Parents face multiple challenges today that may inhibit their ability to meet their responsibilities and to raise and support their children. The goal of our parent education department is to reinforce parental practices which promote development and provide alternatives to harmful or nonproductive practices. Parent education and support programming assumes that parents are more likely to provide appropriate nurturing and guidance as they acquire a greater understanding of child development and children's needs. All parents need support from family, friends and community agencies. We're here to help.

Parent education is designed to strengthen and support families
and communities to prevent child abuse and neglect. The Child
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, as reauthorized by the
Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, identifies
parent education as a core prevention service. A significant
number of Community-Based Child Abuse and Neglect
Prevention (CBCAP) grants are funding parent education
programs as stand-alone efforts or as part of more
comprehensive strategies.

Successful parent education programs help parents acquire
and internalize parenting and problem-solving skills necessary
to build a healthy family. Research has shown that effective
parent training and family interventions promote protective
factors and lead to positive outcomes for both parents and
children (Lundahl & Harris, 2006). Protective factors include
nurturing and attachment, knowledge of parenting and of child
and youth development, parental resilience, social connections,
and concrete supports for parents (Child Welfare Information
Gateway, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Children’s Bureau, & FRIENDS National Resource Center For
Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention, 2008).

Current Parent Workshops 

All workshops are FREE.

For more information and to register, call 973.744.4050 ext. 1003.

Montclair Workshops

Programs for Parents Training Center

500 Bloomfield Avenue, 2nd Floor

Montclair, New Jersey

We are offering these workshops for the winter calendar:

Ten Things Every Child Needs- Part I February 22, 2011 6-8 PM

Ten Things Every Child Needs- Part II March 1, 2011 6-8 PM

This workshop focuses on a child’s brain development. This workshop is designed to inform new parents of the importance of a child’s earliest interactions. This invaluable workshop seek to encourage parents and caregivers by providing guidance that will assist them in giving their children their best start in life.

Newark Workshops

Parent Resources 

Programs for Parents (PfP) offers the following selection of free Parent Education booklets:

Welcome to Motherhood
Great Beginnings with Your New Baby
Getting Ready to be a Dad
Fatherhood and Your Child's Education
Being There for Your Child
Parent-Teacher Success
Helping Your Child Prepare for School
Countdown to Preschool

These are available by contacting us at 973.744.4050 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Childcare Matters 

This monthly newsletter is designed to enrich the parent/child relationship with articles that focus on play, health, safety and literacy - every aspect of child development. Each issue features an article which supports development at home. Other regular columns include songs, games, crafts and book reviews. The book reviews identify age-appropriate books for parents to read to their children - books that are sturdy enough to be handled by young fingers and hands and books with stories and pictures of exceptional value. Another edition of Childcare Matters brings similar topics to child care professionals. These newsletters reach 10,000 families and child care professionals. Click here to download free issues.

First Book 

First Book is a national nonprofit organization that nurtures the lifelong gift of reading in children. As a First Book distributor in Essex County, Programs for Parents donates books to child care facilities and individuals. Reading is one of life’s unique pleasures. Owning books, which encourages rereading them, enriches learning and life. It is also how one becomes a truly literate person. Through First Book we have distributed books to child care centers which have structured literacy programs. Over 72,000 books have been distributed to Essex County children since this program began in 1999. 

Web Resources 

NJ Div of Family Development Child

Child Care Referral Centers by County

ZERO TO THREE 
A national non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the healthy development of our nation's infants and toddlers by supporting and strengthening families, communities, and those who work on their behalf.
http://www.zerotothree.org

National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
http://www.naccrra.org

New Jersey Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
http://www.njaccrra.org/index.shtml

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care
http://nrckids.org/STATES/NJ/newjersey.htm

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) state chapter
http://www.healthychildcare.org/statecontacts.cfm?state=NJ

The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) is a national clearinghouse and technical assistance center linking parents, providers, policy-makers, researchers, and the public to early care and education information.
http://nccic.org/statedata/statepro/newjerse.html#Contact 

The New Jersey Child Assault (NJ CAP) Prevention Project is a statewide network of local projects with over 200 facilitators available to train in your school and community...training over three million children, parents and teachers how to be free from abuse and interpersonal violence. Programs for Parents represents NJ CAP throughout northern New Jersey.
http://www.njcap.org