An Evaluation of a Parent-Developed, Parent-Run Parent Education Program

Abstract

This article reports on a new approach to parent education in which a group of parents developed a parent education curriculum and facilitated the program. The approach is based upon a model of empowerment that asserts that parents, working collectively, can affect meaningful change in their lives. After describing the HOPE (Helping Our Parents to be Educators) Project, the article explores whether the program successfully influenced parents' abilities to parent well. Using a repeated-measures model, the study found that participation resulted in improved communication within the family, enhanced social support, better attitudes toward the child, and increased parental empowerment.

KEYWORDS:

• parenting
• parent education
• peer education
• empowerment
• self-determination

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors thank all the parents for their dedication, humor, and patience in this project and acknowledge the support of the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs.

The project described was supported by Grant APH PA 006014-01 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The statements and opinions expressed are solely the responsibility of Helping Our Parents to be Educators (HOPE) Project and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department.

Notes

Note. N _int = 87; N _com = 61.