THUNDER BAY, ON ---  November 6, 2009  -----  Representatives from over 10 health/social service agencies in the District of Thunder Bay launched the Triple P Positive Parenting Program at a news conference held this morning at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. A new initiative to this area, Triple P focuses on improving the confidence, knowledge and skills of parents.
The Triple P Positive Parenting Program is an innovative, world-renowned program designed to help parents raise healthy, confident children who have the skills to succeed in life and build positive relationships with others. The program promotes a positive and practical approach to raising children, providing straight-forward, step-by-step approaches.

“The great thing about this program is that it has something to offer all parents and families in our communities,” said Wilma Kleynendorst, Infant/Child Development Manager at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care and Chair of the Triple P Advisory Committee for the Thunder Bay District. “It recognizes that each family is unique and has different needs—and so it offers different types and intensities of help, as well as different tools and resources.”
Spearheading this new initiative is an advisory committee comprised of representatives from several agencies in the Thunder Bay District including: 
- Dilico Anishinabek Family Care
- Thunder Bay District Health Unit
- North of Superior Counselling Programs
- Best Start Hubs
- NorWest Community Health Centres
- George Jeffrey Children’s Centre
- The Municipality of Greenstone
- Children’s Centre Thunder Bay
- Communities Together For Children
- The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay
- Brass Bell Family Resource Centre
- Our Kids Count
Over the past three (3) years this committee has developed into a dynamic group of community partners who have built a strong foundation for Triple P in the City and District. To date, this committee has coordinated the training and certification of over 90 professionals in the Thunder Bay District. These individuals—known as Triple P Practitioners—are already employed in the region (generally at agencies represented on the advisory committee).
“Parenting can be rewarding but challenging,” said Kleynendorst. “It is important that when a parent is looking for help, he or she is able to easily access timely, reliable and coordinated support—it is the goal of the Advisory Committee to ensure this happens.”

Also at hand at this morning’s launch, was, Australia-based Dr. Alan Ralph, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology (Adjunct) and Honorary Research Fellow at the Parenting and Family Support Centre at the University of Queensland. As the Head of Training for Triple P International he was in Thunder Bay this week conducting sessions for the Triple P Practitioners.

“We know that many families around the world have benefited from the services provided by the Triple P program,” added Dr. Alan Ralph. “There is considerable evidence that Triple P principles work across many cultural and socio economic groups, including indigenous communities in Australia. The principles remain the same, but the examples are changed to reflect the unique culture of the community.”

Triple P is designed to provide varying levels of support to parents who have different needs. It is based on a flexible system of five levels, from the universal support level (general information for all parents) to mid-range levels (tip sheets, parenting advice and seminars) to more intensive levels for parents experiencing significant challenges with their children.

“Triple P focuses on helping parents make small changes in routines and behaviours, which will ultimately lead to big differences that positively affect the entire family,” added Ralph. “Our trained practitioners work with families to determine what type of help they need in order to strengthen their parenting skills and confidence.”

At the news conference today, all parents and caregivers were invited to attend a Triple P Seminar Series that provides tips on how to deal with common, everyday issues. A number of these seminars will be running at several different agencies through-out the Thunder Bay District. Parents can visit a new microsite, www.triple-p.ca ,to find a calendar with information about upcoming Triple P seminar series in their community. Alternately, parents can contact their local Best Start Hub.

Triple P is founded on more than 25 years of clinical research and clinical evaluation lead by Dr. Matthew Sanders and colleagues from The University of Queensland’s Parenting and Family Support Centre. The goals of the program are to strengthen relationships between parents and their children and to prevent behavioural, emotional and developmental problems in children by building the knowledge, skills and confidence of parents.
The Core Principles of Triple P are: 1) Ensuring a safe and engaging environment; 2) Arranging a positive learning environment; 3) Using assertive discipline; 4) Having realistic explanations; 5)Taking care of oneself as a parent.