Nurturing God s Way Parenting Program for Christian Families
Overview Nurturing God s Way (NGW) builds a foundation of parenting skills. The curriculum examines both Old and New Testament scripture and helps participants apply Biblical concepts to their roles as parents and caretakers of children. The goals of the program are to teach participants to parent as God parents us, to use Christ as our role model for behavior, and to continually seek the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance. The program format is versatile and can be presented in many different ways: 21-session program Individual workshop sessions Small group study Sunday school curriculum Resources for Sunday sermons Multi-session weekend retreat NGW includes 21 sessions: 1 Welcome Christ as the Cornerstone of Your Family 2 The Seven Principles to Nurture God s Way 3 Knowing Children as God Knows Us 4 Fulfilling Your Godly Parenting Role 5 What is a Moral Anyway? 6 Turning Chaos into Confidence 7 We Are Loved Unconditionally 8 Nurture Me Watch Me Grow! 9 Developing Godly Character in Children 10 God, the Father of Compassion 11 I Love Who You Are and I Really Like What You Do 12 Trust and Obey, for There s No Other Way 13 Feelings - Motivators to Our Behavior 14 I Have a Bone to Pick with You 15 Navigate or Negotiate? 16 Biblical Stress Survival Kit 17 Angry with Your Kid s Behavior? 18 Behavior Incentives (Behavior Management Part 1) 19 Rod of Correction (Behavior Management Part 2) 20 Weathering Life s Storms 21 Traditions, Traditions
Benefits All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15 Increased stability in families Families learn to be aware of each other s needs and build empathy towards one another to create a greater stability within their family unit. Personal spiritual growth The old saying, If you re standing still, then you re really backing up is true for spiritual growth. God calls us to draw near to Him. Each lesson focuses on relationship building skills, parenting skills, as well as a closer walk with God. Encouragement in all parenting journeys We are all at varies stages of our parenting journey from thinking about being a parent to being a grandparent to adult grandchildren. Learning new communication skills and increased empathy helps us manage each of our relationships more effectively. More knowledge of how to honor God with our parenting decisions We can only make decisions based on the information that we have. Scripture has much to say about relationships and parenting. When we look to the Bible for guidance, we can make better informed decisions and please God with our obedience and willing spirit as we raise our children to honor Him.
Program Participants & Providers Nurturing God s Way is an internationally-recognized program for families with children of all ages, including general families from the community or those targeted as at-risk or high-risk. NGW is a cultural adaptation of the Nurturing Parenting Programs. In addition, it is listed in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) for substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion. Participants could include: Moms Dads Step-moms Step-dads Grandparents Aunts Uncles Moms & dads to-be Children of all ages Now available in Spanish! Program Providers could include: Churches Private schools Day-care centers Correctional facilities Adoption centers Prenatal care centers Outreach ministries Homeless shelters Counseling centers Mothers Morning Out programs Bible study groups Substance abuse treatment/ recovery centers Crisis pregnancy centers Child birth education centers
Facilitation Training HEARTS for Families provides a 4-part facilitation training model that will give you the knowledge and confidence to deliver a program with successful and measurable results. 1 2 3 4 Get an Overview Understand the program structure and concepts Experience the program Learn the curriculum and practice teaching sessions Avoid Pitfalls Gain skills to overcome the challenges of facilitation Run a program Facilitate and receive ongoing technical assistance Get Results. In 2011, about 78% of NGW program participants positively improved their attitudes and beliefs about parenting and increased their knowledge about program concepts.* *This is a statistically significant improvement from pre- to post-assessments.
Testimonials This training is one of the best of any kind that I have taken. Even if I had not done anything more than take the training, it would make a difference in how I think and act. Sharing the parenting materials in a classroom setting is very rewarding. It is Christian material at its best. It is modeled after a general parenting program that has been scientifically proven to change human behavior. It is also more than just a parenting class. It is a program based on the Word of God Jesus Christ. -Gordon Shippy From a Parent: I m sad that it s over. Twenty-one weeks is not enough. Every week is something totally different. Each lesson taught me something about my daughters that I didn t know. I found out I wasn t a great mom, like I thought I was. But now I know how to be a good mom. When I started, I didn t know anything about the Bible, but now I m going to church, I m praying, and I know scripture. I still read my book every week. This program changed my life. -Amanda Holmes We have seen people s lives changed. We have stacks of testimonials of how people are more committed to their children, to their own development as a person, and to succeeding as a family. Our most recent class has been such a success that we are now looking for a larger facility! -Scott Rhoden From a Training Participant: From a Program Provider:
Competencies Increased Skills in Managing: Children s behavior Sibling rivalry Stress Anger Understanding Feelings and: How feelings indicate unmet needs How labels affect our self-worth When suppressed, could become potentially harmful Participants Will Create: Stress survival kit based on Scripture Family rules Appropriate rewards and consequences for behavior Will Gain Practical Skills in: Increased empathy Meeting needs of children and self Appropriate praise for behavior Effective communication skills How to support a child who has been traumatized Increased Awareness of: 7 Biblical principles of NGW God s instruction for parents What the Bible says about spanking Power of parenting patiently Developing Godly character How to love unconditionally Support for the single parent Various ages and stages of development
About the Author Sue Laney is the Chief Executive Officer for HEARTS for Families (HEARTS) and coauthor of several curricula, including Nurturing God s Way. As CEO, Mrs. Laney provides leadership and direction in carrying out the mission of HEARTS, and has overall responsibility for developing a sound administrative structure and various prevention programs. For over 20 years Mrs. Laney has experience in building a stable, predictable and diversified income base through fund raising, service delivery, strengthening Boards of Directors participation and leadership (both working and advisory), and developing a strong statewide, and now, national and international presence. For over two decades, Mrs. Laney has not only directed statewide projects, managed a successful debt-free business, written multiple curricula, conducted program research for evidence of effectiveness, but has also taught various Bible studies to her staff and to community members. She believes that when we allow God to steer the ship, we manage the course smoothly and confidently. Stephen J. Bavolek, Ph.D., is a recognized leader in the fields of child abuse and neglect treatment and prevention, and parenting education. Dr. Bavolek created the Nurturing Parenting Programs, from which Nurturing God s Way is adapted. He is the President of Family Development Resources, Inc. and Executive Director of the Family Nurturing Centers, International.
Contact Us Get in touch 770.972.3664 Training Coordinator: Julie Johns jjohns@heartsforfamilies.org Author: Sue Laney SueLaney@NurturingGodsWay.com Find out more... www.heartsforfamilies.org www.nurturinggodsway.com