Effective Black Parenting

A ten (10) week, two (2) hour series of classes created by the Center for the improvement of Child Caring (CICC) which teaches parents and others how to raise African American children to become healthy, proud, and capable people. This program, which was designed with guidance and direction of African American parenting scholars, fosters:

• Effective Family Communication
• Extended Family Values
• Healthy African American Identity
• Child Growth & Development
• Positive Self-Esteem

The program uses African proverbs as it teaches a series of highly effective and easy-to-use parenting strategies and skills that include:

• The Pyramid of Success for Black Children
• Modern Black Self-Discipline
• The Thinking Parents Approach
• How to Prevent Drug Abuse
• How to Use Special Incentives
• How to Ignore Effectively
• Pride in Blackness
• Family Rule Guidelines
• Children Developing Abilities
• How to Praise Effectively
• How to Confront Effectively
• How to Use Chit-Chat Times

Participants through discussion and role plays will effectively demonstrate the mastery of the skills included in the curriculum.  Only those participants completing the program successfully through these role plays will be graduated from the program. Progress reports will be provided.

These classes are offered exclusively for parents who have substantiated cases of abuse and/or neglect with the Michigan Department of Human Services Child Protective Services Unit.  Any employee of the Kent County Michigan Department of Human Services or a child welfare worker from a child welfare agency working with a parent whose case has been substantiated can refer their client for classes.

For more information please contact us by phone at (616) 247-3815 or email at:

info@familyoutreachcenter.org