A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Massachusetts Parent Training and Empowerment Project
Cambridge Partnership for Public Education

The Massachusetts Parent Training and Empowerment Project is a collaborative effort led by the Cambridge Partnership for Public Education with The Right Question Project, Inc. (RQP), the Cambridge Centers for Families, and other agencies. Its purpose is to design educational strategies that enable low-income and limited English-speaking parents to advocate for their children through the use of effective parent training.

The project is based on RQP's concept that there are fundamental questions, "the right questions," which parents must ask to become active participants in their children's growth and schooling. It reflects a commitment to ensuring that all parents become effective supporters, monitors, and advocates for their children -- three important roles which greatly increase their children's immediate and long-term chances for success in school. The project plans to expand statewide and even nationwide, but it is initially targeting the areas of Cambridge, North Adams, Orange, and lower Cape Cod.

The objectives of the project are: 1) to increase parents' knowledge and confidence in their own parenting skills; 2) to create a foundation for forging partnerships among families, schools, and communities in support of children's growth and development; and 3) to improve parents' abilities to serve as supporters, monitors, and advocates for their children.

The Massachusetts Training and Empowerment Project includes the following components:

1. A Community-Based Parent Training Model which prepares over 300 parent and family workers in public schools, human services agencies, health agencies, and parents to facilitate training programs for 12,000 to 16,000 parents. Empowerment of parents is key to the development of a more effective and prominent role in their children's education and development.

2. Demonstration sites (in urban and rural areas) which prepare parents and parent workers to effectively implement the RQP community-based model. The model provides training for replication of the RQP model throughout the state by using videos, computer technology, and distance learning techniques.

3. RQP Parent Training and Resource Centers which focus on training parents. Through training activities these centers disseminate the model to other communities. The Center serves as a hub of a statewide network of parents and professionals who work with parents.

4. Training/Dissemination Network of urban and rural communities in Massachusetts and the nation which uses technology-based strategies to disseminate information and to prepare facilitators to conduct staff development activities for school staff and other community agency professionals. In addition, it will maintain communication within the network and broaden the scope to other states.

Collaborators:

• Right Question Project, Inc.
• Cambridge Centers for Families
• Area Health Education Center
• Cambridge Public School System

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[Child Care Connection, Inc.]

[Life Services System of Ottawa County, Inc.]