THE CHALLENGE OF MODERN PARENTING
In today’s world of rapidly advancing technology, media influence, and social pressure to perform, growing up has become increasingly challenging. Adolescents face an unprecedented mental health crisis, and recent data shows that parents are suffering too.
A survey from Harvard’s “Make Caring Common Project” revealed that caregivers report similar rates of anxiety and depression as their teenage children. Many teens have even expressed concern over the mental health of at least one of their guardians. This issue is particularly relevant in San Francisco, a city significantly affected by the pandemic’s aftermath.
THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
Research indicates that parents feel more isolated than ever before. Increased work demands, often conducted online, combined with the complex challenges of raising adolescents, have created a need for greater support and authentic connection among parents.
MILLENNIUM’S SOLUTION
To address this need, Millennium has developed a peer-to-peer coaching program that elevates parent education to a new level. “Parent Forums” are small cohorts of eight parents from different families within the same school. These groups meet either in person or online for 90 minutes each month.
Certified facilitators share the same developmental practices being taught in Student Forums and guide the group’s exploration of real-life parenting challenges.
Monthly Themes
Forums explore new themes each month to strengthen the internal capacities of adults, helping them become better parents and individuals:
- Managing Anxiety
- Setting Healthy Boundaries
- Increasing Self-Awareness
- How to Listen to Teens
- Modeling Emotional Regulation
- Navigating Conflict at Home
- Shifting from Advice to Inquiry
- Empowering Student Agency
- Practicing Self-Compassion
Joining a Parent Forum means having a dedicated space to explore topics that are emerging in your life in service of showing up with more presence for your child.
How Does It Work?
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Parent Forums launch at the beginning of each school year and run monthly from October through May.
FLEXIBLE MEETING OPTIONS
Parents can choose from a range of meeting days and 90-minute time slots, including:
- During the workday
- After school
- In the evenings
MEETING FORMAT
While in-person meetings are encouraged when possible, most Forums opt to meet online using Circl.es, a proprietary virtual platform.
COST
Participation in the Parent Forum program is included as part of the Millennium School community at no additional cost.
REGRISTRATION PROCESS
Parents can register for the 2024-25 Parent Forum through an online Registration Form. The form allows parents to select the most convenient days and times for their participation. Contact Kate Moriarty for more information.
2024-25 Forum Session Dates
For this year’s Forum, sessions will be held on the following weeks:
- Week of Oct 14-18
- Week of Nov 11-15
- Week of Dec 9-13
- Week of Jan 13-17
- Week of Feb 10-14
- Week of Mar 17-21
- Week of April 21-25
- Week of May 19-23
Testimonials from Participating Caregivers
Participating parents & guardians have praised the program for its effectiveness in providing practical parenting insights, creating a safe space for exchange, and fostering a supportive community.
“I am SO grateful to be a part of a community that truly values connecting its parents so that we can become even more aligned and better equipped to parent our children together, thank you!”
“I learned more by listening to how others parent than from any parenting book I’ve ever read.”
“There’s something powerful about the safe, confidential exchange that makes the peer coaching approach uniquely effective.”
“I’ve felt very alone in navigating my child’s teenage years, the stress of academics, peers, preparing for college, social media… I couldn’t have survived without my Forum over the years.”
Please join us for the 2024-25 school year. For further details email Kate Moriarty with your inquiries.