AS the nation grapples with the increasing number of children who have been either victims or perpetrators of violent crime, Churches Co-operative Credit Union has joined forces with Youth Opportunities Unlimited to host a series of seminars for parents.

The seminars, which are being held under the theme, “Parenting in a Volatile Society: How to Be Your Child’s Friend While Still Being a Parent”, will provide a forum where parents can get sound advice and coaching on proactively handling many of the serious issues that are currently affecting the country’s youth.

Three seminars will be held in different locations across the island, beginning May 26 at the Hilton Hotel in Kingston. It will continue with a session at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville on June 2 and conclude at the Wexford Hotel in Montego Bay on June 18. Each session will run from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The agenda will feature presentations and discussions on three main topics:

. Crimes against children;

. Staying current with what Interests your child; and

. handling aggression.

The speakers – including Althea Bailey, who lectures in adolescent health at the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, and Beverley Scott, executive director of the Family and Parenting Centre – will help parents learn how to establish or regain the trust and respect of their children as well as how to communicate with young people in a manner that fosters healthy self-esteem.

Each segment will be facilitated by parenting educators and counselling consultants from Youth Opportunities Unlimited. The programme will also include question-and-answer sessions after each presentation.

Juven Montague-Anderson, manager of marketing and public relations at Churches Co-operative Credit Union, said that by sponsoring these seminars the company is hoping to fill a pressing need in the society as today’s parents are facing unprecedented challenges with raising their children.

“We’ve gone from a society where parents were once seen as the ultimate authority to one where parents are now competing with many influences for their children’s respect,” she said. “Many of the age-old parenting techniques are no longer effective and so we need to learn a new way of doing things.”

Added Montague-Anderson: “Parenting is the most important job that most people will ever do and yet there is so little training available for it. When we look at all of the serious issues that are confronting parents it can get overwhelming but through these seminars we hope to be able to help individuals become better parents.”

In April, Churches launched their “Season of Giving” with a pledge to support local charities and finance social outreach efforts in spite of the harsh economic climate. As part of this effort, the financial institution has already staged a benefit to raise funds for social development programmes at three churches and held a “Feeding Day” for the poor and indigent in communities surrounding their head office on Eureka Road in Kingston.