Parenting Classes

The Parent Education Consortium (PEC) provides parenting classes and resources to any parent of a young child (0-5 years old) as well as group presentations to caregivers, educators and community members on a wide variety of topics related to parenting practices and healthy development.
 

Parenting Classes

To register for classes, contact Janice Savel, PEC Coordinator
call 319-377-9839 ext. 302 or email at jsavel@iastate.edu.

Parenting Classes...
•  are FREE
•  include a FREE family meal and light refreshments during each session
•  include FREE program materials
•  provide FREE on-site child care
•  are an investment in your child’s future with benefits that last a lifetime!

2013 Spring Classes Schedule

This class is designed for the parents of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten age children. Parents are invited to attend class with their children. In most cases, families eat dinner, have a structured parent-child activity, and then parents meet in a small group setting with one of our parent educators while children play in on-site childcare.

Monday Evenings • February 4 -March 11 • 5:30-7:45 PM
Harrison Elementary • 1310 11th St NW • Cedar Rapids IA

Monday Evenings • April 1 - May 6 • 5:30-7:45 PM
Prairie View Elementary • 401 76th Ave SW • Cedar Rapids IA                                  
                                                                           
Tuesday Evenings • April 2- May 7 • 5:30-7:45 PM
St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church • 1350 Lyndhurst Dr • Hiawatha IA

Thursday Evenings • April 11-May 16 • 5:30-7:45 PM
Garfield Elementary • 1201 Maplewood Dr NE • Cedar Rapids IA

Monday Evenings • April 1-May 6 • 6:00-7:45 PM
Springville Elementary • Springville IA
 

Parenting After Divorce or Separation CLASS

This class is for parents who are divorced, separated or never married. The focus is to support parents in their efforts to provide a nurturing home environment following a period of family change. The series is primarily intended for families with children under six years of age. However, consideration will be given to parents with older children, as space permits.

Tuesday Evenings • April 2 - May 7
ISU Linn County Extension • 383 Collins Road NE • Cedar Rapids IA 52402 

Parenting Young Children with ADHD

Do you have a young child that is diagnosed with ADHD?  Are you in need of assistance in parenting them?  If so, this class is for you!  Please join Roxann Dittmer, PhD, as she helps you navigate parenting a child (0-6yrs) with ADHD.  Topics will include, importance of visual aides, discipline strategies, routines, transitioning to school, medications and much more.

Monday and Wednesday Evenings • April 1 - April 17 • 5:30-7:45 PM
Grant Wood AEA • 4401 Sixth St SW • Cedar Rapids IA 52404   
(For parents of children 0-5 years old with diagnosed ADHD)

DADS Assisting DADS CLASS

The program stresses the importance of active father participation in family life to strengthen relationships between dads and their kids. The class is a series of weekly group meetings. Fathers meet with a parent educator where they are invited to ask questions about stress management, family communications and relationships, as well as child development and parenting. A parent/child activity is assigned each week to be done outside of class. On-site childcare services are available, in most cases.

Wednesday Evenings • April 3-May 8 • 5:30-7:45PM
ISU Linn County Extension • 383 Collins Rd NE Suite 201 • Cedar Rapids IA 52402
 

Parenting Resource Materials - Books, DVDs and Handouts

The PEC has a wealth of DVD’s and print materials on topics important to parents and caregivers of young children. A select number of materials are also available for loan at any of our parenting class locations throughout the year OR by contacting Janice at PEC by calling 319-377-9839 Ext. 302 or emailing jsavel@iastate.edu.

Check out the resources we have available:
Parenting Books
Parenting DVDs

Parenting Handouts
The PEC has a wealth of handouts available on a variety of topics related to child and family development. Below is a sampling of handouts readily available. Many handout topics are not listed. Please contact the PEC office at 319-377-9839 to order handouts, or to request information on topics not listed below.
Fatherhood
Marriage
Divorce and Step Families
Parenting Young Children
 

Group Presentations

In order to keep parents, caregivers, educators and community members abreast of current trends in the field of parent education, the PEC coordinates and delivers presentations in the community on a wide variety of topics related to parenting practices and healthy family development.  

The PEC staff has a variety of topics readily available for presentation.  Specific requests for customized community education sessions will be considered on a case by case basis.  To schedule a presentation please contact the Parent Education Consortium.

Community Education topics for presentations
 

Professional Development Inservices

The PEC provides professional development and continuing education opportunities for staff working with young children in a parent educator role.  Professionals interested in learning more about training opportunities should contact the Parent Education Consortium.

Upcoming Inservices - Always Available and Encouraged

Partnering with Parents:  Walking the Journey Together

Eleven modules offered through Iowa State University.  To read more about this training opportunity, please click on the following link: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pwp/

Funds may be available for staffs of PEC Member agencies to offset cost of registration fees. Please contact PEC at 319-377-9839 Ext. 302 or jsavel@iastate.edu.

Additional Supports for PEC Member Agency Staff

Staff employed by PEC partner agencies may borrow resources from the Parent Education Consortium Office.  Curriculum may be borrowed for the duration of a parenting class (up to 8 weeks).  Parent-child activity kits may be borrowed for up to one week. Partner agency staff are invited to contact Janice Savel in the PEC office at 319-377-9839 orjsavel@iastate.edu to request materials or to suggest items that they would like to see made available for future use in the facilitation of parent groups.

Additional Resources from PEC
 

It is through the use of Linn County Community Empowerment funds that the PEC is able to provide these services to parents and caregivers of young children in our community.