Overview
This “train-the-trainer” program prepares school mental health professionals to lead Open Circle’s Parent Program, a five-session workshop for parents and caregivers in your school community. The Parent Program familiarizes parents and caregivers with the concepts, approaches and vocabulary their children are learning in Open Circle. It also helps families reinforce Open Circle concepts at home as well as integrate them into an approach for effective parenting. Participants in the Parent Program Leader Training gain an understanding of the structure and activities of the Parent Program and how best to facilitate it. In addition, they explore successful approaches for recruiting Parent Program group members.

Participation in this program includes:
• Three 2-hour afterschool sessions of training and consultation
• Implementation of your first 5-session Parent Program in your
   school concurrent with your Parent Program Leader Training
• 1 copy of the Parent Program Leaders Manual
• Two DVDs or videotapes for use in facilitating the Parent Program
• 15 copies of the Parent Program Workbook for Parent Program
   participants
• 6 Professional Development Points or 6 Continuing Education Units

Who Should Attend
This program is for school-based mental health professionals (e.g. school psychologists, counseling, social workers and guidance counselors) in schools actively using Open Circle. Although the Parent Program is educational in nature, emotional issues can emerge in parenting groups. Therefore, we require that applicants:
• Be trained in school psychology, counseling, social work, or
   guidance
• Be knowledgeable about group dynamics and family issues
• Have prior experience working with parents and caregivers in
   groups
• Have some familiarity with the Open Circle Curriculum

Schedule
All trainings are from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Wellesley, Massachusetts
Stone Center at Wellesley College
• #1: September 18, October 23 and December 4, 2008
• #2: February 5, April 16 and May 14, 2009

Fee: $400

Download Program Information
and Registration Form

For questions about this program or the status of your registration,
please contact us at info@open-circle.org or 781-283-2847.