Parenting Groups

Our groups programs are designed to build parenting skills and provide a space for connection and growth in a community of other parents who can relate to each other. Our goal is to increase parents’ skills, confidence, and connection with their children.

features of parenting groups

Our skilled team has been providing groups for over 10 years.

meals

We provide all participants a meal at every group session.

transportation

For Families Forward groups, we transport children to and from every group session if needed.

connection

Parents meet many other parents who they can connect and share with.

skill building

Our curriculum covers a wide variety of parenting topics.

families forward

These groups* facilitate learning new parenting skills and strengthening the bond between parents and their children who are in foster care. Parents participate in a group parenting class with other parents to build community and increase their skills, followed by observed parenting time with their children to practice the skills hands-on. Groups occur twice weekly. Transportation for child participants is provided by Family SkillBuilders.

* Available for Multnomah County participants only at this time

Group Parenting Classes in Shared Housing

Family SkillBuilders provides group parenting classes in shared housing environments in Marion County and is looking to expand this to other areas in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties. If you are interested in setting up a group parenting class in your shared housing facility, please submit an inquiry on our Contact Us page.

parents as teachers

Families who participate in our Parents as Teachers program are invited to join us for monthly groups to make connections with other parents in the community. These groups provide additional training on parenting topics covered in home visits as well as helpful group conversations with other parents who are going through or have gone through the same situations!

I advocate and encourage families to refer themselves to Family SkillBuilders. It’s such a powerful experience, and it’s okay to ask for help before becoming so overwhelmed.

I called Family SkillBuilders again for more support when I felt overwhelmed. Once again, we were blessed—our Family Support Specialist provided so much information about my son’s diagnosis and reminded me that anything is possible.

As a single mother of 4, I can say that because of Family SkillBuilders helping and guiding me on my journey, my kids have been back home for 10 years after foster care. Now, I am a full-time college student alongside my oldest daughter, and we’re both pursuing social work.

Their Family Support Specialist came into my life without any judgment. She listened to me, validated me, and even understood when I said, ‘I don’t know how to be a mom, and she’s my 3rd child.’ She taught me forgiveness, integrity, compassion, accountability, and guidance.

I figured now was the time to set a goal of breaking cycles and not feeling ashamed for asking for help. I knew what kind of mom I had been, and I just knew—that is not the mom I wanted to continue being.