By Khalida Sarwari
A Santa Clara County parenting program will host a graduation ceremony in San Jose tonight for 25 Spanish-speaking parents who have completed a curriculum aimed at preventing gang involvement and drug and alcohol abuse among their kids.
The Parent Project was introduced in early 2008 for the parents of strong-willed or out-of-control kids. More than 550 parents have graduated from the program since.
The 12-week, step-by-step program teaches parents methods for changing destructive behavior in their children and warding off gang involvement, violence, truancy, alcohol and drug abuse and other problems.
About 15 classes are offered countywide in English and Spanish, with a Vietnamese class in the planning stages.
The program is a collaborative effort led by the district attorney’s office, the city of San Jose and the mayor’s gang prevention task force, along with county law enforcement agencies, school districts, counseling agencies and community-based organizations.
San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Don Iglesias, Deputy District Attorney Julia Alloggiamento and representatives from the San Jose Police Department will attend tonight’s ceremony.
The event begins at 6 p.m. at the San Jose Unified School District office at 855 Lenzen Ave.