Parent Education Minutes 

Parent Education Committee: 
March 5, 2003
Bonnie’s Bakery

Those attending:  Fiona Hert, Florence Bucierka, and Cynthia Martin.

Items for discussion: 

  1. New curricula in parent education
  2. Response to Parent Education Evaluation from Deborah Feldman
  3. Training opportunities for parent educators

1.   Committee is examining other curricula for use in the county.  Discussion on funding possibilities for next year: 

    • Enhancement funds – 3-year program targeted to substance abuse prevention $100,000.
    • DASA
    • NIDA – $75,000 - a portion will be targeted towards parent education
    • CMASA – allocation will be different this year and competitive funding
    • Community Network – interested in supporting parent education curricula for county wide use

2.      Parent Education Evaluation – Discussion of the positive outcomes of parent education courses offered

·        High group interaction

·        Parents reported high level of support as reason for attending classes.

·        High satisfaction rate from parents of instructor’s knowledge and ability to communicate information and facilitate class discussion effectively.

·        For the 2nd year in a row, parents showed substantial learning in child development, discipline, communication skills, and building self-esteem.

·        75% of parents cited specific examples of ways they had modified their parenting positively in areas of discipline, communication, anger management, and the rewarding positive behavior.

Areas to address for parent educators –

o       Retention – enrollment has stayed the same (which is not a negative)

o       Marketing and preparation of parent education classes – how can “we” do it better to meet the needs of parents – what are we not doing that can be done better.

Discussion on finding out what the parents want and ways to incorporate these items into the curricula.  Cynthia reported instructors have assisted Latino parents with the completion of forms and paperwork as needed after class.

Posting of parent education courses: Cynthia will send an email out as a reminder to post all offerings of parent education courses.  This listing then can be distributed to CPS and Family Court for referral purposes.

Middle and High School:  Prevention Works will be working to develop parent education options for parents of middle and high school students.  Cynthia will send out email to parent educators on interest level. 

3.                  Training opportunities for Parent Educators:  The committee will plan a meeting of parent educators to address techniques and improvement/changes for parent education in Clallam County.  Items to be included in the meeting would be how to address marketing, recruitment, retention, and class expectations.  Meetings would be held in Port Angeles and also in the West End.  Discussion also focused on how as parent educators we can teach and support parents in their “power as parents.”

Fiona mentioned reaching other parent educators.  Cynthia stated that there are approximately 60 parent educators who have attended trainings that might be interested in attending future trainings. 

Parenting events:  Discussion on Michael Gurian and Joseph Garcia.  Fiona will explore availability and schedules. 

Fiona will work with committee to set meeting time for parent educators.  Meeting was adjourned at 9:35 am.

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