Linn County Empowerment: Participants' Assessment of the Effectiveness of a Community Based Parent Education Model, A Research Summary

Empirical evidence indicates that parents perceived significant growth and understanding in their parenting skills after attending Parenting Young Children (0-5) parenting education classes through the Parent Education Consortium (PEC) funded by Linn County Iowa Community Empowerment.

Project:
From January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2003 monies allocated to Linn County Community Empowerment funded 78 parenting education groups. The groups were coordinated and staffed by the Parent Education Consortium, a collaboration of approximately 20 agencies and organizations.

Subjects & Methodology:
Parent education programs were provided for 547 families and 770 adult participants with children 0-5 years of age. A demographic survey indicated that 23.2% of participants had only a high school diploma or GED education, 23.6% had some college, and 24.5% had at least a 4 year degree. Three hundred forty of 770 adults completed the Parent/Caregiver Survey, a post-pre retrospective evaluation tool based on the National Extension Parent Education Model (NEPEM). This survey was developed by the PEC using items identified by the NEPEM study group. The NEPEM categories of critical parenting practices include; Care for Self, Understand, Guide, Nurture, Motivate, and Advocate. Participants responded to a 25 item 3-point Likert scale instrument measuring perceived behavior in the critical practice areas upon completion of the 6 week course (Post) and in retrospect, how they would have responded prior to the class (Pre).

Core Model:
Parents attended a 6 session series of classes using a variety of curricula selected to address the NEPEM categories of critical parenting practices of Care for Self, Understand development, Guide, Nurture, Motivate to learn, Advocate. Each 3 hour session included parent group time, parent/child interaction, a family meal, and child care. Also, transportation was arranged for families if needed. Trained professionals facilitated each group.

Results:
Comparisons of pre and post data indicate statistically significant improvement in all of the critical parenting practice areas after completing the six-week parent education sessions. Statistical significance was determined by applying a t-test to the Post-Pre evaluation responses giving mean scores, standard deviation and a t-score where the alpha level was set at .01.

The six NEPEM areas of critical parenting practices are described below accompanied by the Linn County parent scores.

In the area of Care for Self parents showed significant growth in their ability to manage stress, ask for and accept support from others when needed, and recognize one's own personal and parenting strengths. The Linn County parents average change was +.44 points with a range of 2.11 before attending to 2.55 after attending and t-score of 22.22.

In the category of Understand , parents perceived significant growth in understanding child development, temperament and typical behaviors of children at various ages. The Linn County parents average change was +.57 points with a range of 2.09 before attending to 2.66 after attending and t-score of 20.29.

The ability to Guide includes modeling appropriate desired behavior, establish and maintain reasonable limits, provide children with developmentally appropriate opportunities to learn responsibility, and teach problem-solving skills. The Linn County parents average change was +.40 points with a range of 2.23 before attending to 2.63 after attending and t-score of 19.20.

In the category of Nurture parents achieved higher levels of ability to express affection and compassion, foster children's self-respect and hope, listen and attend to children's feelings and ideas. The Linn County parents average change was +.24 points with a range of 2.46 before attending to 2.71 after attending and t-score of 12.28.

Motivating children involves the ability of the parent to teach children about themselves, others, and the world around them, stimulate curiosity, imagination, and the search for knowledge, create beneficial learning conditions, and help children process and manage information. The Linn County parents average change was +.32 points with a range of 2.43 before attending to 2.75 after attending and t-score of 14.61.

In the Advocate category, parents showed increased ability to find, use, and create community resources when needed to benefit one's children and the community of children, Stimulate social change to create supportive environments for children and families, Build relationships with family, neighborhood, and community groups. The Linn County parents average change was +.26 points with a range of 1.76 before attending to 2.52 after attending and t-score of 12.55.

References:
"Linn County Empowerment: Participants Assessment of the Effectiveness of a Community-Based Parent Education Model based on the State of Iowa 's Goals”, doctoral dissertation, Roxann Dittmer, University of Iowa , December 2003.

National Extension Parent Education Model (NEPEM), http://www.cyfernet.org/parenting_practices/foundations.html ,

Contact:
Kristi Cooper, M.S.
Iowa State University Extension
3279 7 th Ave. Suite 140
Marion, Iowa 52302
Phone 319 377-9839
Email kcoop@iastate.edu

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