Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Children need parents who take care of their own needs, provide guidance and nurturing to their children, understand children's development and know how to stimulate learning and find resources for their families. The National Extension Parent Education Model (NEPEM) includes these six competency areas for parents and provides the framework that professionals and volunteers can use in community parenting education programs. Few published parenting education curricula have extensive empirical data based evaluations and parent educators must seek out research based and evidence based materials to assist parents in developing these competency areas.

Response:
“Great Beginnings for Families” an ISU Extension parenting education curriculum written by Mary Crooks, Mary Hughes, Donna Andrusyk, Kim Greder and Lesia Oesterreich matches the NEPEM recommendations for developing parental competencies. Iowa State University Extension Family Life Field Specialists, Kristi Cooper and Mary Crooks teamed up to co-lead an 8 hour “Great Beginnings for Families” facilitator training for professionals who work with parents of young children. Alison Graham and Janice Savel with the Linn County Parent Education Consortium assisted in coordination and recruitment of the training. The facilitator training was held August 29, 2007 at The History Center, Cedar Rapids , Iowa .

Impact:
Seventeen professionals representing 11 agencies/organizations from Linn, Johnson, Louisa and Des Moines County attended the day long interactive training. On a four point scale, with 4.0 as excellent, the participants rated the training at 3.85. All planned to use the information gained in the next 6 months. Comments from participants included:

• The most useful training I've had in a long time!
• Thanks for providing this learning opportunity! Great material—great networking! I will be able to use some of these materials right away. • Quality program!
• The activities are excellent.
• The program will be useful to me in several different contexts!
• Thank you for your positive/upbeat delivery and presentations.
• Excellent! As an “experienced” parent facilitator I still found this enlightening and “synergy” building.
• I am “eclectic” in my delivery of services; however this provides a great framework for effective group meetings.
• Thanks! I can't wait to implement this!
• A great strength. I knew it would be excellent when I heard who was leading it!
  
  

Other Staff Involved:
Mary Crooks, Family Life Specialist

Additional Team Members/Community Partners
Alison Graham, Janice Savel, Linn County Parent Education Consortium

Contact:
Kristi Cooper
Linn County Extension
3279 7th Ave #140
Marion, IA 52302
kcoop@iastate.edu