Our Futures in Licking County | To improve the education, social, safety and economic environments of Licking County

Our Futures in Licking County has identified the Triple P Positive Parenting Program as an evidenced-based program that will help to strengthen our community. In a recent study in South Carolina, Triple P was shown to reduce the risk factors of child abuse and family violence (Prinz, et.al. 2009) through its positive parenting strategies.

In 2009, a local coalition from Our Futures met with researchers and other individuals to learn about Triple P. Triple P provides training classes to groups of professionals (i.e., educators, mental health workers, hospital staff, and pastors). These trained providers then offer Triple P services to parents throughout the community. All Triple P training classes and resources, as well as the parenting programs offered to the community, are free of cost to participants due to the fact that Triple P in Licking County is funded by Licking Memorial Health Systems.

Once trained, Triple P providers organize Triple P parenting seminars and group discussions, as well as offer individual consultations. The programs focuses on common, everyday issues that most parents experience when raising their children. Examples of some of these issues include: tantrums, balancing work and family, chores and homework. Licking County’s current Triple P programs target parents with children from birth to age 12. Through these programs, parents are given research-based information and strategies to use at home with their children. Many Licking County institutions participate in Triple P. Participants were trained in fall of 2015 in Brief Primary Care and Seminars, as well as Triple P discussion groups.

Licking County currently has over 100 Triple P providers representing nine schools districts, nine community agencies, and four churches.
Recent survey results show that Triple P providers served at least 656 Licking County families in 2015.
99% of parents who completed 2015 surveys indicated that they were very likely or likely to use Triple P strategies with their children.
99% of parents who completed surveys last year indicated they now praise their child when they do well (80% before Triple P).
88% of parents who completed 2015 surveys indicated they do not lose control when they discipline their child (70% before Triple P).

As we continue to build our Triple P program throughout Licking County, we hope to help parents become more confident during the many challenges of parenting. Triple P offers something for all parents—and shows us that small changes can make a big difference in the lives of children and parents!

PARENT RESOURCES:
Helpful Hints for Parents
Triple P Official Website
Informational video about Triple P
Power of Positive Parenting
Raising Resilient Children

The PAX Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a classroom strategy that reduces classroom interruptions and decreases transition time between subject matter resulting in increased learning time and improved test scores.

Teachers trained in PAX GBG learn to create a proactive classroom environment through installing self-regulation, positive peer relationships and the delay of gratification using these evidence-based, proven strategies.

Just one year of PAX GBC utilization in primary grades has lasting effects for 20 to 30 years – reducing most mental illnesses, crime, violence, tobacco use, alcohol addiction, suicide attempts and depression. Also, students are more likely to graduate from high school and enter college. Since 2010, over 400 Licking County teachers in grades K-5 have been trained in the use of the Game.

Reward & Reminder is a simple strategy that establishes and/or reinforces a community standard to discourage underage alcohol consumption and tobacco use and values those who help make that happen (SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, 2010; Biglan, et. al., 1995; Embry, D.D., 2004).

In this evidence-based initiative, trained youth and adult volunteers enter establishments that sell tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, and the youth attempt to purchase alcohol and/or tobacco. If the employee refuses to sell to the youth, the individual is immediately rewarded with a gift certificate/card to local restaurants or businesses and a thank-you note. The store manager/business owner also receives recognition via formal letter. Stores who refuse to sell to minors are publicly recognized and acknowledged through traditional and electronic media outlets.

If it appears that a clerk/employee is going to sell tobacco products or alcohol to the youths, the sale is terminated immediately and the clerk receives a non-punitive reminder that it is against the law to sell to minors and encouraged not to sell to underage youth in the future.

As of August 2015, over 181 alcohol checks have been made with only 9 reminders and 178 tobacco checks with only 9 reminders.

Pax-It Notes are based upon the concepts found in the universal school-based PeaceBuilders model and the concepts of “tootling” (to see, hear, feel and notice the good that someone else does and tell them).

When a young person demonstrates a positive action, it is reinforced by a positive note being sent to the youth, their parent and/or school. It is a modification of “catching someone doing good.” The Pax-It Note is a triplicate copy note which is filled out when a teacher, school official, law enforcement officer, business person, parent or other adult witnesses a youth “doing good.” A copy of the note is given to the youth, a second copy is given to an external recognition source (parent, teacher, etc.) and a third copy is kept for data tracking purposes.

This positive reinforcement of good behavior has been shown to shift norms, reduce violence, and other risk factors associated with alcohol, tobacco and other substance use (Gable, A., 2002; Jurbergs, et. al., 2007; McCain & Kelley, 1994).

Local high school graphic design classes developed the template for the Pax-It Notes which will be customized to each school district in the county. Some local school systems were already utilizing their own version of Pax-It Notes, but switched to the student developed notes upon creation. State Farm Insurance continues to support the initiative by printing the Pax-It Notes for each district.

Schools are the primary deliverer of notes, but notes can be given in any venue where youth have an opportunity to “do good.” Our Futures has implemented a marketing campaign to promote witnessed good behaviors in the media, school buildings and businesses and recognize the individual youth.

Pax-It Notes Success in Licking County (video)
Sample PAX-IT Note