The Family Program is all encompassing treatment services management program for families and individual family members. Services include: Family Therapy, Family Conference, Parenting Skills, Mental Health Education, and Education in Family Issues. We specialize in Stress, Depression, Anxiety, Adolescent Conduct Disorders and Substance Use/Co-occurring disorders treatment.
Children First
Children First is a pre-divorce education program mandatory in some Missouri counties and required by judges when the custody of minor children is involved. The 2 1/2 hour educational series focuses on how to prevent children from becoming pawns and victims in a divorce by educating the divorcing parents. Parents must attend if under the same court jurisdiction. Children First makes use of an audio visual mini-series format in addition to discussions led by a trained facilitator. Special emphasis is given to chemically dependent families, financial support, living arrangements and visitation rights. Common pitfalls and entrapments:
- Buying affection through bribery
- Parents trying to be pals or buddies instead of parenting
- Cross examination following visitation
- Children “acting out” over visitation appointments
- Custodial “choose me” sympathy seeking
- The insecurity and fear children experience when parents verbally abuse one another
- Parental dating games