The Youth Services Division of Douglas County Criminal Justice Services is offering The Parent Project, a 10-week program that gives parents, grandparents and caregivers tools to guide their strong-willed teens (ages 10 and older) and build healthy families. 

Classes are held every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., starting Sept. 15 and ending Nov. 17, at 1006 New Hampshire Street in Lawrence.

The program is open to Douglas County residents, and there is no cost.

The Parent Project is designed to tackle the hardest challenges facing youth: drugs, youth violence, depression and social media. It is uniquely equipped to tackle the problems and obstacles that parents face today such as social media addiction, ADHD, bullying and sexual predators. 

Participants will learn how to:

• Prevent or intervene in alcohol and drug use
• Improve school attendance and performance
• Establish expectations in the home and what to do if the child breaks those expectations
• Develop action plans to address a child's destructive behavior