When Troy joined a Families First Power of Parenting program in the winter of 2018, he was a grandfather taking care of his two grandnephews, who were 8 and 3 years old. He was raising them as a single parent.

Troy picks up the story from there.

“I cook, clean, the whole 9 yards. I read to the boys, Justice and Josiah, every night.

Sometimes Josiah gets in trouble at school. And Justice cries a lot. Because it’s just me, dealing with everything can be more difficult.

In a family of six, I grew up in a housing project. It was a tight-knit community. Lots of other parents helped raise me, and I grew up with a lot of love. I think that’s where I get my heart.

Through Families First’s program, I got to meet other parents. We talk about the challenges of raising kids, how we can understand them better and help them face obstacles.”

Building social connections is proven to lessen the stress and isolation that parents in under-resourced neighborhoods often experience. To address this need, Families First’s curriculum and program design are specifically geared to deliver knowledge, skills, and support in group settings, leading to a greater network of support for families.

Parents like Troy, who successfully complete Power of Parenting, increase their knowledge about their child’s temperament and developmental stage and learn new techniques around positive discipline and language building, to name a few!

Troy says, “I learned to calm down and just talk. I get better results that way. I tell Justice and Josiah not to be afraid to challenge themselves. Whatever they do, I’ll support them.”