Join the College of Public Health and Human Sciences’ Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families (HFC) for this year’s Oregon Parenting Education Week seminar series to learn more about parenting education in Oregon and beyond.
May 20, 21 and 23, the center will offer three seminars featuring nationally recognized parenting experts who will discuss research on parental roles and the part communities can play in supporting families.
“Of all the things that influence a child’s growth and development, the most critical is reliable, responsive and sensitive parenting,” says Hallie Ford Center Outreach Coordinator Denise Rennekamp. “Parenting skills can be enhanced by effective parenting education. The seminar series is an opportunity to increase awareness about the importance of parenting and the value of parenting education in optimizing outcomes for children.”
Parenting education programs exist throughout Oregon, but historically these programs have not had an infrastructure to support their efforts.
Through events such as Oregon Parenting Education Week and the seminar series, the Hallie Ford Center promotes and brings awareness to parenting education opportunities occurring in local communities throughout the state.
The seminars not only offer current research findings on each of the topics, but also insight for application in communities.
May 20:
Hear from Stephen J. Bavolek, executive director of the Family Nurturing Centers, International, who will discuss “Cultivating a Community-wide Culture of Nurturing Along the Southern Oregon Coast” at noon at HFC room 115.
May 21:
Hear from Katherine C. Pears with the Oregon Social Learning Center who will discuss “Supporting Children’s First Teachers: Promoting school readiness through parent education” at 2 p.m. at HFC room 115.
May 23:
Hear from Psychology Assistant Professor David C. R. Kerr, Oregon Social Learning Center, who will discuss “Boys, Men, Fathers: A 30-year intergenerational study of how fatherhood impacts men and their families” at 10 a.m. at HFC room 115. Hallie Ford Center Endowed Director Richard Settersten will provide an introduction titled “How Fatherhood Matters for Men’s Lives.”
Dr. Kerr studies the development of depression and conduct problems, and the prevention of youth suicide and health-risking sexual behaviors. Read David C. R. Kerr’s OSU faculty bio.
Rick Settersten is a professor of Human Development and Family Sciences at Oregon State University and Endowed Director of the Hallie E. Ford Research Center for Healthy Children and Families. Read Rick Settersten’s full bio.
All of the events, held in Hallie Ford Center room 115, are free and open to the public and will be followed by Q&A sessions.