Counseling Services of Addison County (CSAC-VT)

CSAC Background

Founded in 1959 by a small group of concerned local people, The Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) has grown from a small mental health counseling service into a large, comprehensive agency serving adults, families and children who may have a diversity of needs; including emotional problems, family issues, substance abuse, serious mental illness, and developmental disabilities.
CSAC is a nonprofit agency offering a wide variety of professional mental health and developmental services to the people of Addison County in Vermont.

The Counseling Service staff includes two psychiatrists, two psychiatric nurses, and several dozen masters-level social workers and psychologists, as well as a large number of support workers. In addition to its office-based services, the agency offers residential supports, employment services, adventure-based children’s programs, alternative educational programs, and around the clock emergency response.

The goal of all the services provided by CSAC is to enhance peoples’ quality of life and their ability to function as fully-integrated, productive members of their communities.

The Counseling Service is based primarily in Middlebury, Vermont with a satellite office in Bristol, Vermont. For any additional information please visit www.csac-vt.org.

Yvonne Johns, Youth and Family Services Coordinator for CSAC-VT, heard about Parenting On Track™ in early 2008 from community members, parents and teachers at the local school. She decided to attend a 6-week class in the fall of 2008 at Vergennes Union Middle/High School to determine if the program would work for the agency and with their clientele. So inspired by the concepts, the techniques, the level of participation from those in attendance and Vicki’s presentation style, Yvonne invited Vicki to meet with other Youth and Family Service Coordinators to discuss the possibility of offering the Parenting On Track™ Program through their agency.

By April 2009 with resounding support within the organization, CSAC obtained the Parenting On Track™ licensing and began offering the program to their parents. The program is offered on-site to groups of interested individuals who meet for 6-weeks as well as for one-on-one, in-home and office visits, on a case by case basis.

The support from clinicians for the Parenting On Track™ program is unanimous based on the results their clients are experiencing. One clinician stated that the results are nothing less than profound. Historically this is the first program that all of the clinicians from this agency feel comfortable using and recommending to their clients.

The Parenting On Track™ program will continue to be offered on a regular basis on-site using the 6-week format and to individuals either in their homes or during office visits.

At the time of printing, CSAC hosted three on-site Parenting On Track™ classes.

Class 1

• 6-week class offered June 2009 – July 2009.
• Class was led by two co-facilitators.
• Enrollment was voluntary.
• Parents who attended reported positively to the concepts, techniques and presentation of the material.
• Parents requested longer group time to allow for more discussion.

Class 2

• 8-week class offered September 2009 – October 2009.
• Class was led by two co-facilitators. One of the facilitators was from the original class, the second was new. This allowed for continuity, familiarity with the program and training of another staff member.
• Parents from this class were referred by outside services. These particular parents were “strongly encouraged” to attend the classes.
• Parents reported a moderate level of satisfaction in the program.

Class 3

• 8-week class offered January 2010 – March 2010.
• Class was led by two co-facilitators. One of the facilitators was from class 2, the second was new. Continuity of the program, ongoing training of facilitators and familiarity with the content of the program continues to develop.
• Enrollment was voluntary.
• Parent satisfaction was very high. Parents requested longer group time.

To date, 17 parents have attended and completed one of the three, on-site Parenting On Track™ classes offered by CSAC. It is clear that the parents who attend on a voluntary basis or more open, receptive and engaged in the program. As they continue to work with their case managers, their parenting skills continue to develop and grow. A common parenting language is emerging based on the Parenting On Track™ program and there is a sense of optimism around the challenges of parenting now that the agency has committed to using a viable program that resonates with their parent population.

The parents who were “encouraged” to attend the live class experienced a less satisfactory experience, although it has been reported that even these parents have begun referring back to information learned from the program.

To date, 25+ parents have viewed at least one of the Parenting On Track™ DVDs either in the home and/or office.

The next on-site class will be offered again in 2010. Currently, there is a waiting list to attend.

Updates will be made on a regular basis to this Case Study, so please check back regularly to this page if you are interested in the updates and progress.

Yvonne F. Johns: MA Counseling Psychology; 23 years

“The most important factors of having the Parenting On Track™ multi-media program as part of our facility are that 1) it provides immediate access to consumer-friendly material at the time the parent is willing to do it, and 2) that it is offered and not mandated - parents have decided to attend the group voluntarily.

Over time, the word of mouth success with one parenting group begins and generates a wait list for the next group. Parents say they have stopped their negative interactions and are amazed at how the children can adapt to the change.

I personally have experienced an increase in the open conversations with parents acknowledging and insightfully aware of the importance of their values and beliefs about parenting, and how it impacts their parenting style.”

Ali Dumeer: Family Advocate Clinician, Counseling Service of Addison County; MSW;
2 years

“I have found that parents often express a lot of anxiety and doubtfulness at first to any parenting program. With the Parenting On Track™ program, once they start to watch the videos and re-watch certain parts if necessary, they actually express excitement and a sense of empowerment.”

Janet Caldwell: Psychologist-masters level #627; 23 years

“I have led many parenting and parent support groups and have, in the past, spent hours formulating plans. This program is an amazing resource as it is well thought out, complete, easy for parents to understand, engaging and entertaining to watch. We have used it three times already this year and will continue to offer it as often as possible. In fact, we have a waiting list of parents who want to participate.”