NC Parenting Education Network

The North Carolina Parenting Education Network (NCPEN) is working to build the field of parenting education in the state with a focus on partnerships between parents and child care providers, teachers, and parent educators. Working together we can help each child reach his or her own potential! NCPEN is an unfunded collaborative of parenting education organizations and agencies.

Business

Catherine Anderson, treasurer, reported that there is $1063.32 in the NCPEN checking account. Current memberships total 53, including 32 organizational and 21 individual memberships. Because of limited budgets it appears that many of our memberships are moving to individual memberships rather than organizational memberships. Catherine is planning to send renewel notices for 16 memberships due at the end of the month and membership invitations to other related organizations.

Stephanie Jones passed out a copy of the current by-laws and led the discussion on changes that need to be addressed. The motion was passed to make several changes in the current by-laws. These changes can be viewed on the NCPEN website. Major changes included publishing two issues of the NCPEN newsletter each year (fall and spring) and limiting the number of copies received by organizational members to 50. Members are encouraged to make additional copies for distribution as necessary. The election process was also reviewed and revised so that electronic ballots will be sent to members in March and voted on at the April meeting. Paper ballots will be available upon request at the April meeting prior to the presentation of officers.

Stephanie Moore received bids for printing 4500 copies of the newsletter ranging from $900-$1500. It was decided to print only 2000 copies of the newsletter and look at other printing options. The fall newsletter will focus on children's health. The deadline for articles is August 15, 2002.

Henry Helms presented an update on issues and policies of concern to NCPEN. He suggested we look closely at legislative budget cuts impacting child and family services. Hopefully budget decisions will be made by some time in July.

Cinda Amen discussed outreach and education. Cinda represented NCPEN at the Family Support Invitational Summit in March and is continuing to serve on the Outcomes Committee. She will participate in a follow up meeting June 25, 2002. The Outcomes Committee is looking to create a family support federation modeled after the Coalition for Children Advocacy Group. NCPEN can play a role by representing the parenting education component and serving as a vehicle for collecting outcomes data in parenting education. This is still in the early planning stages.

NCPEN is willing to collaborate with other groups in providing parenting education sessions or conferences. Cinda has met with others such as the Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina conference planners.

The Parenting Institute is sponsoring a fall conference in Winston-Salem. The conference will serve to introduce parenting education as a profession, creating a professional identity as parenting educations, and promote the North Carolina Parenting Educator Credentialing program. Current plans include a one-day conference with keynote speakers in the morning, lunch, and breakout sessions in the afternoon. A potential date is September 19, 2002. Cost will be $15 per person.

Karen DeBord handed out a copy of the National Extension Parenting Educators'™ Framework including the Content that is the basis for parenting education and the Processes used by Parenting Educators. Information on this framework can be found at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts.fcs/NEPEF.htm. Karen distributed NC Parenting Educator Credential applications. Members participating in the pilot process will meet August 8, 2002 to review the process and make necessary changes.

Stephanie Jones handed out copies of the 11 NC county networks currently identified.

Future Meeting Dates were set. The next meeting (9-4-02) will be held at Family and Youth Incorporated (FYI) 4008 Barrett Drive, Suite 202, Raleigh, NC. Directions are included at the bottom of this page. Future Dates include:

Wednesday, September 4, 2002 at 10:00 am

Tuesday, January 7, 2003 at 10:00 am

Thursday, April 10, 2003 at 10:00 am

Thursday, June 12, 2003 at 10:00 am

Respectfully Submitted by Shari Moxley, Secretary

Directions to FYI for the September NCPEN meeting: Take 440 to Six Forks South. Go to the second light and turn left on Barrett Drive. Go about .3 miles. 4008 is the second building in the curve directly across form L&E Research and Lab Corp. You can park in any space or along the street. FYI is the first door and upstairs (suite 202).

For additional information or assistance contact CJ Edwards at 919-784-9182