AMES, Iowa -- Parenting with special challenges and facilitating parent learning in small groups are the topics for a two-day workshop offered by Partnering with Parents, a program from Iowa State University.
The workshop for professionals who work with parents will be Aug. 2-3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 0331 Palmer Building on Iowa State's campus.
Partnering with Parents consists of a series of training modules designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of parenting educators who work with parents. Supervisors and administrators of parenting education programs also can benefit through increased understanding about using a strengths-based perspective to work with parents who face special challenges and techniques and strategies to effectively facilitate parent learning in group settings.
The program is based on parenting, family strengths and adult education research and practice. Principles of Family Support and Practice, the National Extension Parent Education Model (NEPEM) and the National Extension Parenting Educators' Framework (NEPEF) guide the content of training.
"This workshop will help to strengthen the quality of parenting education in Iowa and across the nation," said Kim Greder, ISU assistant professor, extension state specialist and developer of the course. "When practitioners receive quality professional development, parents will benefit because they will receive information and training that is based on research and recommended practices for effective parenting."
The workshop may be attended for credit or non-credit. To receive one hour of ISU college credit, participants must enroll in the class through the office of Continuing Education. Credit is available for HDFS 493B (undergraduate) and 593B (graduate), both in section XA. Iowa teacher renewal credit (1 hour) also is available, as are social worker hours and general CEUs through ISU.
Credit attendees' cost is $60 plus the cost of summer tuition; non-credit workshop attendees' cost is $120. Registration deadline for credit and non-credit attendees is July 19, 2006. Cancellations received on or before 5 p.m. one week prior to the start of the workshop will be refunded less a $50 registration fee.
Greder said practitioners who work with parents would be most interested in the workshop. "However, this training may be of interest to students who plan to work with families or for supervisors of programs that deliver parenting education," Greder said.
For registration information about the workshop as well as other learning options, see the Partnering with Parents Web site (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pwp/) or contact Kim Greder at (515) 294- 5906 or kgreder@iastate.edu.
-30-