LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Mirella sounds like many parents when she describes ongoing friction with her daughter.

Arguments happen over homework, household chores and bickering with siblings.

Mirella is a mother of six and she found it difficult to take care of her own needs, which left little empathy for her family.

Then her local school, through Healthy Start, invited her to the Nurturing Parenting program.

She attended every class offered, bringing her adult daughters and their young children as well. And things began to change.

The Nurturing Parenting program began in Lake County in 2005 with support from First 5 Lake.

First 5 is celebrating its 15-year anniversary this year, serving families with young children from birth to 5 years old.

The Nurturing Parenting program is now offered through many agencies and organizations in Lake County.

To date, 1,608 parents and 1,840 children have attended local Nurturing Parenting classes.

The Nurturing Parenting program is a nationally recognized program developed by Dr. Stephen Bavolek.

Recently three Lake County facilitators – Tom Jordan, Ana Santana and Socorro Padilla – were invited to Train as Trainers for the program.

Participants in the recent training traveled from all over the United States to attend the training in Chico. Now local trainings for new facilitators can be offered on a regular basis.

Local classes are offered for all parents, in English and Spanish, at school sites, in preschool settings, at the Lake Family Resource Center, the Legacy School, community centers, churches and even at the local jail.

One parent commented, “I am making myself a better person by being able to understand my kids more.” And “I am learning new tools; striving for improvements now in all areas of my life.”

“Many families struggle with discipline issues in the home” said Ana Santana, a class facilitator. “Fights with their teenagers, struggles over curfews, rules and chores. Families with small children can begin learning strategies for setting limits, improving family communication and how to care for each other that will last a lifetime. Families can find ways to move forward together, to help kids to get their homework done and attend school and for more laughter than tears at home.”

Nurturing Parenting classes are currently being held in Upper Lake and Clearlake, with additional classes scheduled to begin next month in Kelseyville.

For more information on current and upcoming Nurturing Parenting classes, please call the Nurturing Parenting program hotline at 707-262-4116 or Gina Dickson, program coordinator at 707-994-2272, Extension 2548.

This article is being published in celebration of First 5’s 15th anniversary celebration and as a longtime funded program through the local First 5 Lake Commission.