The purpose of this research study was to understand the perceptions that parents of middle school aged students have on career and technical education programs and determine if there is an effective intervention strategy that can be utilized to impact those parents with negative perceptions. Given the large shortage of skilled labor in the United States, it is important for all parents, students, and educators to understand the need that the CTE programs can fill by training students and adults to be skilled trades people. This was accomplished through a qualitative intervention study. This qualitative intervention research study was designed to collect data utilizing focus groups. Parents of middle-school aged children, incoming CTE students, and tenth grade CTE students were recruited for this study. Utilizing school district superintendents, the researcher asked superintendents willing to participate with assisting in sending out a recruitment message via their school district notification system to middle school parents only. Those that participated were administered a survey to collect data on perceptions associated with the CTE programs. The survey data was utilized to identify whether the participant views CTE programs positively or negatively. This study only focused on the negative perceptions. Those that had a negative view of CTE were randomly assigned a focus v group. The researcher divided the focus groups into two categories: intervention and non-intervention. The participants assigned to the intervention focus group will be asked to view a video made by the researcher prior to the focus groups. This video contained information about employment data, local salary information, student debt, and available post-secondary opportunities through enrollment at a CTE program. The focus group data was then to be collected using direct statements and comments made by the participants towards CTE programs before and after the intervention. The researcher examined the results to determine if there are any observable attitudinal differences between the intervention groups and the non-intervention groups. Based on the outcome of the study, the researcher made recommendations on how the problem statement could be better addressed in changing negative perceptions of parents, students, and educators. The goal of this study was for the researcher to take the information gained from the focus groups and develop effective strategies to reverse negative perceptions towards CTE programs and potentially increase enrollment in CTE which in turn may help fill the skilled labor shortage gap. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]