Family Connections & Nurturing Parenting
The Family Connections and Nurturing Parenting programs aspire to work collaboratively with families to help them create a home where parents and children thrive in relationships built on a foundation of nurturing, respect, trust, and love.
Within these relationships, the family utilizes not only their individual culture but also knows how to access necessary supports within themselves and their community.
The Nurturing Parenting Program strives to empower adult parents and foster positive parenting skills, nurturing behaviors, and appropriate development. We know that being a parent is difficult, so we remain dedicated to being a part of your support system. The Family Connections Program focuses on the family unit as a whole. This program strives to identify core deficits and find healthy and positive ways to address these needs.
To be eligible for these programs, families must be recommended by the Arizona Department of Child Services.
Families Served through this program
Community Members Provided with Materials or Resources through this program
Programs
Family Connections & Nurturing Parenting programs.
Nurturing Parenting Program
We visit families once a week at their homes for about two hours for a four-month period. During this time, we’ll discuss parenting skills, facilitate family activities, and reflect on past parenting approaches. Other focus areas we include are setting goals and working toward behavioral changes in parents. Depending on your unique situation, we’ll use a tailored approach to suit your family’s needs. To be eligible for this program, families must be recommended by the Arizona Department of Child Services.
Family Connections Program
We visit families once a week at their homes for about two hours. During this time, we’ll discuss attitudes, coping skills for stress, and resources to continue on a safe and healthy path after the allotted 5-month period. Other focus areas we include are setting goals and working toward behavioral changes within the family unit. Depending on your unique needs, we’ll designate you a Level I or Level 2 family. Level 2 families have the benefit of two visits a week. To be eligible for this program, families must be recommended by the Arizona Department of Child Services.
Locations Where Offered
This program is offered in Mohave County, Yuma County, Pima County, Cochise County and Santa Cruz County.
Program Details
The Family Connections (FC) Program supports families involved with the Department of Child Safety by helping reduce the risk of maltreatment and addressing impending dangers within the home. Over a service period of five months, trained staff meet with families 1–2 times per week, typically in their home, for at least one hour per visit. The program helps alleviate identified barriers and assists families in meeting Conditions for Return, including access to Emergency Flex Funds. Families are connected to a range of services to meet day-to-day needs, such as utility, rent, or child care assistance; emergency food or clothing; household furniture and supplies; and mental, behavioral health, or substance use services and support.
The Nurturing Parenting Program (NP) helps parents learn about child development and practice positive parenting skills with their children. Over four months, a practitioner meets with families weekly for two hours, including a parenting lesson, parent-child observation, and debrief. Parents learn skills such as handling feelings, communicating needs, showing empathy, taking charge of their behavior, having warm and fun interactions, establishing nurturing routines like mealtimes and bedtimes, managing stress and anger, building self-esteem, giving and receiving healthy touch, and using effective discipline instead of hitting or yelling. Lessons are tailored to meet each family’s unique needs and provide support to help parents grow as confident, nurturing caregivers.
“I feel the program is an asset to any parent to teach parenting skills and to provide knowledge that a parent may not know. It benefits me by giving me exposure to parenting tools as well as having someone to have back and forth dialogue with about parenting.”
“Program has helped me build relationships with my children and learn new parenting skills. Grateful for services and look forward to future meetings with FCC.”
“FC is changing my life and my daughter’s life for real. My daughter and I are not fighting anymore and we communicate good. I also am getting along with my parents better, we actually are hanging out right now. We all are spending more time together, telling each other our problems. This is the best my life has been!”
Contact Us
Sandra Makrias, M.A., Program Director – smakrias@cfraz.org/ 520-510-5462
Program Partners
Arizona Department of Child Safety
