Partnering with Parents
Staff Involved: Eugenia Hanlon, Rhonda Rosenboom, and Renee Sweers

As the programs offered to parents and families in need of assistance or education increases, so does the need for prepared parent educators. This was especially true in northwest Iowa and our neighboring state of South Dakota .

ISUE staff Rhonda Rosenboom, Renee Sweers and Eugenia Hanlon worked collaboratively with South Dakota University Extension to offer the Partnering with Parents program in Sioux City, Iowa . This program was then marketed to potential residents in Nebraska and South Dakota

Twenty-four professionals and para-professionals attended the series program.

Comments from the participants:

1. The most important thing I learned about myself as a result of Partnering with Parents is…….

•  That my beliefs and thoughts are similar to other parenting educators

•  There is a lot more for me to learn

•  Ethics for parenting educators- cultural perspectives- curriculum and, many others

•  Grew professionally

•  Important things to remember when you have an ethical dilemma

•  That there is a lot about this profession that can only be learned through experience

•  That there are many different ways to solve problems

•  Lots to learn on parenting education

•  That I need to be more open about different ideas

2. The most important thing I learned about parenting education and working with families as a result of Partnering With Parents……….

•  Cultural beliefs and advocacy for children

•  Be mindful of cultures- don't judge so fast

•  To maintain clear boundaries with your responsibility and professionalism when talking about parenting

•  There is a huge variety of topics under parenting education

•  To respect families as experts and balance how much personal information I share and how much I listen and learn about them

•  NEPEM model

•  To be more aware of parenting education

•  That here are many different approaches

3. One thing that I learned in Partnering With Parents that I plan to put to use as soon as possible, or have already put to use is…

•  Financial education - budgeting classes, advocacy for children

•  Better parent meetings

•  Make sure no matter what the situation is with parents we as professionals always LISTEN

•  Money management and how to run groups

•  Some of the activities seem that they could help break the ice with families or to help families understand if just paperwork won't work

•  Better budgeting with my clients

•  The envelope system

•  Using what I learned about family diversity.

•  NEPEM model

•  Material from different modules

In addition to the learning achieved by the participants, learning also occurred by staff. As a result of this dual state programming effort, relationships were strengthened. This relationship has created a pathway for future sharing of resources between our neighboring states.

Contact:
Eugenia Hanlon
Family Life Field Specialist
Box 233 521 4th St. Rockwell City Iowa 50579
Phone 712-297-8611; Fax 712-297-7011
E-mail ehanlon@iastate.edu