Thirteen children and their parents sit in a large circle in a room with tiny chairs and child-painted ceiling tiles. Construction-paper mobiles sway slightly as people straggle in. Some are greeted at the door with high-fives. All are greeted by name. Some children scowl, some look at the floor and some wave to others across the room.
Several children slump in their seats with their arms folded.
One girl jumps up to hug her mother when she walks in the door late. The families are meeting in a pre-school classroom, but the children aren't toddlers. Ranging in ages from 11 to 16, they have different backgrounds, but are here for the same reason. Developed by Dr. Bill Quinn, a professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, the 10-week FSP seeks to decrease the likelihood of repeat offenders and to improve youths'family environments by helping family members learn better ways of interacting. Parental involvement is one of the most crucial elements in the program, Quinn says.