|
|
|
|
Meet the Springdale Staff Meet the Little Rock Staff Mission Statement Program Overview |
  |
| The thirteen service areas of the
program are: (1) Development and Dissemination of Parental Involvement Train-the-Trainer Modules and Toolkits (“Strengthening the Partnership”). The program develops and provides training to educators in a series of modules (“Strengthening the Partnership”) addressing critical issues in increasing parental involvement in education (see Educator Resources page). These modules are combined into a “Toolkit” for parent facilitators at all Title I schools in Arkansas who are classified as in need of improvement. A train-the-trainers workshop in the use of our parental involvement toolkit/modules is provided annually to these parent facilitators. (2) Develop and Disseminate NCLB Information Modules on School Report Cards, School Choice, and Supplemental Educational Services. Using the train-the-trainers module described in Service Area 1, the program develops and disseminates modules on NCLB to parents around the state to help them gain a general understanding of standards, school report cards, AYP, school choice, and supplemental educational services. These modules are disseminated to parent facilitators in Title I schools using the same strategy as described in Service Area 1. (3) Comprehensive Trainings in Facilitating School, Family, and Community Connections. The program supports a 3-day train-the-trainers workshops on the evidence-based Beyond the Building program to use in our efforts to improve school, family, and community connections. Following the training, those trained are able to provide 2-4 day trainings within local school districts. (4) Provide a Parents as Teachers to Serve the Growing Hispanic Population Through a sub-contract with the Benton County Sunshine School, the program provides PAT services to 60 additional low income, primarily Hispanic parents. (5) Provide Other Early Childhood Parent Education Services. The program offers early childhood parent education services that include parent curriculums, workshops/classes, and the development and dissemination of written materials (see Classes and Parenting Handouts pages). (6) Provide Workshops/Classes for Parents of Children in Elementary and Secondary Schools. The program offers single topic classes/workshops to parents on a variety of topics related to educational issues and the developmental progress of children who are in elementary and secondary schools (see Classes page). (7) CoSponsor and Organize an Annual Parent Education Conference The program co-sponsors a statewide 3-day annual conference in the area of parent education and parental involvement (see Conference page). The conference helps highlight various parenting services/programs within the state (and programs at a national level) as well as provides training and networking opportunities for professionals involved in working with parents. (8) Develop Inserts for the Statewide Publication, Parenting in Arkansas. Inserts on educational issues are distributed as part of the fall issues of Parenting in Arkansas (40,000-50,000 copies of each issue are distributed to parents free of charge). Parenting in Arkansas is a multiple-award winning parenting magazine (see Parenting in Arkansas Magazine page). (9) Develop and Disseminate Written Materials to Parents. The program disseminates written materials developed for parents on a variety of parenting issues (see Parenting Handouts page). Written information developed by the U.S. Department of Education and others is also distributed to parents through centers in Little Rock and Springdale. (10) Utilize a Health-Care Program that Travels to Schools throughout the State to Disseminate Information on Parental Involvement and NCLB. The program works with Arkansas Children's Hospital's Wellness-On-Wheels program to disseminate written materials on parent involvement and NCLB through its school programs and special events throughout the state. (11) Publish a Newsletter for Parent Educators and Parent Involvement Specialists in Arkansas The program publishes a newsletter (The Parent Educator) twice per year that is targeted to school-based parent educators in the state (see Newsletter page). The purpose of this newsletter is to make recipients aware of parental involvement issues, information, and resources that they can potentially use in their work with parents. (12) Maintain an Internet Web Site for Parents and Professionals The program supports this website (www.parenting-ed.org) which provides information and resources to parents and educators. (13) Provide Technical Assistance and Support Services to Parents and Educators. The program staff assists parents and educators in addressing issues related to the goals of the program. This involves providing such technical assistance through individual contacts, attending meetings related to collaborative efforts, making invited presentations, and disseminating information.
This grant has been awarded to the Jones Center for Families in Springdale. The program will involve the collaboration of several organizations. A contract has been established with the UAMS Department of Pediatrics to provide leadership for the project, to direct the Little Rock component, and to direct state-wide efforts. For additional information regarding the program please contact one of the individuals listed below. Program Director: Nicholas Long, Ph.D., UAMS/ACH (Little
Rock, 501-364-4605) longnicholas@uams.edu Program Evaluator: Mark Edwards, Ph.D., UAMS/ACH (Little Rock, 501-364-1021) edwardsmark@uams.edu
|
