Parenting Education Workshops

Raising children is a rewarding but often challenging endeavor, especially in today's society. Because parenting requires significant amounts of time, energy, and emotional strength, it is not uncommon for parents to feel stress related to this important role. Our workshops teach participants parenting skills in the areas of understanding children, how to help children learn and thrive, effective discipline and personal stress management. As parents learn how to better understand, guide, nurture, and motivate their children, they will become more effective. Within Dutchess County parents of children of any age can benefit from these programs.

Watch our Upcoming Events page for the following parenting workshops offered by CCE Dutchess:

PS: IT WORKS!

This curriculum used in our parenting courses is designed to teach five basic parenting skills that are useful from the time children begin to talk through the teenage years. The first skill, ENCOURAGEMENT, fosters self-esteem in children and builds trust between parent and child. ENCOURAGEMENT emphasizes the importance of telling the child when the parent sees him or her doing something the parent likes. The second two skills, CAN DO and CHOICES, are guidance techniques that can be learned using four clear steps. CAN DO teaches parents to teach children acceptable behavior. CHOICES builds on these skills by encouraging parents and children to work together to solve problems and make decisions. SELF-CONTROL is an anger management skill for adults, and RESPECTING FEELINGS is an empathy-building skill.

PARENTING SKILLS WORKSHOP SERIES

This course is run through Dutchess County Family Services is for parents seeking to improve their communication skills and reunify their families. 

PARENT AND SUPPORT EDUCATION (PASE)

Raising children is deeply rewarding, but it also asks a lot of you. Time, energy, patience, and emotional bandwidth are all in constant demand, and stress is a very real part of the experience. This program is designed to meet parents where they are and give them practical tools they can actually use.

PASE workshops focus on building strong, effective parenting skills in key areas such as understanding child development, supporting learning and growth, practicing positive and effective discipline, and managing personal stress. The goal is simple. Help parents feel more confident in how they guide, nurture, and motivate their children.

These workshops are delivered in partnership with local community organizations and can be customized to fit the needs of specific groups and audiences. Program formats are flexible and can be offered as a 4-hour intensive, two 2-hour sessions, or a five-part 1-hour series.

In addition to group partnerships, PASE is offered to the general public at least twice each year. PASE is designed as a group learning experience, where shared discussion and interaction are part of the process. For this reason, individual one-on-one sessions are not offered.

 For additional opportunities to participate throughout the year, community members are encouraged to check local organization calendars for upcoming sessions hosted in collaboration with partner groups. This resource is not offered 

This program is open to parents and caregivers of children of all ages.

Parents of children of any age can benefit from this program!

Adult Workshop Series: Communication Topics

• “Encouragement”
• “Can Do”
• “Decision Making”
• “Self-Control”
• “Respect Feelings”
• Positive Discipline
• Co-Parenting

Apply skills for today and a lifetime! Participants will receive a certificate of completion and a copy of the materials!

**This class does not qualify for nor can it be a substitute for the DCFS-mandated class. P.S. It works!**

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Last updated April 3, 2026