AMES, Iowa – Professionals who work with parents one-on-one or in groups can boost their knowledge and skills through Partnering with Parents, a course from Iowa State University Extension.

“Partnering with Parents is the first course I have seen that offered a broad view of the field and that captured my interest. I came away with new ideas and thoughts on finances, cultural impacts on parenting and program evaluations, as well as several new resources. I feel refreshed and energized by the challenges offered and the opportunity to engage in discussion and reflection with colleagues from across the nation,” said Michelle Barnes of Washington.

The class will be offered completely online Jan. 14 through June 20, 2008, as well as at three Iowa sites: in Ames beginning Jan. 8, in Creston beginning Jan. 23 and in Marshalltown beginning Feb. 12. A recent evaluation of learner outcomes for the parenting course showed that in both formats -- online and face-to-face --learners increased their knowledge and skills in planning, delivering and evaluating parenting education. 

The course explores parenting practices in the United States during the past century as well as current trends. Topics include cultural influences on parenting, family-centered practices, child-rearing strategies, parent-child relationships, stages and challenges of parenting, as well as feeding children, evaluating curricula, facilitating parent groups and measuring program outcomes.

“In Partnering with Parents people learn how to apply parenting research and theory to their everyday work with families. People are exposed to new tools and activities they can immediately use with families,” said Kimberly Greder, ISU Extension family life specialist and developer of the course.

Participants will learn how to apply the six critical parenting practices identified in the National Extension Parent Education Model and gain knowledge and skills to more effectively work with parents, Greder said. Popular course highlights in addition to its practicality of working with families are that participants hear from parents through panel discussions, interact with a variety of instructors and develop a network of professionals to share ideas and resources after the class ends.  

The online version of the class is just as interactive as the face-to-face version. Learners use chat rooms, discussion boards, e-journals, videostreams, surveys and quizzes and virtual small groups as tools for learning. Each of 11 online modules will be covered in consecutive two-week periods.

Learners can earn a Parenting Education Certificate of Completion from ISU Extension, Iowa teacher licensure renewal credits, social worker hours and continuing education units (CEUs). The course also is available for three undergraduate or three graduate credits as Human Development and Family Studies 493B/593B (Ames- section XA; Creston-section XB; Marshalltown-section XL; online-section XW).

Greder said that although the course was designed specifically for individuals who work directly with parents such as family support workers, parenting educators, school counselors, teachers, Head Start staff, social workers, ministers, community action employees, public health nurses and a variety of health-care professionals, it can be insightful for supervisors of such programs.

Scholarships funded through Iowa Empowerment are available to Iowa family professionals to reimburse the registration fee. Details are at http://www.iowafadss.org/training/index.html or contact Greder at (515) 294-5906 or kgreder@iastate.edu.

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