Our meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m.

7:00 to 7:15 Sign-In and Love Notes

7:15 to 7:30 Large Group Announcements

7:30 to 8:30 New Parent Orientation and Small Group

8:30 to 8:40 Refreshment Break (optional)

8:40 to 9:00 Large Group and Closing

Sign-In and Love Notes 7:00 to 7:15

Welcome parents. Sign-in and write Love Notes.

Large Group Announcements 7:15 to 7:30

Introduce small group leaders and where their groups will be. Announce that the small groups are scheduled to run from 7:30 to 8:30 and that there is a refreshment/restroom break scheduled from 8:30 to 8:40 (optional). Ask if everyone knows which small group they belong in and assign those new members who are not already in a group. It is now time for new parent orientation and small groups.

New Parent Orientation and Small Groups 7:30 to 8:30

Small Group leader introduces himself/herself and has everyone do the same. The Small Group Leader reads the ACTION Mission Statement and Disclaimer to his/her group. Each parent reads their teen’s Love Note out loud. When this occurs, suggest to the parent that they meet with the teen counselor after the group. Each person in the group should have the chance to share anything that might be occurring this week at home and how they are feeling about it. Returning parents should talk about what their ACTION Plan was last week and discuss the results of that plan.

The facilitator then asks for group participation in brainstorming feedback regarding the ACTION Plans for the problems occurring this week. Each member needs to know that no matter what the group suggest, the ACTION Plan they choose will have to be one that they are comfortable with and one they feel confident about in order to carry it out. The small group session should end at approximately 8:30 for the scheduled refreshment break (optional) and remind everyone that they should reconvene back into the large group at 8:40.

Large Group 8:40 to 9:00

The Parent Coordinator should have an educational speaker once a month. The week that speakers are coming, small groups may want to end a bit earlier in order to give the speaker more time. The remaining weeks of the month, the large groups are to share success stories, announce ACTION functions, etc.

Now is a good time for parents to ask for support (i.e.: going to court, enforcing a difficult ACTION Plan, visit to the principal’s office, etc.).

The parent coordinators and small group leaders should make sure that the new parents have necessary phone numbers. Encourage each new parent to call their Group Leader or Parent Coordinator before the next meeting as part of their ACTION Plan.

Be sure to collect the first-week orientation sign-in sheet for new parent’s phone numbers. A copy of all necessary numbers should be given to the teen counselor as it pertains to the teens as well.

The Parent Coordinator is responsible for starting and ending the meeting at the designated times and seeing that the group runs by the ACTION format. The suggested start time is 7:00 p.m. Group usually runs for 2 hours. The Parent Coordinator may recruit help to set up each week. It is suggested that parent coordinators arrive at least 30 minutes early to set up and make coffee (optional) or get volunteers to make coffee and others to bring cookies or snacks (optional). This is a good way to get returning parents involved as well as greet new parents. Teen counselors should arrive early as well to help set up and greet parents and teens. It is essential that a friendly atmosphere is created and that everyone feels welcomed.

Small group leaders should be someone who is both interested and committed. They must make at least a 6-month commitment, be willing to show up every week, be punctual, and be ready to work. The Small Group Leader should be someone who is working on his/her own issues and implementing their ACTION Plan each week. He/she should also be actively participating in the ACTION group and one who is willing to give back what they have received through being involved with the ACTION Program.

Parent coordinators should select a greeter. The greeter’s job will be to welcome each new and returning parent and assist them in feeling comfortable. Greeters are responsible for having each parent fill out a name tag and have them sign-in on either the New Parents or returning Parents Sign-In Sheet.

A parent who is attending their first two meetings should sign-in on the New Parents Sign-In Sheet. (These sheets are provided in the starter packet). Also, be sure that new parents fill out the Family Evaluation Form at the beginning of the evening in their first week in attendance. Returning parents should sign-in and fill out Love Notes. In small groups, teen counselors will bring the teens’ Love Notes into the parent group and collect the parent’s Love Notes to bring into the teen group. All Love Notes should be read aloud.

The Parent Coordinator or a Small Group Leader facilitates orientation. Begin the orientation by asking parents to fill out their Family Evaluation Form. Make sure to collect the Family Evaluation Forms and then introduce yourself and ask each new parent to introduce him/herself.

The orientation leader should welcome the parents, and then begin to tell his/her story of being involved in ACTION. Please keep this portion of orientation no longer than 10 minutes in order to leave ample time for the new parents to share. The orientation talk should include what brought you to ACTION, how it worked, and the ACTION philosophy. Explain the group format and structure, such as ACTION Plans, Love Notes, etc.; also explain the teen groups (if you haven’t) and basic promises of ACTION.

Now it’s time to ask each parent to read from their own orientation form, about the three behaviors of their teen that are most troubling to them. After each parent shares, you may wrap up orientation by letting people know that they are in the right place. Have each person make a commitment to contact someone during the week. (Orientation leaders should include their own phone number).