| This program is available to residents of Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Pine, Isanti, and Chisago counties in Minnesota only. It is funded through the Region 7E Adult Mental Health Initiative and offered at no cost to participants. |
Free Parenting Classes for Minnesota Families
Parenting is one of the most important and most challenging things you will ever do, especially when you are also managing your own mental health. The Evidence-Based Parenting Program is a free, 15-session group series designed specifically for parents and caregivers who want to be the parents they are capable of being.
Built on DBT and trauma-informed principles, the same evidence-based framework behind Plum's clinical programs, this course teaches practical parenting and emotion regulation skills that you can use immediately at home.
What You Will Learn
The program is organized into three modules, each building on the last:
| Module 1 Sessions 1–5 Understanding Yourself as a Parent | Module 2 Sessions 6–10 Managing Emotions & Responding to Your Child | Module 3 Sessions 11–15 Building the Relationship & Sustaining Change |
Across all three modules, you will develop skills in
Program Details
| Format | Weekly group sessions — online via Microsoft Teams or in person in the Hinckley, MN area |
| Length | 15 sessions, 2 hours each |
| Schedule | Online: Mondays, evening (time TBD) | In person: Fridays, 5:00–7:00 PM (pending facility confirmation) |
| Cost | Free — fully funded through the Region 7E Adult Mental Health Initiative |
| Group size | 8–12 participants per cohort |
| Who can join | Parents and caregivers with a mental health history residing in Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Pine, Isanti, or Chisago County, MN |
| Next start date | Week of April 13, 2026 |
Is This Program Right for You?
This program may be a good fit if:
- Understanding why your child behaves the way they do — and what they actually need from you
- Regulating your own emotions so you can respond instead of react
- Using effective, respectful discipline that actually works
- Communicating with your children in ways that build trust and connection
- Breaking patterns from your own upbringing and making conscious parenting choices
- Building a support network so you do not have to parent alone
- You are a parent or caregiver of children ages 0–17
- You live in Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Pine, Isanti, or Chisago County, MN
- You have a current or past mental health diagnosis or history
- You want to improve your relationship with your children
- You are looking for practical skills, not just conversation
- You are open to learning alongside other parents in a group setting
You do not need a referral to apply. County referrals are also welcome.
| Funded by the Region 7E Adult Mental Health Initiative. Plum Behavioral Health Services LLC is an independent contractor providing this program with the help of Region 7E AMHI. This is a community education program, not individual therapy. |