Palmerton Area School District could be the latest host site for an outreach and prevention program targeting at-risk preteens and their parents.

Jill Geissinger, Carbon County Director of Children and Youth Services, pitched the Strengthening Families Program to Palmerton directors Tuesday night during the board’s monthly workshop.

Children, she said, engage in age-appropriate activities, such as discussions on handling peer pressure and bullying, while mom and dad learn effective parenting strategies.

“This program really stresses the importance of setting limits as parents and fostering communication within families to navigate the challenges preteens often face,” Geissinger said.

Geissinger shared her personal experience participating in the program with her own family, expressing the positive impact it had on their dynamics.

“My daughter had a great time and said she loved going,” she said. “We all make a vow at the end of the program. We’re going to do a family game night and have a family meeting the first of the month. And we’ll commit to that.”

Geissinger also discussed the collaborative efforts with the PROSPER team, funded by the Penn State Extension, and the potential benefits for the Palmerton community.

The program, which requires a commitment of seven weeks, has historically been hosted in nearby districts such as Panther Valley and Jim Thorpe, with Palmerton being proposed as the next host.

“The ideal setting would involve two separate rooms - one for parents and one for children - allowing for tailored activities and discussions,” she said. “With parents, we talk about the things they go through with preteens such as coming home late for curfew or arguments about dressing inappropriately. How do you start that conversation with preteens before it gets to the point where they’re just rebellious and out of control.”

The goal, Geissinger said, would be to get seven to ten families signed up for the program.

Her proposal received favorable feedback from Palmerton’s board, with Superintendent Dr. Jodi Frankelli recognizing the program’s alignment with the district’s goals, especially in promoting parent engagement.

“It really fits one of our needs here,” Frankelli said.

The only commitment sought from the board, Geissinger said, was the provision of facilities and support for the sessions.

If approved, the program is expected to start around April, aiming to avoid scheduling conflicts with a majority of sports and other activities.