Parents: The Essential Piece

Parents Anonymous of New Jersey Parent Leaders welcomed 210 participants to the 2006 Annual Conference on November 3. The keynote address featured community members, agency representatives, clergy, state partners and parents as they joined in completing a puzzle showing how it takes all of us working together to keep families strong. Parents were the essential piece of the puzzle demonstrating the shared leadership of the Parents Anonymous program where parents and professionals work as equal partners.

Every year, Parents Anonymous of New Jersey recognizes two people who best exemplify the principle of Parents Anonymous. One, the Torch of Friendship, is given to a professional and the other, the Jolly K. Award, is presented to a parent leader of a Parents Anonymous support group.

The 2007 Torch of Friendship was awarded to Department of Children and Families Commissioner Kevin Ryan in recognition of a long and distinguished career on behalf of New Jersey families. The 2007 Jolly K. Award recipient is Walter G., parent leader of the Parents Anonymous parent support group at the Camden County Family Support Organization. Walter is the father of three teens and a strong advocate for families with children with behavioral challenges.

Eight workshops gave participants a choice of topics varying from raising teens and street gang awareness to self-care. For the first time, the Conference featured two workshops dedicated to the special interest of professionals working with families. We were very pleased to welcome Dr. Sandra Williams, Vice-President of Programming for Parents Anonymous®, Inc., the national organization who took part in a panel discussion on shared leadership.

The day ended with lunch and the inspiration to go home to do our best for our own children and children and families statewide. We invite you to join us next year on November 2 and hear how Parents Anonymous offers parents help in the present and hope for the future.