Congratulations, you made it. You survived the physical exhaustion of the early years…the sleep deprivation and constant demands for feeding, diaper changing, and holding. You skillfully navigated the toddler years, raising an opinionated little person who seems simultaneously be in awe of and on a mission to destroy the world as we know it. As the school years crept by, you guided your child in the complicated processes of education, socialization, developing friendships and interests.  You are incredible.

As challenging, and rewarding, as every phase of parenting can be, it may come as no surprise that a survey of over 2,000 mothers of preteens and teenagers generally feel worse than parents of any other age groups.

And, unlike all the earlier phases, parental support networks seem to have disappeared, just when you might need it most.

There are dozens of playgroups and support groups for parents of infants and toddlers, but as your child gets older there are fewer opportunities to connect with and get support from others parenting preteens and teens.

ParentIN was designed to fill that void, and provide support for you and your family, entering what some child psychologists suggest is the hardest parenting stage.

As the opioid crisis rages on around us, and as drug and alcohol abuse continue to destroy lives, our community as a whole must join together to raise our children above the influence of substance abuse. The 2015 Vermont Department of Health Youth Risk Behavior Report shows that in CVSD 2% of  6th grade children report using alcohol in the past 30 days, but by 12^th grade nearly half (49%) of kids report drinking alcohol during the same time period.

ParentIN core messaging focuses on bonding, boundaries, and monitoring – proven ways parents can prevent teen substance abuse. Like parenting, our program is not a one-shot-and-it’s-over process. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

We will provide weekly educational tools, tips, and resources that make tackling high risk teen behaviors feel manageable and realistic for your family. Join a parent meet-up and find a safe place to ask questions, offer suggestions, and engage with a community of parents who can relate – just like back in the day.