Completing the fifteen week certification course equips parents to utilize contemporary discipline techniques, cultivate healthier relationships , become a superior advocate, communicate effectively, accept the unique characteristics of their children, and raise confident children.

 

CICC's Effective Black Parenting Program (EBPP) is the country's first culturally-adapted parenting skill-building program for parents of African American children. Its initial development in the 1970's was stimulated by the fact that none of the then-existing parenting skill-building programs were designed specifically for African Americans. The programs failed to address issues that were particular to African Americans (such as the impact of slavery on African American child rearing and the need to convey positive messages about cultural heritage) nor did they honor traditions in African American family life.

 

In 1976 CICC was successful in convincing the Minority Mental Health Center in the National Institute of Mental Health to underwrite a research project that ultimately led to the creation of a culturally relevant parenting module for the African-American parent/caregiver, Effective Black Parenting.

 

The program is based on an achievement strategy for raising African American children which links the life goals that parents have for their children with the characteristics the children need to develop in order to achieve the life goals, and what parents have to do to help this happen (The Pyramid of Success for Black Children). The program explores the relationship of slavery to the use of harsh discipline methods and the contemporary need to move to methods that are more likely to instill self-discipline in children (Traditional Black Discipline vs. Modern Black Self-Discipline), and several units that helps parents convey positive messages about African American culture and history and avoid ethnic self-disparagement (Pride in Blackness).

 

The Ambassadors for Change (EBPP) is facilitated at the culturally rich BRANCH House in Palm Desert, California. EBPP is offered in fifteen (15) week intervals, three (3) hours per session.  The program seeks to alleviate any barriers that my impact a parent’s desire to attend by providing transportation assistance, childcare and a family style meal at each session. The classes are taught by highly skilled instructors who are knowledgeable about  African-American culture, history and traditions and who seek to empower participants to be more confident parents.

 

The program has been successful in making participants feel welcome and inclusive, creating an environment that stimulates open communication, cultural empowerment and opportunities to identify real solutions for themselves and their families.

 

EBPP is designed to work in conjunction with the Africentric Rites of Passage Program as it teaches many of the same discipleship techniques, therefore increasing the youth’s opportunity for success.  Consequently, ROP parents are required to complete the fifteen week course.