Press Release  Norfolk Juvenile and Probate & Family Courts host Triple P graduation

Boston — The Norfolk County Juvenile and Norfolk County Probate & Family courts, which recently joined together to offer the Triple P Positive Parenting Program, celebrated its first graduation on Wednesday, November 20.  Six parents—two fathers and four mothers, ages 20 to 35 years old--graduated from the program and were presented with certificates of completion. 

From Left to right in the picture: Norfolk County Juvenile Chief Probation Officer Mark Prisco; Norfolk County Juvenile Probation Officer Tracey Clogher; Graduates: Krista, Justin, Ashley, Jessica, Mellissa; Norfolk County Probate & Family Chief Probation Officer Teresa Plante; First Justice Johnston. The front row is Chief Diversity Officer John Laing and Probation Officer McDonagh.

“The courts merged as one to host the Triple P Positive Parenting Program to parents that are facing some challenges in their lives. As both courts share a similar mission, to make families stronger and provide education and support in an effort to keep them intact, this merger makes perfect sense,” said Norfolk County Probate & Family Court Chief Probation Officer Teresa Plante, who together with Norfolk County Juvenile Probation Officer Tracey Clogher, lead the program.

The Triple P Parenting Program is an eight-week parenting intervention program certified by the World Health Organization. Parents in the group learn how to become better caregivers and to address the emotional and behavioral health needs of children, up to age 12.  The major emphasis is on positive parenting. Plante and Clogher, parents themselves, lead the group through a range of exercises to help them determine the root of a child’s behavior, set specific goals, use strategies to promote child development, and manage misbehavior. The program also involves four-two hour group sessions, three 15-30 minute telephone consultations to assist parents with independent problem solving at home.

Among those who addressed the graduates were Presiding Justice Joseph Johnston, Norfolk County Juvenile Court Chief Probation Officer Mark Prisco and Chief Diversity Officer John Laing. Each provided the graduates with inspirational messages of support and encouragement, according to Plante. Two of the graduates spoke to the group of their experience with the program and how they will use the tools moving forward to become a better parent, she said.

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