CECW Information Sheet #36E. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work.
“Beyond the Basics” is a 10-session group program on effective parenting skills. It is designed for parents and caregivers of children up to age 6, who are required or recommended by the child welfare system to attend parenting education classes. The “Beyond the Basics” Parenting Group was developed by Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre in Scarborough, Ontario.
In 2003 and 2004, a group of social service agencies, led by the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, collaboratively offered the program at community sites across Toronto. With the assistance of the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare, the agencies developed and conducted an evaluation of the program’s effectiveness and the parents’ satisfaction with it.