Trauma Information a Part of Klingberg’s Parent Education Group

The Community Services Division of Klingberg Family Centers offers an 11 week Parent Education group. This group is for parents who are trying to retain or restore custody of their children. The parents are referred by DCF. The group covers such topics as Substance Abuse, Anger Management, Budgeting, Your Legal Rights, etc. One week is devoted to The Trauma Survivor as a Parent. During this week Patricia Wilcox leads the group in education and discussion of how being a trauma survivor makes being a parent more difficult. The effects of trauma on people are taught, and  the challenges of parenting children of different ages are reviewed. Parents are given specific ideas for surmounting the challenges and for how to heal. Parents have commented on how helpful this segment has been to them. On November 18 the latest Parenting Group held its graduation. Reverend Jim Davis was the moving Commencement Speaker, and several of the parents spoke of how helpful the group had been to them. One father attended with his son, who had just been returned to him upon his completion of the group. The ceremony was followed by a delicious celebratory dinner.