Family Therapy Program
An initiative has begun between Head Start programs and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The AAMIVF and Head Start initiative signals a continued movement in Head Start toward providing more family services.
A leader in this effort is the Wichita Head Start Parent Child Center (PCC) and Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. The PCC has many programs available for the families enrolled in the Center. The PCC is funded for enrolled children and families to receive the regular Head Start experience of a classroom, plus the added benefits of the PCC.
The PCC is a comprehensive child development and family support program serving children from birth to 3 years and provides numerous opportunities for family support, including:
- Prenatal classes.
- Parent education classes that strengthen and improve parenting skills and raise the awareness and confidence level of the parent.
- Child development services.
- Marriage and family therapy for selected families.(see note below)
Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals who offer a range of services to individuals, couples, and families. Their family-centered treatment seeks to pinpoint problems and conclude as soon as specific, attainable, therapeutic goals are met. Trained in family systems theory, MFT's believe that individuals and their problems must be seen in context, and that the most important context is the family.
A family therapy program is offered at the PCC in cooperation with Friends University, The PCC employs four family educator graduate students from the Friends University marriage and family graduate program. These students are working toward a Master of Science degree in family therapy. Through family therapy, family members explore problem solving, communication, and interpersonal relationships which can affect family members' current actions. The family educators are in charge of weekly home visits and parent classes at the PCC. Parents at the PCC can decide if they would like to be involved with this new family therapy program. Their decision does not affect the child's enrollment or participation in the PCC.
For more information, contact:
Frankie Hoover Gibson
Head Start Bureau
P.O. Box 1182
Washington, DC 20013
(202) 205-8399