Parenting After Crisis (PAC) is a 15-week group for parents who are in the middle of, or who have recently come out of crisis. The course is a survey of the best practices for parenting children who have experienced traumatic situations. This trauma-informed parenting model focuses on improving parents’ insight, self-awareness, and self regulation skills in order to create a safe environment for healing and recovery. Parents learn to model the skills they would like for their children to learn and create predictable routines, and household practices that allow a child to return to a sense of felt-safety. The group curriculum centers on research-based parenting practices that have yielded strong outcomes for children. The practices focus on a model of healing and recovery starting by addressing the needs of the central nervous system, then moving through the body, the mind, and relationship repairs.
Participants will engage in practical and experiential models of learning by having the opportunity to practice certain parenting skills within the group time. Practicing self-regulation tools, family jobs, setting intentions, and committing to goals each week allows parents to see how the practices work first hand rather than just hearing about them. Parents also have opportunities to practice emotional vulnerability and communication with other participants.
Classes are facilitated by CAFA therapists trained in child development, trauma, and group work.
Individuals interested in joining Parenting After Crisis must first complete an intake appointment with an intake therapist. This appointment costs $160. Once the intake is completed, participants may begin attending classes which cost $55 each. Payment plans are available.
“CAFA showed me friendliness and acceptance that I have not received in other programs. This, more than anything, has taught me how I need to be with my children as their father."
Parenting after Crisis is an Open Group.
This means that a participant can join in at any time. There are 7 core concepts taught in the course of the 15 weeks of participation. The concepts are as follows:
This concept focuses on the classical attachment theory (Bowlby, Ainsworth), which explores secure attachment as well as the three forms of insecure attachment. The concept also looks into the work of Dr. Dan Siegel and his exploration of the power of parents exploring their own attachment history and how this impacts their parenting.
Explore the brain, body, and nervous system as it relates to parent-child interactions. Understanding the key components of how the brain and nervous system process stress and trauma helps parents to become more sensitive and effective in their parenting. This concept focuses on the Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Becky Bailey’s understandable model of the brain states, as well as Dr. Stephen Porges’s polyvagal theory, and Dr. Bruce Perry’s neurosequential model. These models also contribute to improved parental self-awareness and self-regulation.
The ACES study and its results are explored to help parents understand the potential life-long mental and physical health impacts of trauma. Skills and tools are explored in efforts to reduce the long-term impacts of trauma on children and parents.
Traditional child developmental stages are explored as researched by classical developmental psychologist Erik Erikson. This is supplemented by research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child and their exploration of the ingredients for healthy brain development. Parents learn to have healthy and realistic expectations for their children as well as learning how trauma can derail the developmental needs of children. Parents will learn how to tend to the developmental needs their children present after experiencing trauma.
This concept focuses on Dr. Ross Greene’s model for reframing child behavior comes alive in light of what happens to children who have experienced trauma. The Collaborative and Proactive Solutions model helps parents understand that parent-child conflicts often come from lagging skills rather than willful behavior. Parents learn how trauma may have impacted the development of certain skills, and how to help those skills recover relationally. Learn to assess for lagging skills, prioritize problems, and engage in a step-by-step process designed to resolve conflicts, teach skills, and improve relationships.
Parents will learn the key skills and steps for successful and therapeutic times of play and connection with their children. This concept explains Dr. Gary Landreth’s approach to teach parents many of the skills of a play therapist and learn to put these skills into practice through regularly scheduled times with their children. Parents learn the power of listening, observing, and describing as they promote choice and exploration by allowing their children to take the lead and direct their play. Parents learn to demonstrate presence and rebuild felt-safety for their children.
Dr. Becky Bailey’s Conscious Discipline model is the theoretical and practical structure for the entire Parenting After Crisis class. The practical skills and tools that parents practice every week, such as composure through breathing, unite activities, setting intentions, making personal commitments, and family jobs are practices for every week of class. This concept explores the powers, skills, structures, and household family practices that we have used each week can be implemented into your own interactions with your children.
If you have been court ordered to attend Parenting Classes, please complete this form to start the enrollment process.
TIPS is a FREE 8-10 week class for parents The course teaches skills for building life-long relationships. These tools can be applied to our children, partners, coworkers, or anyone we come into contact with. Core concepts of this series are Emotional Intelligence, Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), The Brain, Trauma, Empathy, and Connecting through play. These classes are held in local churches and offer childcare when available. Classes are also offered in an online format with workbook completion. Get started
The in-person Parenting Education classes are designed for those volunteering to complete a parenting program. This class is also for the parent(s) of children and teens that are receiving counseling services at CAFA. If you have been mandated to complete a parenting course, please check out Parenting After Crisis. Get Started in PAC.
Complete the new client form here.
Classes begin Monday May 5th at 12:00pm-1:00pm.
Classes will be held in person at CAFA, 921 Country Club Rd Ste 222, Eugene, OR 97401.
If you are in need of a virtual parenting class, please check out Parenting After Crisis.
