Parenting Parenting Newsletter Newsletter

ProjectProject

Your name hereUniversity of Wisconsin-Extension

Three Parenting Three Parenting Newsletter SeriesNewsletter Series

Parenting the First Year Parenting the First Year (PFY)(PFY)

Parenting the 2Parenting the 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd Years Years (PSTY)(PSTY)

Preparing to Parent Preparing to Parent (P2P)(P2P)

Newsletter FeaturesNewsletter Features

8-page issues8-page issues

Age-pacedAge-paced

Reach socially isolated familiesReach socially isolated families

Can be shared with othersCan be shared with others

Free for parentsFree for parents

Easy to read and understandEasy to read and understand

Available in Spanish edition Available in Spanish edition

How did the newsletter How did the newsletter project get started?project get started?

Two extension agents from N. Wisconsin Two extension agents from N. Wisconsin produced the first version of PFY in 1982.produced the first version of PFY in 1982.

In 1988 an entirely new edition was written In 1988 an entirely new edition was written by Dave Riley & Dori Schatell.by Dave Riley & Dori Schatell.

Kiwanis seeking a project for major service Kiwanis seeking a project for major service effort – helped jumpstart distributioneffort – helped jumpstart distribution

Local partnerships have Local partnerships have included:included:

70 county extension offices70 county extension offices

165 Kiwanis Clubs165 Kiwanis Clubs

77 maternity hospitals77 maternity hospitals

22 city or county health departments22 city or county health departments

49 other partners49 other partners

How Many Households Do How Many Households Do the Newsletters Reach?the Newsletters Reach?

Parenting the First YearParenting the First Year newsletters reach newsletters reach 35,000 Wisconsin families each year.35,000 Wisconsin families each year.

About half of the families giving birth in About half of the families giving birth in Wisconsin each year (70,000).Wisconsin each year (70,000).

Another 22,000 Wisconsin families receive Another 22,000 Wisconsin families receive Parenting the 2Parenting the 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd Years Years each year. each year.

Goals of the Parenting Goals of the Parenting Newsletter ProjectNewsletter Project

To encourage competent parentingTo encourage competent parenting

To enhance early childhood developmentTo enhance early childhood development

To address threats to early brain development:To address threats to early brain development:

-chemical exposure-chemical exposure

-undiagnosed vision / hearing problems-undiagnosed vision / hearing problems

-inadequate nutrition-inadequate nutrition

To prevent abusive parentingTo prevent abusive parenting

Do the newsletters Do the newsletters accomplish these goals?accomplish these goals?

Parents report positive changes in their parentingParents report positive changes in their parenting::

Talk more with their babies and toddlersTalk more with their babies and toddlers

Provide more things to enhance developmentProvide more things to enhance development

Start toddlers doing simple choresStart toddlers doing simple chores

Set rules and limits with their childrenSet rules and limits with their children

Provide safer home environmentsProvide safer home environments

Do the newsletters Do the newsletters accomplish these goals?accomplish these goals?

In a field experiment, 550 parents who In a field experiment, 550 parents who received the received the Parenting the First YearParenting the First Year::

had attitudes significantly less like those of had attitudes significantly less like those of child abusing parentschild abusing parents

reported slapping or spanking their babies reported slapping or spanking their babies fewer times in the previous weekfewer times in the previous week

What have parents said?What have parents said?““I probably wouldn’t have talked to my child when I probably wouldn’t have talked to my child when

he was an infant if I hadn’t read these he was an infant if I hadn’t read these newsletters.” newsletters.” Richland County parentRichland County parent

““The newsletters have been a big help in controlling The newsletters have been a big help in controlling my frustration when the baby cries for hours on my frustration when the baby cries for hours on end! Thank you.” end! Thank you.” Grant County parentGrant County parent

““The newsletter helped me to be more responsive The newsletter helped me to be more responsive to my baby, because I found out that the games to my baby, because I found out that the games we play and the things we do are not just fun, but we play and the things we do are not just fun, but also helpful in my baby’s development.” also helpful in my baby’s development.”

La Crosse County parentLa Crosse County parent

What have parents said?What have parents said?

““We have all the books [on parenting]. Nothing has We have all the books [on parenting]. Nothing has been as helpful as this newsletter.” been as helpful as this newsletter.” Wood County parentWood County parent

““The newsletters have been very useful to me The newsletters have been very useful to me because I have no friends with children and very because I have no friends with children and very little input. It helps me know what to expect and little input. It helps me know what to expect and what is normal behavior.” what is normal behavior.” Dane County parentDane County parent

““We love the newsletter! We’ve copied them all and We love the newsletter! We’ve copied them all and passed them on to sisters and brothers having passed them on to sisters and brothers having babies whose cities don’t do anything like this for babies whose cities don’t do anything like this for them.” them.” Fond du Lac County parentFond du Lac County parent

Evolution of the Parenting Evolution of the Parenting Newsletter ProjectNewsletter Project

Spanish version of PFYSpanish version of PFY

English and Spanish versions of PSTYEnglish and Spanish versions of PSTY

Info SourceInfo Source

Website, about 60 read on line each dayWebsite, about 60 read on line each day

15 other states, 2 other countries15 other states, 2 other countries

Parenting Future Readers & Parenting Your Parenting Future Readers & Parenting Your Unique ChildUnique Child

NEW!NEW! Preparing to Parent Preparing to Parent newsletter series newsletter series

What is What is Preparing to Preparing to ParentParent??

4 Issue Set of 16-page Prenatal Newsletters4 Issue Set of 16-page Prenatal Newsletters

Prequel Series to Prequel Series to Parenting the First YearParenting the First Year

One Issue for Each Trimester, and the Time One Issue for Each Trimester, and the Time Around BirthAround Birth

Written by UW-professors, with advisory panel Written by UW-professors, with advisory panel that included health care professionalsthat included health care professionals

Why a Prenatal Newsletter Why a Prenatal Newsletter Series?Series?

Need for earlier interventionNeed for earlier intervention

Reinforces Advice of Health Care Reinforces Advice of Health Care ProvidersProviders

Helps Parents Remember AdviceHelps Parents Remember Advice

Answers Questions Not Discussed at Answers Questions Not Discussed at Clinic VisitsClinic Visits

Can Be Shared With Social NetworkCan Be Shared With Social Network

Examples of Topics That Examples of Topics That Require Early InterventionRequire Early Intervention

Alcohol and Tobacco UseAlcohol and Tobacco Use

Prenatal Nutrition and VitaminsPrenatal Nutrition and Vitamins

Avoidance of Environmental ToxinsAvoidance of Environmental Toxins

Use of Regular Prenatal CareUse of Regular Prenatal Care

Decision to BreastfeedDecision to Breastfeed

Developed by University of Developed by University of Wisconsin-Extension for 3 GoalsWisconsin-Extension for 3 Goals

To Help Expectant Parents Have a To Help Expectant Parents Have a Healthy Pregnancy and BabyHealthy Pregnancy and Baby

To Promote Competent ParentingTo Promote Competent Parenting

To Prevent Child Abuse and NeglectTo Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

Distributing P2PDistributing P2P

Distribute by hand to expectant Distribute by hand to expectant parents at prenatal visitsparents at prenatal visits

Partner with local Extension officePartner with local Extension office

Advantages for partners (lower cost, Advantages for partners (lower cost, help with evaluation)help with evaluation)

Options for Obtaining P2P Options for Obtaining P2P NewslettersNewsletters

Purchase standard newsletters from Purchase standard newsletters from Extension PublicationsExtension Publications

Purchase license & print localized Purchase license & print localized versions (with your logo, contact info.):versions (with your logo, contact info.):

1.1. Have a printer make copiesHave a printer make copies

2.2. Print from a CD on your office computerPrint from a CD on your office computer

3.3. Print from a secure websitePrint from a secure website

EvaluationEvaluation

Data collected by self-report questionnaires Data collected by self-report questionnaires given to new parents at first postnatal visitgiven to new parents at first postnatal visit

Data entry completed at Extension officeData entry completed at Extension office

Each clinic will receive an Evaluation ReportEach clinic will receive an Evaluation Report

Power point presentation on results, press Power point presentation on results, press release series availablerelease series available