Council Member Closeup
Barbara B. LeBlanc, LCSW
Director, The Parenting Center at Children's Hospital
Work and education related to parenting education:
- After obtaining my MSW from LSU, I worked in the foster care system for the state of Louisiana, then as a social worker for patients and families at Children's Hospital in New Orleans.
- My first experience with the power of parenting was working with an intervention grant for non-organic failure to thrive babies and mothers.
- I was Director of Social Work for Children's Hospital until retiring for a few years to be at home with my own children (twin boys and a daughter, all now young adults).
- In 1988 I rejoined the workforce as Assistant Director at The Parenting Center, a wellness program at Children's Hospital.
- I became Director in August, 2005, just in time to evacuate for Katrina and then rebuild our city and population.
- I have served as one of the inaugural co-chairs of LAPEN.
Key Issues of Interest in Parenting Education:
- The growth and development of parents
- The development of parenting education as a field of study and profession
- Providing information and skills in childrearing to all parents
- The importance of investing in preventive education for parents
Presentations:
- Connecting Discipline to Theory in the Early Years
- Nuts and Bolts of Running a Parent Education Group
- Parenting Approaches and Problems across Diverse Populations
- Answering Parent's Questions about Preschool Behavior
- Adolescent Brain Development and Implications for Parenting
Activities:
- Louisiana Parent Education Network (LAPEN)
- Chateau de Notre Dame Retirement Community Board of Directors
- WLAE Public Television Community Advisory Board
- Sailing is a family activity
- Frequent Appearances on local TV and a weekly Radio show to promote Parenting Center programs as well as answer questions concerning parenting issues.
- Provide live-call shows on radio and television talking to parents about parenting concerns.
- Presentations to parents at schools, churches, and places of business on child development, discipline, and communicating with children.
- Regularly author articles on parenting issues featured in NOLA Baby, a local parenting magazine.
Updated: February 2010
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