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Networking
Goal
Connect parenting educators with one another and with information and resources about the field of parenting education.
Objectives
Enhance and organize the NPEN website to include a range of resources (meeting NPEN’s established criteria) available to parenting educators and others interested in accessing information about parenting education.
Utilize multiple networking avenues, including web-based, print, radio, and other media, to connect with others.
Maximize the use and functionality of the website.
Create and send a quarterly NPEN newsletter to NPEN members.
Chair open
Members Michael Finlay, Rebecca Parlakian, Kat Willard, Jamesetta Diggs, Nicole Runyon, Sarah MacLaughlin
Membership
Goal
To implement strategies to increase NPEN membership and facilitate the processes for members to step into leadership positions.
Objectives
General Membership: 1) develop and implement a recruitment plan to increase NPEN membership, utilizing marketing strategies and materials; 2) connect with parenting educators, parenting education organizations, program providers, and institutions to solicit membership in NPEN.
Leadership: 1) conduct the nomination, application, & onboarding process for new Board members, ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion; 2) establish a slate of officers and conduct the election; 3) through collaboration with other committees, increase committee participation of NPEN members.
Co-Chairs Mollie Bailey and Carol Nass
Members Margaret Stridick, Holly Arnold
Competencies
Goal
Establish NPEN as the leader in setting professional standards in the field of parenting education.
Objectives
Promote and collect feedback on Parenting Educator Competencies: A Resource Document for the Field of Parenting Education.
Develop competency list for paraprofessional parenting educators and a manual/guidelines for agencies and programs using paraprofessional parenting educators.
Update and maintain a matrix of existing professional recognition systems.
Create a template for states/organizations to use to develop their own professional recognition system.
Co-Chairs Betty Cooke and Sandra McClintic
Members
Lorna Durrant, Harriet Heath, YuJi Jiang, Stephanie Jones, Jody Johnston Pawel, Kristine Stanik, Dana McDermott, Judy Wolf
Financial Resource Development
Goal
To establish & manage a sustainable financial model for NPEN over time.
Objectives
By finding funding for specific projects/activities, support the work of the NPEN committee.
By collaborating with the NPEN committees and members, develop & maintain actions for sufficient positive cash flow to the organization.
Provide guidance to NPEN committees and members directed toward increasing financial resources and developing systems to manage those resources.
Chair John Jeffers
Members Michelle Berscheid, Debbie Farr, Samantha Gray, YaeBin Kim
Professional Development
Goal
To support the field of parenting education by offering various types of training and professional development through both standard and creative venues.
Objectives
To offer diverse training opportunities to members and non-members, providing CEUs when possible;
To offer, when appropriate, regional development and learning opportunities;
To work collaboratively with parenting professionals, paraprofessionals, students, and family support organizations; and
To work collaboratively with other NPEN committees.
Chair Ebonyse Mead
Members Chelsea Hamilton, Cynthia Richards, Dana Booker, Meilana Charles
Professional Outreach
Goal
To actively seek outward professional relationships and collaboration to create bidirectional benefit.
Objectives
To act as a conduit between NPEN and other like-minded organizations;
To respond to current events related to families, parenting, and parenting education as needed;
To create partnerships beyond the role of parenting education to enhance work with parents; and
To respond to requests for partnerships with other organizations.
Chair Debbie Farr
Members Danielle Aretz, Cynthia Levasseur, Shannon Rader
Marketing
Goal
To communicate to stakeholders what NPEN offers and how we support the field of parenting education.
Objectives
Create strategies for assisting and advertising the work of NPEN committees.
Promote NPEN through various avenues to gain volunteers and donors.
Chair Jody Johnston Pawel
Members Ann Magalhaes, Mary Willcox Smith, Samantha Gray
The National Parenting Education Network (NPEN) operates through the lens of equity and justice. We know the importance of social justice (racial, economic, educational, health, housing, employment, criminal, and environmental), diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging within the parenting education field and our organization. We demonstrate our commitment to these realities by ensuring that our membership and leadership roles are open to parenting professionals of all ethnicities, socio-economic statuses, ages, abilities, religions, sexual orientations, nationalities, genders, and marital statuses.
Children learn about a just society through the words and actions of their parents, caregivers, and others. We assert that our anti-racism and anti-oppression parenting education and family advocacy work allows everyone to be heard and supported. Our work includes promoting diverse parenting educators and parenting education in our media, webinars, member communications, leadership opportunities, networking, conferences, trainings, and advocacy. By keeping racial justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging at the forefront, we create an environment within NPEN that supports parenting educators, parents, and caregivers, thereby, encouraging children’s healthy growth and development.
