Quote of the Week
"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way" ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Good Luck, Abby!
Posted by:Jenn--Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Come join us at the next PSST meeting, to wish Abby success in whatever her future brings her - she is moving to Colorado!!
Our meeting will be on Saturday, April 16, at the usual location for that date (Sts Simon and Jude Church on Greentree Road).
Read More......
Posted by:Jenn -- Tuesday, April 12, 2016 0 comments-click to comment
Are You Making any of these Mistakes?
Posted by:Jenn--Tuesday, February 02, 2016
- Feeling that your child’s drug use is a teen rite of passage that they will grow out of.
- Continuing to worry constantly about things you can’t control and making yourself miserable.
- Feeling guilty for something you didn’t cause.
- Never praising or rewarding for what your child does right, because after all, he is using drugs.
- Not allowing your child to take responsibility for the consequences of their use.
- Waiting too long to get outside help, because you think you can handle it.
Posted by:Jenn -- Tuesday, February 02, 2016 0 comments-click to comment
It's Only Pot
Posted by:Jenn--Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Posted by:Jenn -- Tuesday, January 12, 2016 0 comments-click to comment
Kratom - the Trendy New High?
Posted by:Jenn--Thursday, January 07, 2016
Posted by:Jenn -- Thursday, January 07, 2016 0 comments-click to comment
Stop the Stinkin’ Thinkin’
Posted by:Jenn--Thursday, December 31, 2015
The author of the article suggests an approach to achieving Learned Optimism, "where you dispute and refuse to allow negative self-appraisals to influence your decisions and actions. You, instead, will come to expect positive outcomes."
Posted by:Jenn -- Thursday, December 31, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
Finding Inner Peace and Joy During the Holidays
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Posted by:Jenn -- Wednesday, December 16, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
NO Parkway East closure during the PSST 12th Anniversary / Holiday Celebration !!
Posted by:Jenn--Monday, November 23, 2015
Pittsburgh's Parkway East will now be OPEN during the weekend of Dec 4-6. The closure is now slated for the following weekend (to prepare for the Greenfield Bridge implosion).
It is likely that Penn DOT delayed the closure so that it would not interfere with our PSST annual holiday celebration at the Wilkinsburg location. Thank you, Penn DOT!
Read More......
Posted by:Jenn -- Monday, November 23, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
PSST 12th Anniversary / Holiday Celebration
Posted by:Jenn--Saturday, November 14, 2015
Posted by:Jenn -- Saturday, November 14, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
Opioid Overdose Myths
Posted by:Jenn--Thursday, November 12, 2015
- Let them sleep it off? Never!
- Put them in the shower or bath? No!
- Once they are breathing again, don't worry, they’ll be OK? No!
- Call 911
- Give rescue breathing
- Give Narcan/naloxone, if available
- Never leave the person – wait for help
Read More......
Posted by:Jenn -- Thursday, November 12, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
2015 Parent of the Year Speech
Posted by:Jenn--Saturday, October 31, 2015
Earlier this month, our own Allegheny County parents of the year were honored at the Juvenile Justice Week awards ceremony in Pittsburgh. It was heart-warming to see them accompanied by their son, as well as by several of their supportive family members.
Click on "Read more . . ." (below) to read their well-received speech and to see more photos from the event.
Posted by:Jenn -- Saturday, October 31, 2015 4 comments-click to comment
If you Want to Send a Note . . .
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Posted by:Jenn -- Wednesday, October 14, 2015 2 comments-click to comment
Lloyd is Retiring!
Posted by:Jenn--Monday, October 12, 2015
Posted by:Jenn -- Monday, October 12, 2015 1 comments-click to comment
PSST Parent of The Year Celebration
Posted by:Brigitte--Monday, October 05, 2015
At Saturday's PSST meeting, Steve and Tammy (their blog names) were celebrated as the 2015 Parents of the Year. They will receive their award on Thursday, October 8 at the Allegheny County Awards Ceremony. The event starts at 6 p.m, and is held at the Family Court House, located at 550 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh (the Old Allegheny County Jail).
Although divorced, these parents have formed a team who strive to assume a non-enabling approach to parenting. They have attended Parent Survival Skills training regularly to improve parenting skills. Both have progressed with increased communication skills, consistent limit setting, and relationship building.
Both have participated in role-playing designed to help increase skills. Both parents have helped other parents in PSST to improve their parenting skills. Additionally, they have worked and significantly improved their relationship with their son through therapy provided by Wesley Spectrum.
Five months ago Tammy and Steve were proud that their son, after completing both an intensive placement program and a halfway house program, was receiving clean drug tests, doing well in a part-time job, and getting excellent reports from High School. It appeared that their son had turned the corner. Then, Tammy became aware that their son was still participating in serious criminal activity. Working together they confiscated illegal material, took pictures of the evidence and reported him to the Probation Department.
Their son is now undergoing additional treatment at a new placement facility. Both parents continue to work closely with the Probation Department concerning discharge planning and continued relationship building. Both are anxious to have their son returned home and believe that this time he has really turned the corner; however, both also remain cautious that cutting his treatment short now might interfere with the hoped outcome.
From all the PSST parents and professionals, we congratulate Steve and Tammy on a job well done. Although they still have an arduous road to travel with their son, the skills and commitment they have developed at PSST will help them continue to support their son's efforts while remaining strong and unenabling. Read More......
Posted by:Brigitte -- Monday, October 05, 2015 1 comments-click to comment
"Parent of the Year" Celebration Meeting
Posted by:Brigitte--Monday, September 28, 2015
Please join us on Saturday, October 3rd at our Eastern Probation Office in Wilkinsburg from 9 - 11 a.m. as we announce this year's Allegheny County Parent of the Year.
We all know that each and every one of the parents who regularly attend PSST are real-life Parents of the Year, but only one family can be officially recognized at the annual awards ceremony. The Parent of the Year is selected for their acts of bravery in addressing their child's drug use and/or criminal behavior, demonstrating non-enabling parenting skills, and for being a role model to other parents.
At the PSST meeting, there will be cake, of course, and a very special guest speaker who will talk about his experience in the justice system and his life in recovery. We hope all PSST parents, old and new, will be able to attend.
The official award will be given at the Family Court House, located at 550 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh (the Old Allegheny County Jail) on Thursday, October 8. The event starts at 6 p.m. (try to get there at 5:30) and runs about 2 hours. Please come if you can and support our PSST Parent of the Year and to hear their personal story.
Read More......
Posted by:Brigitte -- Monday, September 28, 2015 0 comments-click to comment