy and
have gained national recognition in the campaign to
prevent child abuse and neglect.
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Over the past four decades, research on risk factors
and conditions associated with child abuse and
neglect have pointed to the need for social support
and the benefits that a parent support group can
provide. (Falconer, 2006; Pion-Berlin and Kolinsky,
2000).
2011 Research Study
Based on this set of results, there is evidence that
these Circle of Parents participants had statistically
significant changes in the expected response
directions across 4 out of 5 protective factors
categories with both the conventional pre/post and
the retrospective pre/post formats.
(Results available on conference website)
Listed on the California
Evidence Based Clearinghouse
for Child Welfare
With the recent research study
the Circle of Parents model is
also now considered a Level II
Promising Program and
Practices program.
A Parent Leader’s Voice
"Parent self-help support groups are effective
because parents are the experts; parents have
been there and done it. When you get
information from someone who has already
been through it in some way, it is more
effective."
- parent leader
Parent Engagement and
Empowerment Principles are Key
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The sponsoring agency(ies) must
recognize and embrace parent
participation.
They must be willing to work to identify
parents who are clear about what parent
leadership is and who feel supported by
the group as they develop the necessary
skills to become parent leaders.
Voices of Parent Leadership
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Let’s hear what some Circle of Parents
leaders have to say about their parent
leadership experience.
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(Video)
A Parent Leader…
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Improves the quality of programs, services and
the community itself
Increases responsiveness of service providers
Shares responsibility for maintaining the group
Builds an advocacy base
Increases understanding of cultures
Brings fresh and creative solutions
Increases visibility and respect for program in
the community
Improves the ability of the program to
accomplish its mission, prevent child abuse and
neglect and strengthen families through mutual
self-help parent support groups.
A Parent Leader’s Voice
"Sometimes I feel like, oh, maybe I should just
have the answers. And I don't. It's way better
not to have answers because we draw upon
the wisdom of the whole group. And
sometimes there is no answer. It's just a
matter of being there and saying we feel for
you, we care about you, and we want to see
you next week, and we're with you on this.”
- parent leader
Children’s Program is Essential
to the Success of the Model
Objectives of the Circle of Parents Children’s
program:
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Provide a safe and supportive environment for children.
Provide opportunities for children to develop self-esteem
and social skills.
Support children in learning safe and healthy ways to
handle feelings.
Model effective problem-solving and conflict resolution
techniques.
Circle of Parents is committed to
helping the entire family!!
How Can You Make This Happen
in Your Community?
Schedule meetings with community
leaders to familiarize them with the
effectiveness of the Circle of Parents
program model in preventing child abuse
and neglect.
 Identify agency partners who are
committed to launching and supporting the
program.
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How Can We Make This Happen
in Your Community? (continued)
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Identify staff (can be a combination of volunteers and
professionals)
Identify location(s) which will provide appropriate space
for adult and children meetings.
Schedule training for staff – Prevent Child Abuse Virginia
(PCAV) provides free training for their affiliates. Julie
Rivnak-McAdam is the PCAV Circle of Parents
consultant/trainer. Her number is (804)359-6166
ext. 311.
Following training work with Prevent Child Abuse Virginia
to develop the plan for initiating the program in your
community.
Need more information?
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Check out the Circle of Parents website at
www.circleofparents.org and
preventchildabuseva.org.
Contact Johanna Schuchert – Prevent Child
Abuse Virginia Executive Director
jschuchert@pcav.org (804) 359-6166 or
Julie Rivnak-McAdam – Prevent Child Abuse
Virginia Program Manager (804)359-6166
ext. 311 circleofparents@pcav.org