Parenting symposium on Dec. 1 and 2

In an effort to strengthen familial ties among CNMI folks, local social services agencies have teamed up to launch a two-day parenting symposium to feature nationally-renowned psychotherapist and family educational consultant Peggy-North Jones from New York.

The symposium dubbed as “Focusing on the Family” is targeted to tackle four main aspects of family life such as quality time spent with family, dealing with everyday conflicts, resolving different views, as well as youth and teen family issues.

The symposium has been scheduled for Dec. 1 and 2, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dai-Ichi Hotel Hibiscus Hall in Garapan.

The Children and Families Services, an alliance of public and private social services agencies in the Northern Marianas, planned six months in advance to devise the arrangements, according to publicity committee chair Patrick V. Diaz.

“We want to encourage families, especially parents to register and attend this symposium,” Mr. Diaz told a press conference.

Concurrent sessions on motheread/fatheread, parents anonymous, common sense parenting, and parents as teachers will be part of the forum’s agenda, programs that have been established to support parenting.

Pastor Cliff Shoemake of New Covenant Life Church has also stressed the role of the Division of Youth Services not only as an intervention agency but also as advocates of prevention measures that help enrich family life in the CNMI.

“It’s important that we look at enrichment in how we can really make our family lives here more fulfilling,” said Mr. Shoemake.

“We tend to focus on problems and I think it’s important that we take our focus away from the problems of drugs and alcohol and instead go back to the core families and what our family is supposed to be,” he added.

The parenting forum promises educational presentations from the guest speaker, local panel members, and close interaction between presenters and participants.

Offered to the public for free, organizers have room for some 250 participants who are required to pre-register at the DYS office before Nov. 22.

Free respite care for children ages 3 to 8 will also be provided for the first 50 participants to arrive on Dec. 1 and 2. DYS is also mulling over the provision of day care services for children younger than 3.

“So there would be no reason for them not to show up,” said Mr. Diaz.

In addition, the whole symposium is being dedicated to the late Fr. Gary Bradley, who has inspired organizers to push through with the project.

Meanwhile, as part of the symposium preparations, the organizing committee earlier slated essay and logo competitions open to students from public and private schools all over the CNMI.

Essay contest winners for category A include Michael Pascua of Grace Christian Academy (1st place), Ellaizah Gail Libut of GCA (2nd place), and Paul Manglona Jr. of Eskulan San Francisco De Borja (3rd place).

Under category B, Didiich Temarsel of Marianas Baptist Academy (1st place), LaDetra Palacios of Marianas High School (2nd place), and Mary Lou Dejillas of MHS were also pronounced as essay contest winners.

For the logo making competition, Sarah Ann Atalig of Eskulan San Francisco de Borja, Cheri Sumalpong of Mt. Carmel School, and Martin Pangelinan of MCS received 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place recognition, respectively.