Charlottetown Police Service is teaming up with the Office of the Attorney General and Public Safety to help keep Charlottetown kids out of trouble. The two groups are offering a Parenting Techniques Program on Internet safety, parenting strategies, adolescent development and topics relevant to today’s teens.
“We live in one Island Community, and this is an excellent example of how different agencies can work together to address the needs of young people at risk,” said Attorney General Doug W. Currie. “Young people today face complex issues and we must pool our resources and expertise to help them achieve their full potential.”
Charlottetown Police Deputy Chief Gary McGuigan wants local parents of teens to have positive experiences with police officers. “This program gives the C.P.S. the opportunity to be viewed as a resource in the community for parents who are looking for some assistance with their teens,” he said. “We hope that our presentations will give parents some tools that will assist them as their teens develop into healthy young adults.”
Interested parents are able to choose from a variety of topics then pick the resource person who can best address their concerns, including resource people from other agencies and government services such as Addiction Services, Education, and Child and Family Services. For example, Charlottetown Police officers recently delivered a two-hour session on Internet safety.
“The program is well attended and parents are giving it a thumbs up,” said Youth Intervention Outreach Worker Chuck MacPherson. “The parents attending these courses are most concerned about drug use, issues at school, negative peer groups and how to discipline their children.”
“I have been working with youth at risk for 20 years and the parents’ concerns remain the same,” he explained. “Parents have the greatest influence over their kids and require effective techniques to help their kids through the adolescent years. It’s important for parents to know that it's OK to hold their kids to account and make them face consequences for their behaviours. This program helps parents develop strategies to do that.”
Meeting space for the program has been donated by the John Howard Society. The next session will begin in September and the program runs once a week for eight weeks. Interested parents should contact the Charlottetown Police Service for more information.