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.
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
Goal: This session will discuss the approach used
by Virginia to develop a parent education coalition and some of the challenges and solutions
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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.
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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.
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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
Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC)
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
Questions