YWEP recognizes that parental involvement is a key factor in reducing high school dropout rates and increasing graduation rates. Parental involvement is defined as the participation of parents in every facet of children’s education and development from birth to adulthood. Parents are the primary influence in children’s lives. Parents are a major influence on their children’s achievement in school and through life. Studies have found that students with involved parents, no matter what their income or background, are more likely to:

• Earn high grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs
• Pass their classes, earn credits, and be promoted
• Attend school regularly
• Graduate and go on to postsecondary education.

YWEP offers The Fatherhood Initiative, Magnify Mothers, and Parent Power Hour to ensure that families have the resources they need to help their children pass safely through the obstacle course of adolescence and early adulthood to realize their full potential. Our parent initiatives build parenting skills but also builds the individual as a man or woman. Parent Power Hour consists of a series of custom-designed information and discussion groups that enrich parenting effectiveness, especially in the area of cognitive skills associated with family management practices. Parental involvement workshops will be implemented with an evidence based curriculum and presentations during Parent Power Hour sessions. Parent Power Hour sessions will be held at schools one day a week for one hour during the nine-month school year. May 2016, we will host a one day Magnify Women Conference to launch our motherhood piece called Magnify Mothers. Magnify Mothers consists of 8 week cycles, one day a week for two hours during a 12-month year. Participants will form a Sisterhood of peer resources needed to be involved, responsible, and committed mothers. To maintain fidelity each cycle will have no more than 12 female participants. The Fatherhood Initiative is helping fathers get the skills they need to be involved in their children’s lives through the implementation of an evidence based fathering curriculum. Research shows that a major barrier to male parental involvement is a lack of skills in dads, many of whom grew up without fathers in their own lives. At a time when 1 in 3 children live in father-absent homes. The Fatherhood sessions will be offered on 12 week cycles, one day a week for two hours during a 12-month year, that will give them the parenting, relationship, and communication skills they need to be involved, responsible, and committed fathers. To maintain fidelity each cycle will have no more than 15 male participants. Due to an overwhelming interest there will be multiple cycles running at one time. June 2016, we will host the one-day Men of Valor Conference.

Target Population

Our parent workshops are open to all parents of children and youth ages 0-24. Our primary target populations are divorced, separated, new and re-entry fathers and mothers in the state of Arizona and Florida.