Berry Street Integrated Family Services is offering the Tuning into Teens parenting program once more in Term 3. It is a free 6-week group program that will run on Wednesdays from 11am – 1pm (2 hours), beginning on 13th August with the final session occurring on 17th September (6 consecutive weeks). The group will run online, via Zoom. It will be facilitated by 2 Integrated Family Services staff members, and we will cap the group at 8-10 participants.

For those of you that may be unfamiliar with the group program, here are some of its key features and benefits:

· It is an interactive evidence-based parenting program developed by child and adolescent psychologists based at the Mindful Centre in the University of   Melbourne.

· It helps promote emotional intelligence and resilience in teens.

· Sessions are built around group discussion, activities and some roleplays where participants reflect on their parenting and practice the strategy of Emotion    Coaching. Participants are also asked to share their experiences of

Emotion Coaching at home with their teen, with the group:

· It supports caregivers to better attune to their teen’s emotions and support them with these through Emotion Coaching.

· It supports caregivers to teach their teens how to better manage their emotions.

· It can reduce isolation for caregivers through peer support.

· It can help to prevent or reduce behaviour problems in teens through a more connected relationship with their caregiver.

Please find the flyer attached. We encourage you to provide this to caregivers. To be eligible to participate, caregivers must reside in Banyule, Nillumbik, Darebin, Yarra or Whittlesea and they must self-refer.

Please note, caregivers that express interest will be assessed for group readiness and appropriateness prior to being offered a place.