Families CAN! uses award-winning, evidence-based programs, providing enrichment opportunities to parents, caregivers, community service providers, and educators about topics affecting families with children from birth through the teen years.
Our enrichment programs are designed to offer parents and other caregivers information, strategies and resources that can help them build a strong foundation for a safe and happy family.
Join the Families CAN! email list to be notified of upcoming programs and events.
For more information on Families CAN! programs or to schedule a training, contact Dawn Flagg at:
Phone: (207) 442-7963 ext. 230
Email: dawn.flagg@mmcacorp.org
This program takes a humorous look at parenting and a serious look at discipline for children aged 2 to 12. Learn the simple techniques to get your children to STOP whining, arguing, and having tantrums. Discover effective methods to get your kids to START doing those things you want them to- cleaning up, doing homework, and going to bed.
Adolescents can be both confusing as well as aggravating to their parents, and Surviving Your Adolescents gives concrete solutions while at the same time recognizing the emotional complications that are involved in parenting teens.
This series is designed for parents and caregivers with children from birth to age 5. Learn about parenting styles and roles, ages and stages of development, discipline techniques that work, how to prevent tantrums, building a strong family bond, and much more.
Active parenting will give you the skills to achieve a fuller, more satisfying family life, and to help your children achieve greater happiness and success. This workshop is geared toward parents and caregivers with children 5-12 year olds and will show you effective ways to:
This series is designed for parents and caregivers with children from 11-16 years old. Active Parenting: Teens will give you the guidance and support you need to turn the challenges of raising a teenager into opportunities of growth. You’ll learn:
At times all parents feel lost or without a clue about what our child might need from us. Imagine what it might feel like if you were able to make sense of what your child was really asking from you. The Circle of Security® Parenting™ program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened.
Circle of Security will help you:
This program is for any male identifying parent of a child. The series focuses on the value of male role models in a child’s life. We explore topics including the roots of fathering, nurturing children and self, positive discipline methods, managing emotions, resolving conflict, teamwork with a partner, balancing work and fathering, and more.
This is an open series of 10 enrichment classes. Attend as many as you want or can. Increase positive nurturing skills and behaviors to strengthen your family’s communication. Topics include: ages and stages of development, enhancing brain development, dealing with feelings, developing self-worth, praise and encouragement, communicating with respect, family values and rules, and nurturing discipline techniques. And the end result- you’ll have more fun together!
Learn how to blend family histories and prevent or stop problem behaviors such as loyalty conflicts and power struggles. Set boundaries that work for the whole family, improve communication, build new relationships, and teach responsibility and cooperation.
This program gives divorcing or separating couples strategies to make positive changes that shield their children from parental conflict. This series guides parents and caregivers through techniques to help children establish long-term relationships with both parents so children living in two different households can thrive.
This is a video and discussion-based seminar that provides guidance for a successful journey through separation or divorce for both you and your child. It will help you become aware of how your actions affect your child while providing you with the skills to maintain a child-focused relationship with your co-parent.
You’ll learn five steps to:
This parenting enrichment program focuses on the effects of substance use has on the family, parenting style, and the caregiver/child relationship. This program is open to parents, guardians, partners, extended family members, and any other adult who cares for a child. Those adults in a parenting role who are working on recovery are especially encouraged to attend. All are welcome! You will:
Families living with children with special needs and health challenges experience a profoundly personal journey. Each family brings to the experience a unique history, value system, cultural identity, and combination of strengths and challenges. The Nurturing Parenting Program has been designed to provide families the support they need to successfully navigate the journey of parenting. Topics include: understanding temperament & attachment, brain development, comfort & calming techniques, the power of play, helping children cope, identifying & meeting your needs, and more.
The Parent Cafe is a physically and emotionally safe spaces where parents and caregivers talk about the challenges and victories of raising a family. Through individual deep self-reflection and peer-to-peer learning, participants explore their strengths, learn about the Protective Factors, and create strategies from their own wisdom and experiences to help strengthen their families.
This friendly discussion environment is a place where all parents and caregivers are welcome to find support and share stories and lessons learned from parenting. This group is led by parents and other caregivers. Anyone in a parenting role can openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children.
These national initiatives focus on preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome and promoting a safe sleeping environment for infants. Get the most up-to-date information that promotes infant safety, and gain a new way of understanding the normal period of crying during a healthy baby’s first year of life. Each topic can provide .1 CEU for a small fee.
This program supports professionals who provide services to families. Identify ways in which your organization is already supporting the development of protective factors in families, and consider how you can increase capacity to build protective factors. Protective Factors are conditions in families, communities, and organizations that, when present, increase the health and well-being of children and families. This training can provide .15 CEU for a small fee.
This training is for professionals and volunteers who are Mandated Reporters. Learn about the laws regarding reporting, signs of abuse and neglect, how to report, and why it is important to do so. All Mandated Reporters are now required to complete this training, or another type of training approved by the Department of Health and Human Services, once every four years.
The Front Porch Project® training for community members addresses why people do (and don’t) get involved and provides strategies on how to help by stepping in and supporting families. Specifically, this training teaches you to:
By attending this training, you are joining a community of Mainers committed to help prevent future tragedies from occurring to any more of our children. The training is free, available online and available to anyone in the state.
This project is made up of three school-based educational programs designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent sexual abuse. The Healthy Relationships Project utilizes health-focused strategies that match children and youth’s social-emotional level and increase protective factors as communication skills, empathy and knowledge of support systems.

Families CAN! is supported by the Maine Children’s Trust, a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect.

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