Among the most successful of Vacaville's offerings is the Parent Project, a series of classes taught for moms and dads groping for better techniques of dealing with angry, defiant or troubled kids. Master social worker Gary Stanoff of the Vacaville Police Department reports dramatic turnarounds made in families that were struggling miserably. Still, there aren't enough spots in the course to accommodate everyone who needs help. So help must become more accessible to a broader cross-section of the public, said Police Chief Bob Harrison, head of the master plan subcommittee for high schoolers. Helping parents find answers to all their questions could involve weekend or Internet courses, chat rooms or perhaps an electronic bulletin board where parents could get answers from the Police Department's social workers, Harrison suggested.
Nobody deliberately messes up.
It's just difficult. Programs could feature experts giving advice from newborn health and childhood brain development to strategies for setting boundaries and disciplining effectively and compassionately. Schools should strive to offer a greater variety of activities, as many of them have begun to do, so more students can find their niche, hone new skills and build a stronger sense of self-esteem, Thompson said. The Children's Network of Solano County runs family resource centers in every community from Benicia to Dixon. They offer information about where to find recreational programs, counseling, music lessons and the like.