Parents Helping Parents expands to San Antonio

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. provides practical support through parenting programs to help parents and guardians learn parenting skills so they will be more confident and competent leaders within their families. As part of this initiative, Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to announce a new Parents Helping Parents site located at Trinity United Methodist Church in San Antonio (6800 Wurzbach Rd.).

Launched in 1999, Parents Helping Parents is a parent support group designed to build stronger, healthier communities by strengthening and encouraging family life. As one of four distinct Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Parenting Programs (Meld; Parents Helping Parents; Parents as Teachers™ and the Nurturing Parenting Programs®), Parents Helping Parents is volunteer-based and built upon the belief that parents are the first teachers and best advocates for their children. Parents Helping Parents focuses on areas of health and safety, child development and guidance, family management, personal growth and other topics that promote positive parenting skills. Sites are established after a group recognizes a need in the community. Trinity United Methodist Church was identified as a Parents Helping Parents site at the request of Pastor Margret Decker who received assistance by Mickey McCandless, director of church connections for Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Groups meet once a week for a two-hour session for a period of 10-12 weeks. Groups also select at least two volunteers, willing to be trained by Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Parenting Program Coordinators, to serve as facilitators.

Trinity United Methodist Church will become an active Parents Helping Parents site following facilitator training in January 2016. Groups are provided with ongoing technical assistance and a full program curriculum written by professionals in child development and family resources. Three courses are available both in English and Spanish: Teen Parents; Parents of Children 3 & Up; and Parents Raising Teens.

As the only Parents Helping Parents group in San Antonio, Trinity United Methodist Church aims to provide parenting support not only to moms, dads, grandparents and guardians of children in their surrounding community, but to anyone who is interested in wanting to learn more and share their experiences.

Currently, eight out of 14 Parents Helping Parents sites are active. The coming year looks to produce even more growth with new sites in Boerne, New Braunfels, Helotes, Eagle Pass and Pleasanton. With the collaboration of Wesley Nurses, program needs and volunteers will be identified, allowing Parents Helping Parents coordinators to build key relationships with community partners all over South Texas.

Parents Helping Parents is always looking to implement new groups in different service areas. If you'd like to learn more about Parents Helping Parents or would like to start a group in your area, please contact Methodist Healthcare Ministries at info@mhm.org or (210) 692-0234.