COBYS Family Services offers Family Life Education programs appropriate for various settings, time frames, and audiences. Programs use a variety of curricula, and some include recommended reading. Books are available through COBYS.

Early Childhood Programs

Programs are offered for parents of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Typically offered in one- to two-hour sessions over a six-week period, these courses include information on child development, parenting tools, nurturing self, available resources, and support from other parents. Programs include:

Parenting Infants: For parents of children up to 18 months old. Some programs may include children.

Parenting Toddlers: For parents of children 18 to 36 months old. Recommended reading: Positive Discipline: The First Three Years.

Parenting Preschoolers for School Success: For parents of children ages 3 to 5 years old. Recommended reading: Positive Discipline for Preschoolers.

Programs for Parents of School-Aged Children

Programs are offered for parents of children in elementary, middle, and high school. These programs are 12- to 15-hour courses provided in many formats, but typically for six or seven weeks. Parents are encouraged to choose a course that best fits the age of their children. Topics include parenting skills, healthy communication, and effective discipline to instill courage, self-esteem, cooperation, and responsibility in children. These programs help parents prepare children for success and prevent problem behaviors.

Active Parenting Now: For parents of children ages 5 to 12. Recommended reading: Active Parenting Now Parent's Guide

Families that Care: Guiding Good Choices: For parents of children ages 9 to 14. Recommended reading: Guiding Good Choices Family Guide

Active Parenting of Teens/Families in Action: For parents of children ages 11 and older. (Also can be provided as an interactive program with parents and teens participating. See below.) Recommended reading: Active Parenting of Teens Parent's Guide

ACT for Healthy Choices: For parents of children ages 8 to 14. Created as a tobacco prevention program, ACT helps parents develop strategies to set family guidelines to prevent unhealthy behavior. (Also can be provided as an interactive program with parents and teens participating. See below).

Family Interactive Programs

Parents participate together with their children or teens in these programs. Each session includes a meal, interactive time, and learning together or in separate groups. Families have fun together, practice skills to create a healthy family environment, and set family goals. Programs are offered in formats ranging from 12 to 60 hours.

Family Nurturing Education and Support Program: A 32-hour, comprehensive program designed to nurture and support parents and their children (birth to 12 years old) through guided play, modeling, and the presentation and practice of positive parenting strategies. The course includes parent/child interactive activities, separate classes for parents and children, and a healthy snack. The course runs two nights a week for eight weeks, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Recommended reading: Active Parenting Now: The Basics, by Michael Popkin, Ph.D. and Positive Discipline, by Jane Nelson, Ed.D. Family Nurturing is an approved program of the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency. Contact Amber Goerhig, FLE Special Projects Coordinator, for more information or to provide referrals.

3R's for Parents and Youth: Respect, Readiness, Relationship: A 12-hour program to help parents and 11- to 16-year-old youth build stronger parent/child relationships to encourage youth to successfully participate in school. Parents and teens may meet together or learn in separate groups. Especially helpful as an intervention program for students struggling with truancy or school behavior problems, 3R's helps families understand school and community expectations for school attendance and acceptable behaviors. A Spanish interpreter is available upon request. This program is approved by the Lancaster County Courts.

Families in Action: A 15-hour program for parents and their 11- to 16-year-old youth, FIA provides training and support for parents as they experience the changes of teen development. Program goals include substance abuse prevention; success in school; and improved family, peer, and school relationships. Families eat together, meet with their separate peer groups, and then have time together in interactive activities. This program is especially helpful for middle school students as they prepare to transition into high school and for senior high students as they prepare for life after school. Recommended reading: Active Parenting of Teens Parent's Guide and Families in Action Teen Guide.

ACT for Healthy Choices: A 14-hour program for parents and their children ages 8 to 14. Helps families develop strategies to set family guidelines and goals for healthy behavior. Includes many activities to prevent tobacco use.

Families in Transition Programs

These programs are for families experiencing transitions related to separation, divorce, remarriage, stepfamilies, foster care, or adoption. Typically 12 hours long, these programs provide support and training to empower families to deal with change or loss in positive ways.

Cooperative Parenting & Divorce: For parents of children any age. The program promotes emotional health in a child by teaching ways to create a winning partnership between co-parents. Recommended reading: Cooperative Parenting and Divorce: A Parent Guide to Effective Co-Parenting

Active Parenting for Stepfamilies: For parents to explore strategies to build a "united front" in a stepfamily environment. This program also is useful for foster parents, adoptive parents, single parents, and others affected by loss or change. Recommended reading: Active Parenting for Stepfamilies

Programs for Families with Special Needs

While families who have children with special needs are invited to participate in all of our programs, COBYS also taps other community resources and tailors courses for parents of children with specific needs.

On the Spectrum: A Class for Parents: A 12-hour program to help parents, families, and educators understand autism spectrum disorder, encourage communication, promote positive and functional behaviors, and strengthen bonds with children with autism spectrum disorder.

Groups for Children and Youth

In addition to providing family interactive programs that include children and youth, COBYS Family Life Educators provide courses and educational support groups for students in school and after school. These programs are provided in partnership with elementary, middle, and high schools; after school programs; recreational programs; day care centers; summer camps; church groups; and others. Prevention, social skills, and life skills promote emotional health in families and prepare children for success in life.

Banana Splits: An educational support group for elementary school students who have experienced change or loss due to their family's separation, divorce, remarriage, adoption, foster care, or death of a family member. The group gives students opportunities to share feelings, develop supportive relationships, and learn important communication skills.

Club Ophelia: An after-school program that provides a safe environment where girls in grades 4 to 8 can learn to overcome relational aggression (RA or "female bullying"). High school age mentors support participants in the program.

Youth in Action: To help youth ages 7 and above succeed in becoming healthy, caring, and responsible adults. Participants explore how to communicate effectively, build healthy relationships, and inspire respect from others.

ACT for Healthy Choices: A 14-hour program for children ages 8 to 18 that helps children learn to say no to problem behaviors, set goals for healthy behavior, and develop strategies to follow family guidelines. Includes many activities to prevent tobacco use.

Programs for Employers

Many of the courses described above can be adapted to the work setting. Employers partner with COBYS to offer courses before, during, or after work hours to help employees who are parents. A fulfilling home life for employees spills over in positive ways into the workplace. "Lunch & Learns"—courses or workshops offered over the lunch hour—are a popular alternative to meet the needs of employees without infringing on work or family time. In addition to parents, supervisors, grandparents, and singles preparing for parenting have benefited from COBYS programs in the workplace.

Programs for Congregations

While COBYS programs are appropriate for a variety of settings, they also are ideal for Sunday morning or evening formats in churches. Congregations can choose to offer programs just for their own members or as an outreach to families in the community. COBYS teaches parenting principles that are consistent with biblical teachings. The use of a Biblical Guide for Active Parenting Now and other Christian resources connect positive parenting principles with the Scriptures.

Family Life Education Workshops

Workshops are designed to focus on specific topics and are created from the many courses we offer. They are typically provided in one-, one-and-one-half-, or two-hour formats.

Leadership Development Programs

COBYS provides courses and workshops for community leaders who want to promote emotionally healthy families through education. Family life educators, counselors, teachers, social workers, pastors, youth leaders, mentors, and parents have benefited from COBYS leadership training.