Foster Carers / Kinship / Carers: Parenting programs
You may have heard the saying “it takes a village to raise a child” and this can certainly true. Raising children often requires the support and involvement of many people beyond just the parents to nurture and shape a child’s development. For children who cannot live with their biological parents, foster carers, kinship or carers provide a safe and nurturing home. They take on the responsibilities of a parent, offering care, support, and guidance, often with the goal of reunification with the birth family or for a longer-term placement.
Parenting Ways provide parenting programs customised for foster carers, kinship or carers. These parenting programs are also ideal for grandparents or other family members wanting to learn new research in parenting and stay up to date on current resources and education. Parenting programs provide reliable, research-based strategies and techniques to raise children and deal with the many challenges. Deb Woods, the founder of Parenting Ways, is an experienced and accredited facilitator who will help you find the solutions that work best for your family or classroom. Parenting Ways offers a variety of excellent programs, many of which are not available anywhere else in the South West.
Quick links to courses on this page:
Bringing Up Great Kids Foster / Kinship
Protective Behaviours – Universal Plus
Keeping Kids in Mind – Transform Parenting After Separation
Parenting Different Personalities
‘Me Time’ for Mums – Self Care & Stress Management
Bringing Up Great Kids for Kinship & Foster Carers
What is Bringing Up Great Kids for Kinship and Foster Carers?
Are you a carer of children? Kinship and foster carers often feel unsupported and alone. In research, many kinship carers report they feel:
- grief and loss because their retirement freedom or hopes and dreams are taken away
- unsupported by government and agencies, especially when they need respite
- anger because of a lack of recognition for their role or financial support
- resentment due to the caring role impacting on their wellbeing
- overwhelmed with the behaviours of traumatised children and adolescents.
In this program, Deb offers tools, strategies, resources, support, and advice to keep you motivated and inspired in your vital role as a kinship carer. This program contains valuable information and strategies for all kinship carers, whether you are just starting or have been caring for years.
Parenting After Family Violence
Bringing Up Great Kids: Parenting After Family Violence is a reflective program that allows parents to explore their parenting skills and build on their confidence after experiencing family violence. The program can help you to rebuild your life and create a safe and happy home for your children.
Deb creates a safe, respectful and reflective space where you’ll learn to:
- rebuild trust with your children and others as a result of family violence
- reconcile the guilt about domestic violence
- bring a sense of playfulness and fun back into your relationships with others
- interact with support groups who understand your circumstances.
While some prefer one-to-one sessions, others prefer small group sessions. Deb tailors the program to suit your needs and circumstances.
How do the Bringing Up Great Kids for Kinship Carers sessions work?
Given that the individual circumstance of carers varies greatly, Deb tailors the sessions to suit your needs. Generally, the program consists of 7 x 2-hour sessions.
Protective Behaviours – Universal Plus
Are you worried about how to keep your children safe?
These workshops will look at the background of safety, recent research and ways to recognise when Protective Behaviours are needed. Deb will introduce the Stay Safe program and show you fun, interactive ways you can teach your children to:
- identify the signs when things are no longer safe
- think clearly about your options
- take the right action to stay safe
- seek help from your support network
- problem-solve using your support network.
How does the Protect Behaviours session work?
Deb offers separate Protective Behaviours sessions for adults and children.
- Adults:
You’ll learn to support your children and give them the tools they need to problem-solve and stay safe. Not only will they be safer, but they will also have fun learning with Wibbly the Wombat and his friends.
- Children:
Deb takes a fun interactive approach using Wimbly the Wombat from the Stay Safe Program to show children ways to stay safe. Not only will your children love the songs and puppets, but they will also learn how to identify unsafe situations and take the right action to keep safe.
In both adult and children sessions, you’ll learn to:
- identify the signs when things are no longer safe
- think clearly about your options
- take the right action to stay safe
- seek help from your support network
- problem-solve using your support network.
This program is a 4 hour workshop, with flexibility in delivery.
