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| June 2001 |
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GAIN: Families getting together
The Canterbury group is sponsored by an annual grant from the City Council and the funds mean that the families can attend programmes for a fee of less than $20. Community groups and various schools are planning GAIN programmes this year, says the GAIN regional co-ordinator, Phil Trotter. Phil says the family programme offers families a chance to ease home conflict and "write a constitution for peace" in the home. The programme offers early intervention, parents and teenagers working together, and skills-based rather than therapy. "The programme isn’t magic. It relies on the goodwill of parents and young people," Phil says. "But it creates an opportunity to give a healthy dose of attention to our most important relationships: mother-son, daughter-father, mother-daughter, or son-father. "The programme provides the kind of attention that can open up communication, build self-esteem, foster well-being and create the space for young people to develop into healthy and resilient adults," Phil says. He believes the family factor is often overlooked in youth work. Many agencies worked with parents only and, while that had value, Phil says communications between parents and youths was needed. That was why GAIN brought parents and youths together for its programmes. Contact: Phil Trotter at 358 6016. |
