National Parenting Education Network (NPEN) Strategic Plan

(Approved 2.10.11 at the NPEN Annual Meeting in Denton, TX; revisions approved 3.9.11 at the NPEN Guidance Team Conference Call Meeting)

Networking Goal:

Goal 1: Strengthen NPEN’s role as a key networking vehicle for parenting educators and parenting education organizations and programs.

Objectives:

1. Develop partnerships with states, national systems, organizations, and businesses to increase NPEN’s networking capacity and visibility.
2. Build partnerships into long-term relationships in order to foster identification with NPEN.
3. Identify multiple avenues for networking including web-based, print, radio, and other media.

Information Sharing Goal:

Goal 2: Develop NPEN’s website and listserv as THE sources for information and resources for parenting educators.

Objective:

1. Enhance and organize the NPEN website to include a range of resources for parenting educators.
2. Maximize the use and functionality of the listserv.

Professional Development Goal

Goal 3:  Promote NPEN as the leader in setting standards for professional development and recognition systems.

Objectives:

1. Develop and adopt core competencies and standards for parenting educators.
2. Develop a matrix of existing professional recognition systems.
3. Create a template for states/organizations to use to develop their own professional recognition system.
4. Hold a National Forum on Professional Development Systems; follow with a White Paper.
5. Investigate the feasibility of operationalizing a national professional development and recognition system.

Leadership Goal:

Goal 4: Broaden NPEN’s leadership role in advocating for national recognition of parenting education.

Objectives:

1. Enhance NPEN’s branding.
2. Develop and implement a media communication plan.
3. Conduct an effective NPEN member recruitment plan.
4. Raise awareness among decision makers and the general public about the importance of parenting education.
5. Raise awareness among parents about the importance of participation in parenting education.
6. Increase NPEN’s presence at local, state, regional, and national conferences.

Operations Goal:

Goal 5: Ensure sustainability of NPEN over time by increasing human and financial resources.

Objectives:

1. Obtain ongoing funding for an administrative assistant for NPEN. (FRD)
2. Obtain funding for specific projects/activities. (FRD)
3. Mobilize NPEN Council, other NPEN members, NPEN listserv subscribers, and the NPEN advisors to support NPEN’s mission. (L&A)
4. Increase volunteer in-kind contributions. (L&A)
5. Improve membership system components including recruitment, maintaining database, and renewal notification. (N&M)
6. Increase cultural, gender, and economic diversity of Council membership to advance fundamental issues of inclusion and equity. (Nom)
7. Investigate the feasibility of an NPEN home office. (FRD)

Assignment of Goal 5 objectives to committees:

• FRD = Financial Resource Development Committee
• L&A = Leadership & Advocacy Committee
• N&M = Networking & Membership Committee
• Nom = Nominating Committee