"The truth is that mothers are irreplaceable in the life of their children. No matter what the circumstances of their life, they have value to themselves and their children."
FOCUS+ for Mothers
"Families Offering Children Unfailing Support"
NewDay Services FOCUS+ (Families Offering Children Unfailing Support) Programs for Mothers are designed to teach mothers how to become fully engaged in their children's lives. FOCUS+ for Mothers is about building key protective factors that enable children to thrive. FOCUS+ for Mothers rebuilds children’s lives by giving mothers the tools to rebuild their lives. The mothers eligible for the FOCUS+ for Mothers Program come through referrals from Child Welfare Courts and Child Protective Services, Criminal Courts, Child Support Courts, Domestic Violence Courts and Prostitution Courts.
The FOCUS+ for Mothers Program is designed:
- To teach mothers how to become fully engaged in a co-parenting system.
- To increase understanding of a mother’s importance in the lives of her children.
- To teach mothers how to remain under control in stressful situations.
- To help mothers regain access to their children who might be in substitute care.
Children who experience higher levels of parental involvement and a closer relationship with their parents are less likely to exhibit behavioral problems and engage in risky behaviors.
In addition, they tend to achieve better grades, higher levels of education, and experience better emotional health.
In addition, they tend to achieve better grades, higher levels of education, and experience better emotional health.
About FOCUS+ for Mothers
NewDay Services began offering CPS-FOCUS for Mothers in 2013 at the request of CPS and following the success of the FOCUS for Fathers Program. The program has grown exponentially since then. The CPS-FOCUS for Mothers Program engages mothers referred through the Child Welfare Courts/CPS. These mothers are at risk of having their children removed from their homes or their children are already in substitute care. The primary goal of FOCUS+ for Mothers is to reduce out-of-home placement for their children.
Class topics/objectives are:
Maximizing the mother’s influence in her child’s life; relieving tension caused by family stress; communicating constructively with the father of the child; growing into the kind of mother she wants to be; planning for the adult she wants her child to become; recognizing the difference between control and influence; recognizing the many components of domestic violence; understanding the mother’s positive traits; understanding self-value; learning to set boundaries; understanding the difference between anger, rage and hostility; knowing how parental acts create a pattern for children; learning about the “circle of control”; choosing attitudes and actions; and making a plan to raise a strong child. These positive parenting practices promote a mother’s healthy parenting skills.
Maximizing the mother’s influence in her child’s life; relieving tension caused by family stress; communicating constructively with the father of the child; growing into the kind of mother she wants to be; planning for the adult she wants her child to become; recognizing the difference between control and influence; recognizing the many components of domestic violence; understanding the mother’s positive traits; understanding self-value; learning to set boundaries; understanding the difference between anger, rage and hostility; knowing how parental acts create a pattern for children; learning about the “circle of control”; choosing attitudes and actions; and making a plan to raise a strong child. These positive parenting practices promote a mother’s healthy parenting skills.
In 2018, Mothers who graduated from a NewDay CPS FOCUS+ for Mothers Program reported a:
62.5% increase in ability to respond calmly to conflict between them and their child’s father.
53.7% increase in knowing their strengths as a mother.
30.8% increase in knowing they have a role in the kind of adult their child will become.
42.9% improvement in desire to relate peaceably with the child’s father.
48% increase in ability to remain in control during stressful situations.
62.5% increase in ability to respond calmly to conflict between them and their child’s father.
53.7% increase in knowing their strengths as a mother.
30.8% increase in knowing they have a role in the kind of adult their child will become.
42.9% improvement in desire to relate peaceably with the child’s father.
48% increase in ability to remain in control during stressful situations.
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“Parenting class (FOCUS+ for Mothers) has made me learn a lot about how to value the ones I love. I have learned how to control my anger and my own attitude. I know that I must accept people for who they are, and stop trying to control others. I learned that my child is looking up to me to be a role model. I have to demonstrate the qualities that I want to pass on to my daughter. I am sorry for the bad choices I made, but I love my daughter so much. I hope that one day soon she will find it in her heart to forgive me.”
- FOCUS+ for Mothers Program participant |