Model community, Flanker in St James has launched a Parenting Club to strengthen parenting skills among community members. The launch took place in the community on Sunday November 29, 2009.

The Club was formed as a result of a Parent Training Workshop sponsored last year by the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) of the Ministry of National Security which coordinates parenting programmes as part of its crime prevention services to 26 inner city communities in Jamaica, including Flanker.

The Flanker Parenting Club is the third such parenting group formed in CSJP-served communities. Similar groups have been formed by residents of Mt Salem, Granvile and Farm Heights.

According to Marilyn Nash of the Flanker Peace and Justice Centre which established the Club, 65 parents have signed up as members to date, and will meet every third Sunday at 4:30 p.m. She said the parenting group had its genesis when 30 parents trained at the CSJP sponsored workshop were mandated to each train 10 parents.

So far, she said this has resulted in 300 families in Flanker benefiting. Ms. Nash said the Club was formed to share best practices, provide support to parents as well as to benefit from resource persons who would share tips and information they have not been exposed to as yet. Coordinator of the programme at Flanker is Sandra Munroe-Clarke.

Speaker at the launch, Montego Bay Mayor, Councillor Charles Sinclair in commending the formation of the Club, noted that “the work of CSJP in staging the first Parent Training workshop has given enough encouragement to the mothers, that matters (and concerns) relating to parenting can be discussed with a professionally trained counselor in attendance. This is really a bright spot in this community”.

Mayor Sinclair said “the time has come for fathers to start sharing the job of being parents. You do not have to be living at the same house as the mother and child or children, but you owe it to your off-springs to take care of them and take the pressure off the mothers”.

CSJP Administrator for St James, Garfield McGhie expressed delight that the club was formed and was being officially launched. “I want to congratulate the residents of this community for their decision to not only participate in the training, but to also launch this club and take the lead role in correcting some of the challenges which parents face”.

Mr. McGhie said “in days gone the entire community played a role in raising children and the time has come for those days and practices to return. We need the support of all to make this club a success and I believe that Flanker will again prove CSJP and its residents right, by getting other communities to start a parenting club”.

Special Guest Speaker at the launch was Dr. Beverly Scott of the Family and Parenting Centre.

The Parenting Training programme is one of several crime prevention services provided to inner city communities throughout Jamaica by the CSJP. The programme was developed when it was observed that improper parenting practices were contributing in part to high risk behavior among youth.

CSJP is a multi-faceted crime and violence prevention initiative in the Ministry of National Security, focusing on building community safety and security. The programme provides prevention services to 26 inner city communities; strengthens crime management capabilities; builds the capacity of the Ministries of National Security and of Justice; improves the delivery of judicial services.

Source: CSJP

Related posts:

1. Bottom Pen mulls in Montego Bay changed to GUANGO MEADOWS By: Gillian Scott Transformation is the new buzzword in Bottom Pen in Montego Bay, St. James, where several hundred metres of old zinc fences are being torn down and replaced with concrete walls, courtesy of the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP). Now, citizens are talking about transforming the name of the community as well. [...]...
2. Flanker is not the wrong address The hit song “Wrong Address” haunts the community of Flanker in St. James despite efforts to change the image and stigma, says Marilyn Nash, head of the Flanker Peace and Justice Centre in St. James. According to Ms. Nash “Flanker is deemed in most sectors as the place where violence and murders continue to be [...]...
3. ‘A vicious act’ – Cop killed execution style in St Catherine By: Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer Residents of Southboro in Portmore, St Catherine, have reacted with a mixture of bafflement and dismay to the disturbing spectacle of a policeman’s body found, shot execution style, in his Toyota Hiace minibus in their community yesterday morning. Southboro, located near volatile Newlands and Naggo Head, has been hit [...]...
4. Lutan Fyah ignites the club scene – In the US and France By Ra-Umi Alkebu-lan Lutan Fyah continues to blaze the trail wherever he performs as he did recently on the club scene in Seattle, Washington; Eugene and Portland in Oregon and Los Angeles, California in the United States. He then jetted across the Atlantic for performances in Paris, France. According to his team, these club shows [...]...
5. Montego Bay Community Embraces Reggae Sumfest 2010 Kingston, Jamaica:-Business interests are expecting this year’s Reggae Sumfest to bring a significant jolt to the Montego Bay economy, which should also extend to the wider Jamaica. It is being seen as a welcome ease to the current economic crunch and a catapult for more growth. Each year, the world- renowned Festival draws thousands of [...]...

4 Responses to “Parenting Club Lauched in Flankers, Montego Bay”