Services for Parents

Strengthening Families
The Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth (SFP) is a small-group, video-based intervention for youth and their parents that is designed to improve parenting skills, build life skills in youth, reduce youth substance use and behavior problems, and strengthen family bonds. SFP includes separate and joint sessions for parents/caregivers and youth. Youth focus on goal setting, dealing with stress and strong emotions, communication skills, responsible behavior, and skills to deal with peer pressure. Parents/caregivers discuss their potential positive influence on their youth, youth developmental characteristics, nurturing, effective child management, as well as clarifying beliefs and expectations about substance use. Jointly, participants identify family strengths and values, learn how to conduct family meetings, solve problems, and plan fun activities.

Parent Education
STARS offers Parent Education in the Middle Tennessee region through Schools, Community Groups and the Faith Community. STARS Director of Parent Education, Jim Williams, focuses on "Behavior is the Key" in presentations to elementary and middle school parent/caregivers. These sessions can be as little as one session or up to three weeks.

James C. Williams
STARS Director of Parent Education and Asset Development Jim Williams is a nationally known speaker and trainer in the field of parent education. Known for his effectiveness through personal stories, Jim works with children and parents helping them build strong and healthy families.

Jim’s school assemblies and interactive classroom programs are famous for keeping every student spellbound on his message and delivery. He knows how to speak to children and how to keep their attention.

Recognizing that helping just the children will not sustain a family’s foundation, Jim also teaches parenting courses to thousands of parents each year as well as provide training for teachers and guidance counselors. His classes have taken him to such sites as prisons, treatment centers and businesses and corporations.

The following paragraphs are quotes from Abingdon Press about Jim’s book “Parenting on Point”:

“Helps parents form a parenting plan for raising their children, from infancy through the teen years.”

“A parenting plan is just as important to building a family as a construction plan is to building a house. James C. Williams helps take the frustration out of parenting by guiding parents in developing a personalized parenting plan that will keep their family “on point.” This book walks parents through the important aspects of a parenting plan, offering practical tips and strategies aimed at keeping their family anchored to important values and beliefs that will redirect them when the tug of popular culture pulls them off course.

Additional information about Jim’s various programs can be viewed on his web page “Parentingonpoint.com.”