By Sonia Khosla

Johnson County Mental Health Center is launching a program called PASTA (Parenting A Second Time Around) designed for grandparents, relatives or caregivers who are re-entering the parenting role.

Created by Cornell University, PASTA is an eight-week, curriculum-based program that offers practical guidance and support on child development, discipline techniques, self-care for caregivers, rebuilding family dynamics, legal issues and more.

PASTA is more than just a class. It fosters a supportive community where participants can connect with others facing similar challenges. This allows them to share experiences, gain resources from those shared experiences, and receive emotional support and a sense of belonging that extends beyond the curriculum.

The program’s inspiration came from Leo Lankford III. Johnson County Mental Health Center’s community prevention coordinator.

A grandparent himself, Lankford wondered what it would be like to do it all over again and if he would have the support, patience and tools to cope and carve out time for self-care. Recognizing the need for a structured support system and noticing that there was a lack of them in the community, he spent more than 10 hours learning about different programs in the community. This led him to picking the award-winning curriculum of PASTA.

Many grandparents today face challenges due to their grandchildren’s struggles with substance use and mental health. PASTA acknowledges these issues and supports grandparents and other caregivers by providing a system that validates their experiences, offers practical guidance and helps them find resources.

This holistic approach can reduce the isolation often felt by those parenting for a second time.

PASTA is currently in development, seeking participants to form future groups. Informational meetings are planned for this summer.

If you’re interested in joining a PASTA group or learning more, contact Lankford at 913-715-7852.

Sonia Khosla is a communications coordinator at Johnson County Mental Health Center.