Countries within the Global Partnership to Stop Violence Against Children, of which Montenegro will soon become a member, share experiences in that area, said director Suzan Bissell, explaining that parents can choose a model that suits their needs.
She stated that, within the framework of the Global Partnership, they help countries to share common common experiences and challenges.
"Nevertheless, we are not literally transferring the programs, we are not asking a country to do the same thing that another did, but to look at the principles of the program and see what is relevant for adoption in their country," said Bissel in an interview with the MINA agency.
She assessed that an impressive job was done in Montenegro in the previous three years in the prevention of institutionalization of children with some kind of developmental disabilities.
"They should stay in families, and social workers should help them in how to work with these children and raise them in a way," Bissel said.
She said that some studies have shown that parents of children with developmental disabilities sometimes do not know what to do, or are frustrated.
"These are all situations where training and some interventions can help parents raise their children in the right way," she said.
Bissell explained that positive parenting also means excluding corporal punishment in schools, which still exists in some states.
As she said, there are many models from other countries that can be transferred to countries like Montenegro - trainings in small groups where parents and guardians come together, visits to homes where social workers or nurses work with young parents and online trainings for parents.
"What is very important is that parents can choose a model that suits their needs," added Bissell.
She pointed out that the fast-paced lifestyle has led to parents often coming home frustrated after a stressful day.
"I think we can all identify with that frustration. Drink your coffee, take a deep breath and then move on," said Bissell, explaining that she was taught this as part of positive parenting training.
As she said, positive parenting means parenting without violence in any sense.
"You shouldn't get angry with the child right away, you try to dissuade him if he does something wrong, you should talk to him and explain to him what it is about," added Bissel.
Speaking about whether a child adopts a parent's behavior pattern, Bissell said that there is a connection, but that it does not necessarily mean that every child who was raised in violence will become a bully as an adult.
"With adequate support, today's parents who were exposed to violence as children can treat their children differently and better," Bisel concluded.
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