Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.
Strengthening Families Initiative, Parenting Education
Plan Goals
Strengthen New Mexico’s families by providing evidence-based parenting education to increase parent-child connectedness, positive discipline practices, and healthy family functioning. (Joint plan with Esther Devall, Lisa Shields & Charolette Collins)
Impact Reports
Five hundred and twenty-five adults participated in an emergency preparedness program provided by the Valencia County Home Economist. The program was conducted at the Valencia County New Mexico Works office, CASA, Indian Livestock Days and with the Valencia County Extension Association of NM organization. The program helped adults/parents gain a better understanding of emergencies that are the most prevalent in their area and increased their knowledge and attitudes about what to do in case of an emergency. 50% percent of the participants were given a starter emergency supply kit to take home with them. The supply kit included information to help parents talk to their children about emergencies and help them to develop a plan for their home and a plan for when they are away from home. Through this program the Valencia County Home Economist can educate and empower youth and adults to take some steps to prepare for and respond to potential emergencies, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks.
The Valencia County Home Economist has been conducting nurturing parenting education classes for the residents of Valencia County and Isleta Pueblo. The program is currently being carried out in four locations around the county. Locations include the Belen Domestic Violence Shelter, Valencia County CASA, New Mexico Works, and the New Mexico Women’s recovery Academy. The Valencia County parenting programs run for eight consecutive weeks. Participants must complete six of the eight lessons in order to receive a certificate of completion and to be considered a graduate of the Valencia County Nurturing Parenting Program. Topics covered include stress management, praising children, building self-worth/personal power, understanding and communicating feelings, developing family morals, values and rules, signs of suicide, drinking and parenting don’t mix/keeping children drug free, and alternatives to spanking.
The Valencia County Parenting Program had fifty-one participants who completed six or more lessons and are considered a graduate of the program. Forty-seven participants attended one or more stand alone lessons but did not have the credits needed to be considered a graduate.
After completing the program it is expected that parents have developed the skills needed to communicate more effectively with their family members and have the knowledge to identify signs of suicide within their family members. Parents are given the opportunity to utilize the power of praising children and learn to recognize the positive effects and outcomes that praise and positive discipline has on children. It is expected that 80% of the participants will continue to use positive forms of discipline rather than physical means of discipline due to the knowledge and understanding gained in the program.
The Valencia County Parenting Program had fifty-one participants who completed six or more lessons and are considered a graduate of the program. Forty-seven participants attended one or more stand alone lessons but did not have the credits needed to be considered a graduate.
After completing the program it is expected that parents have developed the skills needed to communicate more effectively with their family members and have the knowledge to identify signs of suicide within their family members. Parents are given the opportunity to utilize the power of praising children and learn to recognize the positive effects and outcomes that praise and positive discipline has on children. It is expected that 80% of the participants will continue to use positive forms of discipline rather than physical means of discipline due to the knowledge and understanding gained in the program.
The agent presented a parenting program on Communication and Self-Esteem to parents at San Miguel Elementary. The agent was invited by an ENLACE Parent Ambassador at the Parent Center at San Miguel Elementary. ENLACE (Engaging LAtino Communities in Education) established Parent Centers at elementary schools in the Gadsden Independent School District. The program was offered in Spanish.
Valencia County Cooperative Extension service in cooperation with CASA’s “A Safe Place,” New Mexico Women’s Recovery Academy, and the New Mexico Works program continues to provide parenting education classes which are open to the public of Valencia County. This was the fourth year that the Valencia County Home-Economist has worked with each agency on this parenting education project. Each class was announced in the local news paper and at the local Children Youth and Families Department. Over eighty percent of the clients attending the classes were advised to participate by a case worker, the courts, or through a program they were currently involved in. In 2007-2008 six males and forty-eight females graduated from the eight-week course and approximately seventy-four males and females participated in one of more stand alone lesions.
Eight-week Course Outcomes:
• Assess attitudes and knowledge of parenting practices.
