Wednesday, March 12, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Clark County Parenting Project is one of 20 drug prevention programs in the nation recognized for its commitment and creative efforts in fighting substance abuse.
The Parenting Project offers free, ongoing classes designed to help moms and dads develop effective parenting techniques. A portion of each class is devoted to drug prevention in adults and children.
"Parents play such a key role in helping keep kids from getting involved in drugs (and) based on the (parent) evaluations, it's working," said Julie Abarzua, a prevention specialist with the Nevada Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, which nominated the Parenting Project.
It is the first time the county program, created in 1989, has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the centers for Substance Abuse Treatment and Mental Health.
In the past few years, Nevada programs such as the YMCA and Rancho High School Aces Program, have been selected, Abarzua said.
The Parenting Project, part of Clark County Family and Youth Services, offers three classes that target parents and their children at different age levels.
The first class, "Nurturing Parents and Families," is aimed at parents of children from birth to 5 years old. Among other things, parents learn how their drug abuse can affect their relationship and care of their children.
The second class helps parents with kids ages 5 to 10. "Practical Parenting" teaches parents to model responsible behavior and how to change their children's bad behavior.
"Families Back in Control," the final class, is geared for parents with kids between 10 and 17. Among other things, it teaches them to detect drug abuse in their children and emphasizes the importance of rules and supervision.
The Parenting Project is unique among the programs honored because it goes directly into neighborhoods to teach the classes and it has a three-pronged approach to drug abuse: education, prevention and intervention, said Program Coordinator Dianne Sivoli.
Last fiscal year, Parenting Project offered 307 classes and served about 6,700 people. Since its creation eight years ago, more than 25,000 Clark County residents have participated.
Although there is no money attached to the national honor, the recognition "certainly opens doors ... (and) it provides us with the opportunity to access additional dollars," Program Coordinator Sarah Beers said.
To obtain class locations and schedules or other information, call 455-5295.
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