PARENTING ADOLESCENTS: A VIDEOTAPE FOR FAMILIES

OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO CREATE A VIDEOTAPE SERIES WHICH TRAINS PARENTS TO BETTE HANDLE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ADOLESCENT CHILDREN. THE VIEDEOTAPES ALSO WILL ENHANCE THE COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS OF BOTH PARENTS AND ADOLESCENTS. IT WILL BE DESIGNED TO BE USED BOTH INDEPENDENTLY BY FAMILIES OR AS A PART OF PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED IN SOCIAL SERVICES AND THERAPEUTIC SETTINGS. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL WE WILL CLOSELY FOLLOW THE METHOD CREATED AND TESTED IN PHASE I: THAT IS ENACTNG DRAMATIZED SCENES IN WAYS THAT ILLUSTRATE BOTH POOR AND THEN IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PARENT AND CHILD. DURING PHASE I WE WILL CREATE A VIDEOTAPE USING THIS METHOD AND TEST IT ON A GROUP OF PARENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TEENAGE CHILDREN. THE TEST RESULTS HOPE TO SHOW THAT OUR TAPE DID ENHANCE PARENTING SKILLS. DURING PHASE II, WE WILL EXPAND ON OUR WORK IN PHASE I BY CREATING THREE VIDEOTAPES: ONE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS DEPRESSION; ONE ON ACTING OUT BEHAVIORS, SUCH AS SEXUAL PROMISCUITY; AND A THIRD ON FAMILY ISSUES, SUCH AS DIVORCE. THE DRAMATIZED SCENES IN PHASE II WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY EXPERT COMMENTARY AND DOCUMENTARY-STYLE PRODUCTION THAT ILLSTRATES THE IMPACT OF THESE PROBLEMS IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT.