Proposed Federal Government-Supported Effective Parenting Initiative

1. Proposed • Federal Government-Supported • Effective Parenting • Initiative

2. Proposed Government-Supported Initiative • Purposes • Acknowledge and celebrate the importance of effective parenting and parenting education. • 2. Increase the awareness and use of effective parenting programs and resources. • 3. Increase the availability of the full spectrum of effective parenting programs and resources. • 4. Increase the effectiveness of current programs and resources, as well as to develop new programs and resources as needed.

3. Proposed Government-Supported Initiative Department / Office of Effective Parenting National Council on Effective Parenting National Parenting Instructor Training Center National Clearinghouse on Effective Parenting National Institute on Effective Parenting

4. Proposed Government-Supported Initiative National Council on Effective Parenting • Composition • Leaders from major societal sectors: media, business/corporate, faith, labor, philanthropy, education, research, etc. • Leaders from governmental departments and agencies with existing parenting programs and initiatives, including research agencies • Leaders from national private sector parenting and parenting education organizations

5. Proposed Government-Supported Initiative National Council on Effective Parenting Responsibilities • To ensure effective parenting and parenting education are and continue to be priorities within their sectors through, for example, appointing a Director or Coordinator of Effective Parenting and Parenting Education. • To form Task Forces that support and further the work of the Clearinghouse, Instructor Training Center and Research Institute.

6. Proposed Government-Supported Initiative National Clearinghouse on Effective Parenting • Shares information on effective parenting and child development with the public. • Shares information on parent and family effectiveness programs and resources with the public. • Is responsible for organizing and implementing National Parents Day celebrations and for providing Presidential Certificates of Appreciation to parents who successfully complete parent and family effectiveness classes, seminars and workshops.

7. Proposed Government-Supported Initiative National Parenting Instructor Training Center Address unequal availability and unavailability of parenting and family effectiveness training opportunities nationwide by: • Providing instructor training workshops in various parenting and family programs nationwide, and by providing the graduates with ongoing technical assistance in generating, conducting and evaluating their programs and classes. • Providing workshops in generic, non-program specific parenting and family life education nationwide, with ongoing technical assistance in generating, conducting and evaluating such interventions.

8. Proposed Government-Supported Initiative • National Parenting Instructor Training Center (continued) • Working closely with universities and colleges to have them include training to be parenting and family instructors, educators, coaches and home visitors as part of their degree programs in fields like psychology, social work and education. • Developing standards for certifying parenting and family life personnel.

9. Proposed Government-Supported Initiative • National Institute on Effective Parenting • This research and program evaluation institute would have responsibility for supporting and stimulating: • Research on parent-child relations • Research on child development • Research on the effectiveness of parenting and family skill-building programs and resources • Research to create new programs, particularly for parent populations for which none currently exist • Cost effectiveness and cost offset studies, including longitudinal research.

10. Proposed Government-Supported Initiative • Funding Overall Initiative • Reallocation of existing federal funding including training, research, foster care and clearinghouse monies. • Utilization of private sector funds for various aspects, including foundation, corporate and United Way funding, as well as pro bono media services. • Encouragement of the creation of new private sector funds to support various aspects of the Initiative. • Encouragement of parents to support their own education for parenthood, such as paying on a sliding scale for classes and workshops. • Allocation of new tax dollars.

11. National Parents Day Proclamation “Parents are role models for their children. With patience, sacrifice, and love, they teach their children life lessons and prepare them for the future. We honor parents for their dedication to providing our nation’s children with the love and support they need.” - George W. Bush

12. Concluding comments… By giving his strong support to the Effective Parenting Initiative, President Bush will be going beyond his stirring affirmation honoring parents and providing bold presidential leadership to make effective parenting a true national priority. He will be helping to give parents the tools they need to help every child in America grow into a happy, healthy, and productive citizen.

13. Concluding comments (continued)… Finally, the president and the administration that embraces and actualizes the Effective Parenting Initiative will have as its legacy one of the greatest achievements of all time. The entire NEPI coalition stands ready to help you achieve this golden legacy.

14. Proposed • Federal Government-Supported • Effective Parenting • Initiative