A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

The Colorado Parent Information and Resource Center is disseminating information and providing referrals to parents statewide as well as supporting the Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) and Parents as Teachers (PAT) programs in six target communities. Ultimately, the aim of the project is that young children will reach school ready to succeed and elementary and secondary students will have the educational achievement necessary to succeed. The Center is housed in the Center for Human Investment Policy at the University of Colorado at Denver and promotes both state and local activities:

1. Expanding Helpline Services and Information Dissemination
   The 4 Parents Helpline is expanding to all areas of the state as well as evening and weekend hours. This toll-free helpline offers parents counseling, provides referrals, and maintains a lending library of books and videotapes. The Center is also developing and disseminating parenting materials on diverse topics, and informing parents about a wide array of available resources through existing parenting, education, and family support programs using an online database, the HandsNet Families and Children Communications Network.

2. Fostering Parent Input Into Policy
   The Center will encourage parents to attend two statewide parent leadership conferences focusing on enhancing parents' abilities to be effective leaders in school reform efforts and assisting disenfranchised parents in developing the skills necessary to more effectively influence their children's education. Furthermore, the Governor is establishing a task force made up of parents to develop a long-term strategic implementation and financing plan for parent education, involvement, and support activities as well as for improving links among the numerous family programs sponsored by the State of Colorado. Also, the Center is developing policy reports and other publications to provide parent input into policies and is coordinating the grant's efforts with related efforts at the state level.

3. Implementing HIPPY and PAT Programs in 6 Target Communities
   Six satellite parent involvement and resource centers are being established in Denver, Canon City, Grand Junction, Durango, and Costilla and Morgan Counties -- to expand HIPPY and PAT programs.
4. Strengthening Parent Participation in 6 Target Communities
   While implementing PAT and HIPPY programs in the 6 target communities, the Parent Information and Resource Centers will build the capacity of parents to participate in their local school improvement efforts. The Center is strengthening parent-professional partnerships among early childhood educators and child care providers in the communities by certifying parent/professional partnership trainers who will teach their skills to educators and family support professionals in their own communities. The parent/professional partnerships among elementary and middle school teachers is being strengthened to support school reform efforts in the target communities through training.

Collaborators:

• Clayton Foundation
• Center for Human Investment Policy, University of Colorado at Denver
• Governor's Office
• 4 Parents Helpline
• Statewide HIPPY
• RMC Research Corporation
• Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition

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[Ahmium Education, Inc.]

[Greater Washington Urban League]