• Assess social and developmental histories.
• Parents develop nurturing as a lifestyle.
• Parents and children relate in a positive, nurturing way.
• Parents learn to enjoy their children.
• Increase parents’ awareness of how we are taught not to express feelings.
• Increase parents’ ability to recognize feelings in self.
• Increase parents’ ability to recognize feelings of children.
• Parents develop empathy in regards to their children.
• Reinforce positive regard in children.
• Parents understand the meaning of self-concept and self-esteem.
• Parents realize their ability to impact a child’s overall self-worth.
• Parents will help children improve their self-concept and self-esteem.
Eight-week Course Outcomes:
• Assess attitudes and knowledge of parenting practices.
• Assess social and developmental histories.
• Parents develop nurturing as a lifestyle.
• Parents and children relate in a positive, nurturing way.
• Parents learn to enjoy their children.
• Increase parents’ awareness of how we are taught not to express feelings.
• Increase parents’ ability to recognize feelings in self.
• Increase parents’ ability to recognize feelings of children.
• Parents develop empathy in regards to their children.
• Reinforce positive regard in children.
• Parents understand the meaning of self-concept and self-esteem.
• Parents realize their ability to impact a child’s overall self-worth.
• Parents will help children improve their self-concept and self-esteem.
(added by Wendy Hamilton from STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PLAN WORD DOC sent to me via email)
Educational Services
Parents who participate in the Strengthening Families Initiative receive intensive parenting education enhanced with life skills and nutrition education. For this reporting period, we offered a total of 21 class series. Each class series met once a week for 2.5 hours for 15-24 weeks. Parents also received at least 3 hours of life skills and 3 hours of nutrition education. While parents were attending classes, children participated in a concurrent children’s program.
From June, 2006 through July, 2007, we served 252 parents and 301 children. Families received a total of 11,604 hours of education. Twenty-one class series were offered in 6 counties. Based on our allocation of $400,000, we provided services at $34 per hour.
Parents who completed the program showed significant positive improvements in all areas: (1) parenting attitudes and beliefs; (2) knowledge of positive discipline techniques; (3) skills in self-nurturing, communication, and the parent-child relationship; and (4) attitudes and behavior related to money management and finding a job.
Valencia County Cooperative Extension service in cooperation with the New Mexico Works program continues to provide parenting education classes. The classes are open to the individuals and parents who are working with the TANF program. This was the third year that the Valencia County Home-Economist has been working with the New Mexico Works program. The Home-Economist provides three stand alone lessons each month to help the TANF participants complete the life skills hours that are needed to continue to receive TANF funds. In 2006-2007 one-hundred forty-four individuals attended one or more stand alone lessons.
Educational Services
Parents who participate in the Strengthening Families Initiative receive intensive parenting education enhanced with life skills and nutrition education. For this reporting period, we offered a total of 21 class series. Each class series met once a week for 2.5 hours for 15-24 weeks. Parents also received at least 3 hours of life skills and 3 hours of nutrition education. While parents were attending classes, children participated in a concurrent children’s program.
From June, 2006 through July, 2007, we served 252 parents and 301 children. Families received a total of 11,604 hours of education. Twenty-one class series were offered in 6 counties. Based on our allocation of $400,000, we provided services at $34 per hour.
Parents who completed the program showed significant positive improvements in all areas: (1) parenting attitudes and beliefs; (2) knowledge of positive discipline techniques; (3) skills in self-nurturing, communication, and the parent-child relationship; and (4) attitudes and behavior related to money management and finding a job.
Valencia County Cooperative Extension service in cooperation with the New Mexico Works program continues to provide parenting education classes. The classes are open to the individuals and parents who are working with the TANF program. This was the third year that the Valencia County Home-Economist has been working with the New Mexico Works program. The Home-Economist provides three stand alone lessons each month to help the TANF participants complete the life skills hours that are needed to continue to receive TANF funds. In 2006-2007 one-hundred forty-four individuals attended one or more stand alone lessons.