Committees

Policy and Advocacy

Goal

Broaden NPEN’s leadership role in advocating for recognition of parenting education as a profession and for the normalization of parenting education.

Objectives

• Encourage participation in parenting education throughout the family lifespan.
• Raise awareness among decision makers and the general public about the importance, effectiveness, and scope of parenting education.
• Develop and implement a media communication plan that encompasses various mediums for advocating in the public for parenting education policies (op-ed pieces, letters to the editor).
• Advocate on behalf of parenting educators for sustainable funding mechanisms and policies.
• Develop partnerships with organizations (e.g. state parenting education networks/groups/associations, local/state/national government entities), national systems, and businesses.

Chair
Ellen Taner

Members
Meg Akabas, Danielle Aretz, Jená Bellezza, Michelle Berscheid, Donald Campbell, Gerald Cannon, Harriet Heath, Lisa Krause, Susan Laney, Michele Ostafy, Treisha Peterson, Celia Wilson

Assessing Parenting Education Programs Work Group
Betty Cooke, Irena Glover, Barbara Harvey, Harriet Heath, Jody Johnston Pawel, YaeBin Kim, Susan Laney, Dana McDermott, Glen Palm, Ellen Taner, Celia Wilson

Parenting Education Matters Messaging Campaign Work Group
Meg Akabas, Jená Bellezza, Ellen Taner

Networking and Membership

Goal

Strengthen NPEN’s role as a key networking vehicle for parenting educators and others who focus on areas related to NPEN’s mission.

Objectives

• Develop and implement a recruitment plan to increase NPEN membership.

• Improve and streamline membership system components including intake of new members, maintaining database, and renewal notification.

• Increase participation by NPEN members in supporting NPEN’s mission (e.g. by working on committees, being active on the NPEN Forum and listserv, sustaining membership, utilizing and disseminating NPEN resources).

• Connect with parenting educators, parenting education organizations, program providers, and institutions where parenting educators work (e.g. agencies, academic institutions).

• Increase NPEN’s presence at local, state, regional, and national conferences.

• Enhance NPEN’s branding.

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Chair
Greg David

Members
Mollie Bailey, Barbara Harvey

Professional Preparation and Recognition

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.

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Chair
Jody Johnston Pawel

Chair of PE Competencies Work Group
Betty Cooke

Chair of Diverse Roles in PE
Judy Wolf

Chair of the Webinar Sub-Committee
Jody Johnston Pawel

Nominating

Goal

Ensure sustainability of NPEN over time by increasing human resources with the addition of new members to the NPEN Council through the nominating process.

Objectives

• Increase Council membership to maintain diversity (cultural, ethnic, gender, economic, geographic and professional) to advance fundamental issues of inclusion and equity and an appropriate size.

• Prepare a slate of new members annually to fill vacant slots on the Council and fill the positions of officers of the organization.

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Chair
Debbie Farr

Members
Andrew Garland-Forshee, Kristine Stanik

Financial Resource Development

Goal

Ensure sustainability of NPEN over time by increasing financial resources.

Objectives

• Obtain funding for specific projects/activities.

Chair
Anne Clarkson

Members
YaeBin Kim, John Jeffers

Advisory Panel

Goal

Recruit, inform, and consult with the Council on issues and history.

Members
Meg, Akabas, Betty Cooke, Glen Palm, Stephanie Jones, Mary Kay Stranik