Juggling It All: Services

Parent Educator

Joyce Marie Brusasco teaches a variety of Parent Education Classes.

Parent Effectiveness Training (PET) by Gordon Training International -Joyce Marie is a certified instructor for the 8-week parenting course, based on the parenting philosophy of Dr. Thomas Gordon.

Open to the public: specific sessions focus on Thomas Gordon’s behavior window, learning helping skills, active listening, confronting unacceptable behavior, applying “I-messages”, resolving conflicts, applying win-win techniques and recognizing values collisions. No session scheduled at this time, check back.

Active Parenting for Teens by Michael Popkin. Certified to teach the video based educational program geared towards parents of teens.

Open to the public: specific session focus on the: teens & technology (the Internet, social networking sites, etc.), the latest in teen drug use prevention (including prescription drugs), teen bullying: how to spot it, how to handle it, special stepfamily considerations, how brain development affects teen behavior and decision-making, improved discipline and communication and updated teen sexuality issues.

University Professor

Part-Time Faculty

California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA – Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Adolescents in the Family Context, FCS 438: 15 week upper division course.

An overview of adolescent development, applied family theories, risks, bullying, identity, sexuality and transitions within the family. Custom text on adolescent development by Feldman and peer reviewed journal articles on topics. Classes available to matriculated students only.

Parental Development, FCS 436: 15-week upper division course.

An overview of Parent Education with focus on family theories, parenting curriculums, parent’s role as a facilitator, parenting styles and appropriate parent and child interactions. Classes available to matriculated students only.

Child Growth and Development I, FCS 330; 15-week general education course.

This class is an overview of child development from conception to adolescence, child observational skills and child development theories. Classes available to matriculated students only.

Adjunct Faculty

Los Angeles Mission College, Sylmar, CA – Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Marriage and Family Life, FCS 31: 12 week course

An overview of the family as a social institution, historical changes in family structure and the function family relationships have on the development of the individual. An overview of gender roles, religious attitudes, mixed marriages, communication skills, conflict management, financial and family planning, parenting, contraceptives and sexually transmitted diseases.

Life Management FCS 91: 12 week course or Life Management FCS 91: 4 week course

Life Management covers techniques for improving self-understanding, interpersonal relationships that reflect decision-making, an overview of personal and work related topics, including values and ethics, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, time management, stress management and money management.

LA Mission classes are available to the public with registration through LA Mission College - availability from semester to semester

Researcher

Joyce Marie can help with interpreting research survey data.

Currently, she is working with Nobel Middle School, Northridge, CA, on evaluating school success based on Joyce Epstein’s Six Types of Parent Involvement: Parenting – Helping all families establish home environments to support children as students. Communication – Design effective forms of school-to-home and home-to-school communications about school programs and children’s progress. Volunteering – Recruit and organize parent help and support. Learning at home – provide information to families about how to help students at home with homework and other curriculum-related activities, decisions and planning. Decision making – include parents in school decisions to develop leaders and representatives. Collaborating with the community – Identify and integrate resources and services from the community to strengthen school programs, family practices and student learning and development.

Guest Speaker

Joyce Marie can put together workshops on basic parent education skills, communication skills, time management skills, relationship skills and a variety of other topics.

Presenter – How to Raise Emotionally Healthy Children, by Dr. Newmark (November 2010 & March, 2011)

Parent Involvement Committee Parent Workshops - Nobel Middle School, Northridge, CA

Conducted a workshop on the 5 needs of children, based on the book by Dr. Newmark

Presenter – Parent Involvement on a Local Level (February, 2010)

18th Annual Conference on Parent Education, Denton, TX - Hosted by the University of North Texas

Presented research findings from a parent survey produced by the Parent Involvement Committee at Nobel Middle School

Presenter – Parental Involvement (May, 2009)

Nobel Middle School, Northridge, CA

Presented research and survey data to Nobel Middle School faculty. Surveys based on Joyce Epstein’s Six Keys of Parental Involvement.

Presenter – A Discourse with Parenting Experts (February, 2008)

16th Annual Conference on Parent Education, Denton, TX - Hosted by the University of North Texas

Presented own research findings from masters thesis on the effectiveness of Parent Education

Facilitator – Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center (September, 2007)

4th Annual Family & Educator Conference, California State University, Northridge, CA

Facilitated a table of educators - Ivor Weiner, PhD., Professor & Director

Guest Lecturer – Marriage and Family Relations (May, 2007)