Keeping Kids in Mind (KKIM) – Transform Parenting After Separation
What is the Keeping Kids in Mind (KKIM) - Transform Parenting After Separation program?
Are you navigating the turbulent waters of parenting post-separation? Keeping Kids in Mind (KKIM) offers a supportive setting where you can learn to nurture your child’s emotional well-being through and beyond the hurdles of separation.
In the KKIM course, you will gain invaluable insights and skills such as:
- Empathy through your child’s eyes: Understand the separation from your child’s perspective to foster empathy and improve communication.
- In-depth understanding and support: Learn how to effectively support your child’s adjustment and emotional well-being after separation.
- Strategies for emotional growth: Equip yourself with tools to aid your child’s emotional development, ensuring they navigate post-separation changes with resilience.
Transform your approach to post-separation parenting with the comprehensive support and expert guidance of Keeping Kids in Mind.
Key features
- Expert-led support: Led by the warm and enigmatic Deb Woods, this programme offers a nurturing environment for shared learning and mutual understanding among parents facing similar challenges.
- Comprehensive support framework: Beyond practical strategies, the programme provides a holistic approach to addressing the emotional and psychological needs of both parents and children during this challenging time.
- Community and connection: Engage with a community of parents who understand your journey, offering mutual support and shared experiences to enrich your learning.
How do the KKIM sessions work?
Designed for parents experiencing conflict after separation (and Foster Carers/Kinship/Carers with custody) Keeping Kids in Mind spans 5 sessions of 2.5 hours each. Only one person per family can be at each workshop. Importantly, each session builds on the previous, so attending all sessions is crucial for fully understanding and supporting your child’s emotional needs during family separation.
Parenting Different Personalities
What is Parenting Different Personalities?
A new personality profiling tool is taking parents in Australia and New Zealand by storm. The name on many parents’ lips is Personality Dimensions®.
At its core, Personality Dimensions® is about helping parents find ways to tailor their parenting approach based on their child’s unique personality. Whether you’re a new parent looking to learn more about how you can best support your child, or a seasoned parent looking for fresh ideas, Personality Dimensions®has something for everyone.
How do the Personality Dimensions® sessions work?
In a three to four-hour workshop, you will learn about four personality types, what makes them upset, what motivates and inspires them, and their preferred ways of communicating and working.
By recognising and understanding your child’s personality, you’ll be able to build a stronger, more meaningful relationship and respond using techniques tailored to their needs.
With Personality Dimensions training, you’ll significantly enhance your parenting skills and reap the rewards of providing your child with the guidance and support they need to grow into confident, happy young adults.
‘Me Time’ for Mums – Self Care & Stress Management
What is 'Me Time' for Mums – Self Care & Stress Management?
‘Me Time’ for Mums is a wellness program for managing stress and anger for Mums or female caregivers.
Becoming a mum brings huge life changes and new responsibilities that impact all aspects of life. Becoming a Mum can transform your physical, mental and emotional health, change relationships, and impact your sense of self. Understandably, this often brings a range of mixed and big emotions for Mum’s.
Have you lost yourself since becoming a Mum?
Are you feeling overwhelmed and having outbursts you later regret?
Do you want to reconnect with your family and start having more fun?
Finding it hard to reach out and ask for help?
If you are looking for support with the above or support as a Mum, we will help you identify where these big emotions are coming from, recognise the early warning signs and know how to ask for help (and get it).
How do the 'Me Time' for Mums – Self Care & Stress Management sessions work?
Deb provides a safe space for Mums and female caregivers to receive extra support. It encourages Mums to take some well-deserved ‘me time’ with other Mums. The program runs for 10 hours in total, split over a few sessions, with flexibility in delivery.
Looking for a parenting program that fits your family?
Deb understands that every family is different, so she offers custom programs to fit your needs.
Get expert one-on-one support and make your parenting journey a rewarding one.
Why parents and carers love Parenting Ways
Some identities withheld to protect privacy
Delightfully warm and approachable, Deb Woods delivers evidence-based parenting programs that work.