Reviews & Testimonials

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Project Unity — Parent Success Stories

Parents Gaining Stability
Several parents reported major life improvements after completing Parenting Wisely. One parent secured steady employment and connected with a financial-planning course, eventually saving enough to purchase a car, making it possible to get to work reliably. Another parent began volunteering in the parenting classes, teaching other families how to create and sell simple arts and crafts to generate income.

“Parenting Wisely Changed Our Whole Family”
Client R. and her family attended Parenting Wisely classes for several weeks and described the experience as “life-changing.” Before the program, the family struggled with communication, frequent arguments, and challenges with their teenage sons. Their oldest son tended to isolate himself and fight with siblings, while the second-oldest had been sent to an alternative school for behavior issues.

After completing the classes, the family saw dramatic improvements.
The mother shared: “After taking Parenting Wisely, I understand more that our children are our responsibility and that this is only the beginning of a fresh start. Our family is truly blessed to have known Project Unity.”

Her husband began spending more time at home, holding family meetings, and building a strong relationship with their oldest son - something they had never experienced before. The son responded by becoming more engaged with his siblings and helping around the house.

Their second-oldest child returned to his regular school, started managing his behavior more responsibly, and now helps out with chores and even assists the Family Support Facilitator during Parenting Wisely classes. He continues counseling and is working hard to build healthier habits.

Helping Families Experiencing Homelessness
One parent entered the Parenting Wisely program while homeless and unemployed, with her children living in different temporary locations. Throughout the program, she worked closely with a Family Support Facilitator, who helped her secure housing and employment.

Her family is now reunited under one roof, and she remains an active, encouraging presence in the parenting classes. Her adult son also joined the program to support her and his younger siblings - and he, too, found a job soon after connecting with the program.

The family credits Parenting Wisely with helping them rebuild stability, confidence, and a stronger support system.

Stanley Street Treatment and Resources (SSTAR)
Fall River, Massachusetts

Parents consistently found Parenting Wisely simple to use and accessible, even for those with limited literacy or no prior experience with computers. The option to have the program read aloud made it fully usable for individuals with low reading levels, and many families remarked that the scenarios felt strikingly familiar to their own home situations. The skills presented in the program were clear, practical, and easy to apply, and parents frequently commented that the content felt realistic, relatable, and even humorous at times.

Within the agency, Parenting Wisely became a strong complement to existing family services. Staff often introduced it to parents while they waited for counseling or other supports, giving families a meaningful place to start. Because parents could complete the program privately, they were able to explore challenging topics without feeling judged or singled out. The included workbook helped reinforce the concepts and supported different learning styles, giving families a resource they could revisit long after the sessions were complete.

Bob Pushak - Mental Health Practitioner, British Columbia

Pushak reported significant improvements after integrating Parenting Wisely into both individual and group-based services. In his program for children ages 6–12, 14% of participants showed more than three standard deviations of improvement on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory - a level of change he described as unprecedented in his practice, especially given that none of the children had medication added or adjusted during treatment.

He has used Parenting Wisely with more than 100 families and has consistently observed strong, measurable improvements. Among children ages 4–12 who participated in parenting classes, 69% showed clinically meaningful change of at least one standard deviation on the ECBI. For older youth ages 12–17, 40–50% demonstrated similar levels of improvement. Parent feedback was overwhelmingly positive as well: 93% of families completing the group program reported they would recommend or strongly recommend the program to others.

These results highlight the effectiveness of Parenting Wisely across a diverse range of ages and settings, particularly when delivered in a supportive group environment.

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Kay Doughty, M.A. - Family Centered Substance Abuse Services (DACCO)
​Tampa, Florida

Doughty shared that Parenting Wisely became an essential part of her family-centered substance abuse services for women in treatment and recovery. She initially encountered resistance from families, many of whom had experienced significant instability, trauma, and involvement with foster care. Over time, however, the program became a valued resource—so much so that about a third of participating families chose to complete the material more than once because they found it helpful and engaging.

The Teen and Children's versions of the program were used with approximately 40 families, many of whom were coping with anger, strained parent–child relationships, and distrust rooted in past separations. The computer-based format made participation easier for youth who were reluctant to open up in traditional conversation, and both children and parents responded positively to the program’s structure and content. Families frequently requested additional workbooks, and counselors reported no issues with cultural relevance or the video examples despite serving a predominantly minority population.

This experience underscored the importance of pairing substance abuse treatment with practical, family-focused interventions that strengthen relationships and rebuild communication.

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Pat McGowan - Cascade County Regional Youth Detention Center
​Great Falls, Montana

McGowan expressed strong enthusiasm for Parenting Wisely, noting that it consistently produced meaningful improvements for high-risk youth, including those struggling with substance use. Drawing on extensive experience with challenging populations, she found that the program sparked positive changes more quickly than other approaches she had used. The practical skills, relatable scenarios, and structured format made it especially effective in helping youth and families shift behaviors and improve communication.

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California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare