The Development of a Parent Education Transdisciplinary Early Childhood Model in Virginia Bethany Geldmaker RN, PNP, PhD Virginia Early Child Comprehensive

The Development of a Parent Education Transdisciplinary

Early Childhood Model in Virginia

Bethany Geldmaker RN, PNP, PhD

Virginia Early Child Comprehensive System Grant (VECCS) Project Director

ECCS Meeting, August 2, 2010

Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)

This workshop will address the following:

• ECCS Critical Component: • Parent Education & Partnership and Collaboration

• ECCS Key Systems Element: • Standards, Monitoring, & Accountability

ECCS components flower

This graphic model illustrates how the Five (substantive) Critical Components and the Seven (infrastructure-oriented) Key Elements in Comprehensive System Building relate to the ECCS initiative.


Goal: This session will discuss the approach used

by Virginia to develop a parent education coalition and some of the challenges and solutions


Objectives1. Define what is meant by a Transdisciplinary Model2. Describe the development of the coalition

• Describe how VSPEC assembled a leadership team- • Identifying the right players

• Identify strategies to engage and sustain the coalition• Membership

• Discuss needed organizational skills and resources


3. Describe challenges, impact, and solutions to VSPEC• Governance • Best practice/evidence based programs• Organization and resources• Sustainability• Communication• Physical distance • Funding

4. Discuss emerging issues in the field


Transdisciplinary Model Defined:

Meaning moving across or beyond disciplines, into a different state

Why not Inter?

Meaning between or among

Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)The Virginia State Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC) is a

public/private coalition of professionals and parents working to advocate for and ensure that all caregivers have access to quality parent education, information services, and support necessary to raise happy, healthy families. VSPEC consists of state and community partners working together to support a common vision, mission and core values. The Coalition was created in an effort to work together to identify gaps in parent education, strengthen existing services, develop methods by which to increase awareness about the importance of parent education and its impact on families, and identify components of best practices in parenting education programs. Work by the coalition includes but is not limited to promoting the use of evidence-based curriculum, development of facilitation skills, identifying performance measures and outcomes, and promoting effective evaluation tools.

Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC) Background

• Organized in July 2005 by VECCS and Prevent Child Abuse VA based on the ECCS Scan gap analysis & VECCS planning group feedback

• Consists of state and community stakeholders and service providers working together to support a common vision, mission and set of core values

• Purpose: identify gaps in parent education and to strengthen existing services

Ready for School. Ready for Life.

Sample Logic ModelSeptember-December 2006

1. Convene work group

2. Identify key partners

3. Consensus on definition of parent education

4. Develop work plan for the group

5. Achieve consensus on work plan

6. Develop parent education survey

7. Conduct survey

8. Review existing state parent education plans and Governor’s state plan

9. Refine and prioritize Governor’s state plan goals

10. Set up tracking system for monitoring progress on the work plan

VSPEC Definition of Parent Education

A process for helping parents understand children’s development, their needs and uniqueness by offering strategies, tools and insight for observing and interpreting children’s behavior. Parent education is also a process that helps parents understand their own roles and responsibilities and gain insight in how to use the information to maximize positive outcomes for children and families.

This process can take place through a one-to-one program, a group program or individual research and reading.


Challenges

1. Governance

Impact & Solutions•Poor coordination, communication, & collaboration across systems•Duplication of efforts &expense•Lack of joint planning, development, implementation, & evaluation•Identifying the right players•Leadership

VSPEC Governance

VSPEC consists of state and community partners working together to support a common vision, mission and core values. The coalition members work together to identify gaps in parent education and to strengthen existing services. Vision:All children are nurtured in happy, safe, healthy families.Mission MissionThe Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC) is a public/private coalition of professionals and parents working to advocate for and ensure that all caregivers have access to quality parent education, information services and support necessary to raising happy healthy families.

VSPEC Core Values • Valuing children• Strengthening and empowering families• Taking responsibility for the integrity of our

service to others• Growing, developing, and transforming how

we work together to reflect best practices and diversity

• Communicating to strengthen parent education networks

• Promoting physical and emotional well being in ourselves and others

VSPEC Guiding Principles

Commitment - through actions taken as leaders, advocates, educators, collaborators and caregivers.

Compassion – and caring for all Virginia families, children and ourselves.

Respect and Inclusivity – for all people of all ages from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Our work is driven by a strength-based philosophy that promotes open-mindedness and hope.

Integrity – in all of our actions, based upon honesty, high ethical standards and a commitment to practice based on research and ongoing evaluation.


Challenges

2. Use of standardized curriculum, best practice/evidence based programs

Impact & Solutions

•Lack of standardized definition of quality programs•Lack of uniform performance measures & evaluation•Discuss critical concepts at local, state & national levels•Increase awareness through web based communication & conferences about key issues


Challenges

3. Organization & Resources

Impact and Solution

•One term governor •Shifts in priorities & policies between administration impact resource availability•Active voice through participation on state level committees, planning groups, & other efforts


Challenges

4. Sustainability

Impact and Solution

•How to achieve with grant funded projects & multi-agency/organization councils & committees•Work to assure an infrastructure that reaches across geographic & ethnic/cultural boundaries, disciplines, & agencies •Provide ongoing leadership


Challenges

5. Communication-

Vast array of

definitions, viewpoints, & expectations of gatekeepers, policy makers, & providers of parent education

Impact and Solution

•Significant difference in organization of services between state and localities•Common vision, standardized terminology•Evidence-based curriculum & programs•Professional development•Performance measures, evaluation


Challenges

6. Physical Distance

Impact and Solution

•Active participation in coalition activities•How to balance web based communication with face-to-face networking •Utilize web based services such as teleconferencing, list serves, social online networks•Communicate with partners using both types of modalities & resources


Challenges

7. Funding and Budget Reduction

Impact and Solution

•Revenue short falls leading to loss of programs and personnel•Sharply focused programs, clear outcome expectations, and performance measures


Emerging Issues• Professional development• Credentialing• Centralized registry of parent educators • Use of evidence-based programs/curriculum• Outcomes and performance measures• Evaluation

Parent Education Issues

Discussion

1. Professional Development Career Lattice

2. Credential programs or people

3. Centralized registry of parent educators

4. Web based versus face-to-face parent education

Web Resources

Web site: http://www.vahealth.org/childadolescenthealth/EarlyChildhoodHealth/VSPEC

http://www.smartbeginnings.org

http://www.vahealth.org/childadolescenthealth/EarlyChildhoodHealth/VSPEC

http://www.vahealth.org/childadolescenthealth/EarlyChildhoodHealth/VSPEC

http://www.smartbeginnings.org/

Questions

Documents

The Development of a Parent Education Transdisciplinary Early Childhood Model in Virginia Bethany Geldmaker RN, PNP, PhD Virginia Early Child Comprehensive