The ParentNet Board is a partnership with representatives of Danbury Children First, Danbury Regional Commission on Childcare, Rights and Abuse, Danbury Head Start, the Community Resource Center of Danbury, Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Danbury Youth Services and two parent-leaders. The ParentNet Board initially met on a monthly basis. This Board worked to develop and implement this new program.

After a year of implementation, the Board and its part-time coordinator sought additional supporters to serve on an Advisory Board, which meets quarterly. The former Board joined the Advisory Board. This Board's role is to set policy, help with public relations and diversify funding sources.

The goal is to provide accessible and affordable parenting skills training to parents on an ongoing basis. The rationale is that parents are their children's first teachers. Other parenting classes are offered on an irregular, haphazard basis and often target groups with specific needs. ParentNet provides parents with opportunities to improve skills and is open to all parents on an ongoing basis.

Following a survey of over 500 parents, ParentNet was formed by Danbury Children First and other key players in the field of parent education. The program was piloted with funds provided through Danbury Children First and its major funding source, the Graustein Memorial Fund. Subsequently, a local foundation, the Perrin Family Foundation, funded the program with a challenge grant, requiring the collaborative ParentNet partners to garner additional local community support to sustain the program.

The curriculum, Parenting People, was developed by Dr. Maureen T. Mulroy and Catherine Z. Malley at the UConn Extension System. The need for such ongoing parenting classes was documented by a survey of over 500 parents. The program consists of four workshops:
1. Parenting Styles
2. Understanding Developmental Stages: Defining and Handling Misbehavior
3. Talking to Your Child: Improving Communications
4. Teaching Children to Control Their Behavior: Applying Effective Discipline

Classes are two hours weekly for four weeks. Childcare, refreshments and transportation assistance are provided. The $10-fee for the course can be waived if necessary. Graduates are encouraged to attend a monthly two-hour support group, where childcare is also provided. In the future, alumni may run the support group with a resource person in attendance.

Students complete final evaluations, which are analyzed for future planning. In addition, demographic and attendance information is compiled into an Evaluation Report on the overall program by the part-time coordinator and reviewed by the ParentNet Advisory Board in order to make improvements in the program.

The ParentNet Board wants the program to be offered on a regular basis for parents. Funding is a challenge because this program is for all parents and not tied to a particular special need that many state and local funding streams would support. The program is preventive in nature, supporting parents by informing them of some of the best parenting skills they can use.

Long-term strategies include broadening membership on the Advisory Board and diversifying funding sources to include public funds (local, state, and federal), fee income, foundation grants, and corporate contributions. In addition, a new lead agency has been identified and its Board has indicated interest.

Public relations, getting the word out to parents, and garnering financial support that is institutional or systematic are challenges. The nature of this educational program is primary prevention of child abuse and neglect. Typical streams of renewable funding used for children and family services are almost exclusively targeted to higher at-risk populations. State and local public funds have not been available.

Last summer, due to insufficient outreach and staffing levels, the program stopped. Then it was difficult to recruit parents, particularly for the Spanish classes. The program's primary referrals come by word of mouth. A consistent schedule, planned well in advance, worked best. Based on this experience, the program is offered year-round, skipping one summer month. However, lack of a continual funding stream may again delay or hinder achieving the goals for the program schedule.

Danbury Children First has taken a leading role in obtaining financial support as well as helping to "institutionalize" the program. A firm commitment for a permanent lead agency has not yet been obtained; however, efforts continue.

More parents, including those with diverse backgrounds, will have a resource for their parenting challenges. Danbury's children will benefit from the education and support their parents have received.

Parenting classes in English, Spanish and Portuguese are now available in Danbury on an ongoing basis, pending successful growth of the ParentNet Advisory Board and financial support from the community.

Collaborative Director, Danbury Children First, (203) 797-8088