By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER –

Parents looking for new strategies to connect with their children and strengthen their parenting skills will have a chance to do so for free during an upcoming multi-week course.

Beginning with a 6:30 p.m. session on Thursday, Jan. 28, Shelby County Regional Juvenile Detention Facility Assistant Director Vicki Joiner will host an eight-week positive parenting class in Alabaster.

The classes will be held each week at the Alabaster City School System’s alternative school building, which is at 632 11^th Ave. S.W. near the new Alabaster City Hall and ACS Central Office.

The lessons are sponsored by the Alabaster City Schools Community Education program. While some parents are required by the court to attend the classes, the sessions are open to everyone free of charge.

“This is for parents who have been court-ordered and parents who have not been court-ordered. It’s really open to anyone who needs help,” said Family Connection Drug Free Coalition Coordinator Jan Corbett, who helps with publicizing the lessons. “(Joiner) gives a lot of practical solutions to parenting problems, and really makes it fun for the parents.”

According to the class description, the sessions will tackle many issues parents face on a regular basis, and will do so with “compassion and humor.”

“This is not something that people go to just to sit and be bored. She makes sure they have fun and are engaged the whole time,” Corbett said.

There is no cost to attend the classes, but Joiner encourages parents to attend all eight sessions, and to pre-enroll before the first session in late January.

Those looking to participate in the eight-week classes are encouraged to call 441-1398 to enroll. Enrollment paperwork will be completed during the first class, Corbett said.

“I really recommend that all parents go through this class,” Corbett said. “She has a good way of offering different solutions to a range of parenting scenarios.”