MADISON – An upcoming series of sessions can help parents or guardians deal with their troubled, difficult secondary students who attend Madison City Schools.

“Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior” is a free, 10-week study designed for parents who are raising difficult or out-of-control adolescent children, 10 years and older. up. Sessions provide concrete, no-nonsense solutions to even the most destructive adolescent behaviors, according to the authors’ documentation.

MCS social workers Heather Hicks and Briana Hawkins will lead classes on Thursdays from Feb. 4 through April 15 from noon to 2 p.m. at MCS Central Office, 211 Celtic Drive. Classes are associated with “The Parent Project” curriculum.

The study especially can benefit parents with children who are struggling with truancy issues, behavioral conflicts, poor grades, substance use, running away from home, suicidal thoughts, arguing, childhood trauma, media influences, early teen sexuality, youth gangs, teen violence and bullying.

Program goals include a reduction in family conflict, decrease in juvenile crime, less recidivism and an improvement in school attendance and performance.

Parents can see better relationships at home by dealing with questions that are discussed in “Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior”:

* “My son is in a gang. What can I do?”

* “What do you do when your child hits you?”

* “My child is a runaway.”

* “What should I do when my child screams and curses at me?” (parentproject.com)

One strategy from the Parent Project is for parents to choose battles carefully — especially for impulsive children. The curriculum contends that getting a child to complete homework and succeed in school is far more important than a clean room; however, honesty is a bigger priority than either of those scenarios. The Parent Project recommends dividing house rules into four categories: Zero Tolerance Rules, Negotiable Rules, Drives Me Nuts Rules, and Let It Go.

The American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law has selected the Parent Project as the largest, court-mandated program for juvenile diversion. “Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior” is a favorite curriculum for middle- and high-school educators.

The Parent Project believes that parents are the answer. In 30-plus years, the company has worked with more than 500,000 parents who are raising out-of-control children.

A few slots remain open for the MCS session. Registration deadline is Jan. 22. To register, email parentprojectregistration@madisoncity.k12.al.us.

Class will observe social distancing and mask protection. For more information about the curriculum, visit parentproject.com.