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 (Valencia County)

Plan Goal

Strengthen New Mexico’s families by providing evidence-based parenting education to increase parent-child connectedness, positive discipline practices, and healthy family functioning.

Situation Statement

Parenthood is one of the most stressful and demanding of life roles, yet it is the role for which most adults receive the least preparation and support. Contemporary parents face many challenges, including poverty, isolation, fewer supports for families, and a declining sense of community. The consequences of not educating parents are tremendous. Poor parenting skills are linked to abuse and neglect as well as youth behavior problems including teen pregnancy, adolescence substance abuse, and youth violence. Parents who participate in parenting classes report greater knowledge of child development, increased confidence in parenting, and decreased rates of abuse and neglect. Positive outcomes for children include fewer behavioral problems, greater academic achievement, and increases in social development. Valencia County alone had approximately 501 child abuse and neglect charges investigated. (Kids Count Data Book, 2005). In 2005 Valencia County had 199 births to teen mothers and 466 births to single mothers. (Kids Count Data Book, 2005). Becoming a teen parent is often associated with long-term difficulties for mothers and children. Children of teen parents are more likely to grow up in homes that offer lower levels of emotional support and cognitive stimulation, and they are less likely to earn a high school diploma. For teen mothers, giving birth is associated with limited educational attainment and reduced employment prospects. Children are at greater risk for adverse consequences when born to a single mother because the social, emotional, and financial resources available to the family may be more limited. Due to lack of parenting education and a growing population in Valencia County juvenile offenses are at an all time high. According to the 2005 Kids Count Data Book there were 361 Assaults, 397 property offenses, 286 drug related offenses, and 51 weapon offenses, all committed by adolescents. The need for parenting education is a priority in Valencia County, as reflected in the County Extension Stakeholder Input and Advisory Committee request along with program planning exercises by County Extension Agents. Requests and feedback from a variety of agencies referring participants to the Strengthening Families Initiative parenting education class series provide evidence that parenting education is indeed needed throughout Valencia County and the state of New Mexico. Parenting education is needed so that all parents (i.e., single parents, grandparents, incarcerated, estranged, court mandated, non-custodial, teen parents, etc.) will receive assistance. Parenting education programs are extremely limited in Valencia County. With the help of the Strengthening Families Initiative and the Nurturing Parenting stand-alone lessons, the rates of child abuse and neglect in Valencia County will decrease. Over time, children whose parents participate will show a reduced incidence of youth problem behavior (defined as early sexual involvement and parenthood, school failure, substance abuse, and juvenile delinquency).

Target Audience and Actions

The target audience is at-risk families in Valencia County. Risk factors include low income, limited education, young parental age, and single parenthood. Curricula are available to meet the needs of families ranging from expectant parents to parents of adolescents. The program also targets parents from specific at-risk groups including parents who are incarcerated, divorced, teens, unmarried, and abusive. There is a tremendous need for parenting education for families mandated by the court system and other agencies working within the supervisory and/or regulatory role for families in crisis. Classes meet for 2.0 hours each week for 8 weeks. Classes for children are offered at the same time as classes for parents, so that the entire family is exposed to new ways of thinking and behaving. A three level project design includes: (1) County Extension Agents presenting individual parenting lessons designed by state level staff; (2) County Extension Agents coordinating the parenting program for another educator to come in and present the program within their counties; and/or (3) County Extension Agents receiving training and presenting the program themselves in their home county.

Short-Term Objectives

A. During the 8 week parenting classes, 80% of parents will report: (1) Positive changes in their attitudes towards parenting. (2) Improvements in their children’s behavior. (3) Satisfaction with the content and format of the parenting classes. B. 75% of the parents who enroll in the parenting classes will complete the program.

Medium-Term Objectives

Upon completion of the 8 week program 60% of parents will report: (1) Increased empathy for the needs of children. (2) Increased parent-child communication. (3) Fewer reversals of parent-child roles. (4) Increased awareness of the developmental needs of children. (5) Greater knowledge of positive discipline practices. (6) Decreased belief in and use of corporal punishment.

Long-Term Objectives

According to other research, in the 5 years following completion of the program, we can expect to see 40% of parents will have reported: (1) Lower rates of child abuse and neglect.

Evaluation Plan

(1) Process measures will be obtained at every class to measure participant satisfaction and program quality. Program Evaluation Forms ask participants to indicate how they feel about today’s session and the program on a five-point scale. (2) Post-tests will be given to measure participant attitudinal and behavioral change. This includes several skills indices. (3) A final questionnaire will be give to evaluate over all changes in parenting skills, interpersonal relationships satisfaction, and behavior management.