PITTSBORO — Free online support is available to North Carolina families with young children through a program unveiled last week for residents in all 100 counties.
The Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) offers advice and ideas to help parents create “a positive home environment for their children,” according to a press release from the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
The resource is accessible to North Carolina parents through the program’s Triple P Online and Teen Triple P Online courses.
“The Positive Parenting Program (PPP) is a parenting curriculum that has been widely studied for efficacy and I think it’s a great option for any parents or caregivers who are looking for simple strategies to help them better care for children,” said Jennie Kristiansen, director of Chatham County’s Department of Social Services.
The Triple P online roll-out throughout the state is the largest of its kind in the country, according to state officials. Free access is available for 25,000 North Carolina parents and caregivers on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Every family across our state can benefit from learning more about positive parenting,” said Marshall Tyson, N.C. Public Health Children and Youth Branch Head and Triple P Program Manager for North Carolina. “Regardless of where you live in the state, what your background is, or if you’re raising children with a partner or as a single parent, online resources from Triple P can provide you with support to help you build a stronger foundation for your child.”
Triple P is evidence-based, backed by more than 35 years of research, and is currently available in more than 25 countries around the world, state officials said.
The program debuted in North Carolina in 2016 with in-person parenting courses in 46 counties. The launch of Triple P Online and Teen Triple P Online extends these services to families who might not be able to participate in person, such as those who live too far away from course sites or who are unable to commit to in-person sessions.
“Parenting can be challenging and for families in Chatham County, there are few parenting resources available,” Kristiansen said. “PPP is a positive step toward increasing offerings. The online curriculum can be done anywhere and consists of either six or eight, one-hour modules that can be started and stopped at any time. We hope that other PPP programs, including in-person options, will be available here in the future.”
The Triple P Program gives parents simple, practical strategies to help them manage their children’s behavior more confidently, prevent behavioral problems from developing and create a positive home environment for their family, according to a press release from the state.
Parents and caregivers of children up to 16 years old in North Carolina may sign up at triplep-parenting.com/nc-en/triple-p. Once parents receive an access code, they can participate in Triple P Online’s eight modules or Teen Triple P Online’s six modules at their own pace.
Each module takes about an hour to complete. Many courses are available in both Spanish and English.
“Expanding access to Triple P is in line with our commitments shared in the North Carolina Early Childhood Action Plan to ensure more children grow up in safe and nurturing homes across the state,” said Rebecca Planchard, Senior Early Childhood Policy Advisor for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “We know that every parent and caregiver wants what’s best for their child, and this program provides free resources for families to build more positive relationships.”
Funding for the online programs totals $1.7 million, using a combination of grant money from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and state funding through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health and Division of Social Services.
If users have questions, they can call Jennie Kristiansen at Chatham County Department of Social Services at 919-542-2759.
Randall Rigsbee may be reached at rigsbee@chathamnr.com.