Free Parenting Program Offers Help For Toms River Families

TOMS RIVER, NJ — If you're a parent or guardian who's looking to improve the relationship you have with your children while instilling respect, the Toms River Municipal Alliance is offering a six-session program to help.

The program, called STEP Parenting — STEP stands for Systematic Training for Effective Parenting — is designed to help create resilience and improve relationships and communication skills with children, and is for parents, guardians, single parents, grandparents and those who work or volunteer with children. It is for those who care for children ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 10.

Topics include discipline, cooperation, respect, trust, encouragement, single parenting, anger management, drug abuse prevention, constructive criticism, and humor.

The course is funded by a grant from the Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse to the municipal alliance and is free; all materials are provided at no charge. The program satisfies requirements of some Family Court cases; call for more information.

There are six sessions, Monday through Wednesday, and May 17 to May 19. The program is 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Starting Point Preschool, 864 Route 37 West, Toms River.

For more information or to register call LisaAnn Hopkins at 732-600-3821 or email her at snikpoh63@gmail.com.

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