Triple Parenting – Suzanna M. Rose, Ph.D.

Triple P: Positive Parenting Program

FIU Group Lifestyle Triple P, funded by The Children’s Trust since 2011, is an adaption of the Triple P System (Positive Parenting Program). This system utilizes a multilevel parenting intervention to increase the knowledge, skills, and confidence of parents in order to reduce the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in children with a focus on obesity prevention. The aim of FIU Triple P is to assist parents to develop effective strategies for managing their child’s weight while introducing gradual permanent changes in the family’s lifestyle. The principles of positive parenting include:

A safe and engaging environment
Positive learning environment
Assertive discipline
Realistic expectation
Parental self-care

FIU Triple P staff guide parents in the use of these behaviors to provide a safe and supervised environment that provides opportunities for the child to explore, play, and learn, as well as how to respond to children in a positive and constructive manner. They also help parents to set realistic goals for the child’s age and level of development in regards to obesity prevention. Teaching parents practical skills serves to promote their well-being and self-care.

Participation in FIU Triple P is limited to pre-established sites approved by The Children’s Trust.

History and Effectiveness

The program was created by Matthew R. Sanders and colleagues at the University of Queensland in Australia. Over the past 30 years, there is substantial empirical evidence that the program is effective at improving child behavior, parenting practices, parental competence, family functioning, and parental adjustment in a wide range of cultures and countries. For more information about Triple P, go to: http://www.triplep-america.com/.

Faculty and Staff

Dr. Suzanna Rose – Principal Investigator

Dr. Rose and her team established the Triple P Program in 2011. The program is funded by The Children’s Trust until 2024. Rose is a Developmental Psychologist withexperience in earlychildhood development. Learn more about Dr. Rose at: http://www.fiu.edu/~srose. You can contact Dr. Rose at srose@fiu.edu

Ms. Debbie Rudnicki, M.A. – Triple P Project Director

Ms. Rudnicki has over thirty years of experience in early childhood education and is certified by the Parents-as-Teachers National Center. She provides home visitations and group meetings for participating families, ensures delivery of services, provides direct supervision of the PAT model, and collaborates with local agencies and national programs. You can contact Ms. Rudnicki at rudnicki@fiu.edu.

Sabina Garcia, M.S. –Triple P Specialist

Ms. Garcia is a marriage and family therapist with a background in early childhood education. She has many years of experience facilitating trainings in the areas of early childhood, nutrition, and parenting. Her favorite course toteach is the Triple Pparenting program because she loves to see the family thrive at the end of the program. You can contact Ms.Garcia at sabgarci@fiu.edu.

Annette Gonzalez –Triple P Specialist

Annette Gonzalez works for Florida International University as a Triple P Lifestyles Program Specialist that focuses on teaching parents strategies to manage difficult behaviors in children and strategies to modify nutrition. She has been facilitating health and wellness programs since 2015 where she worked with the Early Learning Coalition on two programs called CATCH and LET’S MOVE. She has Master’s in Global Communication Strategies and a certification in Conflict Resolution. She enjoys working with families to help promote poitive and healthy relationships. You can contact Anntte at annegonz@fiu.edu.