Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is NPEN?
NPEN is the National Parenting Education Network. NPEN is a group of parenting education professionals, researchers, program administrators, and others striving to build the field of parenting education by networking and making connections to move the field forward. In order to expand participation, NPEN is currently developing an outreach plan to increase state involvement.
NPEN is comprised of practitioners who provide parenting education as a primary part of their work. NPEN has local, state, and national structures for resources and support. It is bound together by commonly accepted principles, notably the principles of embeddedness and inclusivity.
This means that NPEN takes the position that one goal of parenting education is to provide access to parenting education resources for all parents and recognizes that parenting education is embedded in a large number of organizations and fields, all of which are important in addressing NPEN's goals.
NPEN seeks to represent the interests and needs of the many professionals, paraprofessionals and volunteers who serve as parenting educators.
NPEN is governed by a council of 20-25 members who set the policy and establish the projects to be pursued.
return to top2. What is the purpose of NPEN?
NPEN's purpose and mission is to increase recognition and catalyze growth in the field of parenting education. The stated goals are to provide:
- Networking to facilitate linkages among practitioners;
- Knowledge development to expand the base of research and knowledge about parenting and parenting education and increase its accessibility;
- Professional growth to address issues such as ethics, standards, certification, and education; and,
- Leadership among parenting educators and with policy makers, media, and the public.
3. Who is involved with NPEN?
Anyone who supports the principles of NPEN can be involved with the organization.
return to top4. AM I eligible for membership in NPEN?
NPEN membership is open to anyone in the field of parenting education who supports the principles of NPEN. See How to Join for more information.
return to top5. Is my agency or organization eligible for membership in NPEN?
At this time, membership for agencies is the same as individual membership; see question #4 above or How to Join. NPEN welcomes both individuals and groups to participate in NPEN as members.
return to top6. What do individuals or agencies get from the affiliation with NPEN?
Opportunities to:
- Connect with other parent educators
- Learn about other parent education initiatives around the country
- Participate in promoting and building the field of parent education by becoming a field participant and joining one of NPEN's committees and working on projects of interest
- Access the web site and listserv to help you stay connected with others in the field
- Learn about and get more involved at the local, state, national and/or international level.
7. Does NPEN offer professional development opportunities?
Yes, there are opportunities to connect with other field participants and to share resources and training activities. NPEN also offers professional development opportunities in collaboration
with other professional groups. NPEN collaborated with Family Support American (formerly the Family Resource Coalition) to organize a parent education track for their national conference in April 2000. NPEN Council members routinely offer workshops through the National Council of Family Relations and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. However, NPEN itself does not have a professional development program at this time.
8. What has NPEN accomplished?
Over the past year, NPEN has established a common set of principles and a creative leadership and organizational structure that is inclusive and embedded. This means that NPEN takes the position that one goal of parenting education is to provide access to parenting education resources for all parents and recognizes that parenting education is embedded in a large number of organizations and fields, all of which are important in addressing NPEN's goals.
NPEN forged a successful collaboration with Family Support American (FSA) by organizing a parenting track for FSA's Spring 2000 Conference. Participants reports that this track was one of the highlights of the conference.
A Parenting Education fact sheet was written for FSA to help family support programs develop a parenting education component that would meet the needs of their parents.
NPEN is working to identify parenting professionals and parenting programs in states across the nation in the effort to begin the networking between these entities.
return to top9. Is there a membership fee?
Yes, the cost for membership is $25 per year see How to Join for more information.
return to top10. How can I get involved?
NPEN is working on many issues and projects that could use your help, expertise, and organizational affiliation. First and foremost, NPEN needs you to become active in the issue or project that is closest to your heart. Secondarily, there are a number of opportunities for your active involvement. Among them are:
- Build local/state/national membership and networking with parenting educators, other parenting professional, advocates and other organizations (Networking Committee)
- Maintain and expanding both the NPEN website and list-serve resources (Services Committee)
- Help organize and increase resources (Resource Dev. and Management Committee)
- Work on specific project (Special Projects Committee)
- Plan workshops
- Promote public policy and legislation
- Develop linkages and I&R projects, etc. return to top
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign