Archived: Parent Information and Resource Centers - March 1996

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

Parents As Partners in Education
Eagle Ridge Institute

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Eagle Ridge Institute is collaborating with the Oklahoma City Public Schools, the Millwood Public School District, and other providers of services to parents to establish the Parents as Partners in Education Information and Resource Center (Center). The Center is housed on the Shaping People of Today (S.P.O.T.) 20-acre campus in Oklahoma City. It will provide parent information and general age-appropriate materials statewide, and begin training, support and referrals for wrap-around services in rural and urban areas of Oklahoma County.

The Center on the S.P.O.T. campus houses a Parent Resource Library and hosts training programs and parent support groups. Volunteer-staffed Branch Parent Resource Centers are being established in the 16 highest need areas of the state. The Center has several components to increase parents' knowledge of and confidence in child rearing activities, strengthen parent- professional partnerships, and enhance the developmental progress of children:

  1. Information Dissemination
    The Center is establishing a multi-media, multi-lingual Parent Resource Library that includes information and resources to promote effective parenting techniques and discipline strategies, child development, learning aids, current listings of youth and adult service providers, community programs, event listings, and brochures. It will also deliver interactive programs via satellite throughout the state. The Center plans to develop a traveling multi-media mobile Parent Education/Training On Wheels unit to disseminate information to isolated families.

  2. Parent Education, Training and Support
    The Center aims to offer parenting education to a minimum of 5,000 parents and guardians in a variety of settings in 1995-96. It will expand the Oklahoma City Parents as Teachers (PAT) program to include 3-5 year olds, and add school districts each year. The Center is also organizing a Speakers Bureau and a range of training programs and adult literacy programs. It is designing and disseminating child development kits for parents, and launching a comprehensive media campaign to publicize parent programs. At least 2,500 parents will receive support services in 1995-96 through hospital and home visits, parent support groups, baby sitting co-ops, and a 24-hour information and support line that provides information and crisis intervention and referral services.

  3. Referral and Wrap-Around Services
    The Center is increasing parental access to social, legal, medical, and mental health service providers by facilitating the referral of at least 500 parents in 1995-96 for wrap-around services, and by providing a "self-referral" section in the Parent Resource Library.

  4. Parent-Professional-Educator Network
    The Center is building partnerships among parents, professionals, and educators to increase school readiness and to improve parent-school relationships. At least 3 conferences a year will offer opportunities for parents to interact with service providers and policymakers. The Center is collaborating with professionals to provide programs for expectant or new parents regarding selecting and communicating with physicians, child care providers, and educators. Lines of parent-school communication will be opened via workshops, activities, and branch centers.

Collaborators:

Director:
Pat Lowther
Parents as Partners in Education
Eagle Ridge Institute
601 NE 63rd Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Telephone: (405) 840-1359
Fax: (405) 840-5086
Award: $377,247
Affiliation: PAT


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