Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Parent education continues to be identified as a need in Bremer County. Various agencies serving families have worked to meet that need with their programs, but this had never been done in a coordinated, comprehensive way that ensured complementary, rather than duplicative parent and family education programs.

Response:
ISU Bremer County Extension, the Cedar Valley Mental Health Center and the Waverly-Shell Rock schools worked together in creating “Parent and Family University”, to jointly plan, schedule and market programs intended to prevent problems in families by increasing parents' and/or children's knowledge and skills. Under the umbrella of the Bremer County Community Partners, we applied for and were awarded a Decategorization grant for marketing and conducting a social skills building program for children, a 3-session parent discipline skill building program for parents of elementary-age youth and the ISU Extension Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14. The fourth component of Parent and Family University, the Great Beginnings Program for parents of preschoolers, was funded through Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. Programs were offered for children and parents of children from birth to 14 years of age. There was no overlap of program dates or duplication of programming.

Impact:
Three new Strengthening Families Program facilitators were trained. A total of 38 hours of education was delivered to 47 family members. As an average across all programs, 82% reported behavior changes that prevent or reduce problems and increase child-family well-being. 100% of participants in the Great Beginnings and Strengthening Families Program reported positive changes that lead to increased child-family well-being.

In the Strengthening Families Program, parents cited the most valuable thing they had learned:

• "To give my kids time to cool down when angry as well as myself. They have a lot of things on their minds also."
• "Better communication and (using) love and limits."
• "That with the right tools it is possible to show love while still setting limits. Through communicating with my teen letting her know what is expected and what consequences there are, it relieves the arguments and most frustrations."
• "He learned about peer pressure. Also he learned about the point system. He likes to score points now to earn extra things. He also learned about consequences for breaking rules. His brother wasn't in the class but he also knows about the point system and consequences. Thank You."

Youth said the most valuable thing they learned was:

• "Learning how to handle situations with my family or friends. And when a parent has had a bad day at work to understand their problem."
• "I learned the steps to making sure I do what I know is right instead of what my friends are doing. I also learned that I can make really good friends if I know what to look for in them."
• "First I learned how to deal with peer pressure and what stress is. I also learned who is a good friend and who will get you in trouble, and how to tell.
• "I learned how to have a family meeting and how to stay calm."

 

Contact:
Donna Andrusyk
ISU Extension Family Life Field Specialist
720 7th Ave. SW
Tripoli, IA 50676
(319) 882-4275 FAX (319) 882-4292