Troy, NY – February 10, 2014 – The Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) is seeking funding to expand its ACT (Adults and Children Together) Raising Safe Kids program to serve more parents in the Capital Region. ACT is a national initiative through the American Psychological Association. Through CEO’s ACT Raising Safe Kids program, trained facilitators use a research-based curriculum to teach parents safe and positive parenting skills which helps to prevent or reduce violent behaviors inside and outside the home.

CEO’s ACT Raising Safe Kids program is offered through CEO’s local Head Start centers to families utilizing the Head Start program, and also through the Rensselaer County Jail. The program is in the process of also partnering with Albany County’s Re-Entry Task Force to bring the program to Albany County. Raising Safe Kids has seen its biggest impact in the Rensselaer County Jail, with incarcerated parents responding very positively to the training they are receiving from CEO’s facilitators.

So far, the program has served 88 adults, with 75 of those adults being incarcerated parents.

“The ACT Raising Safe Kids program is one of the most highly attended programs at our facility,” says Kathleen Grady, Inmate Services Coordinator at the Rensselaer County Jail.  “There is always a waiting list for the next session. In addition to the classroom education provided to inmates, CEO’s staff reaches out to family members on the outside who may not be aware of the community supports available. This program continues to benefit the children when the incarcerated parent is back in their lives following discharge.”

Ryan S. (real name not provided), shares his thoughts on the program: “The parenting class here at RCJ was fun and educational. The teachers allowed us men to feel comfortable about opening up about parenting issues that aren’t normally talked about in a jail house environment.”