Sunday, April 26, 2009

What is The National Effective Parenting Initiative?

The National Effective Parenting Initiative (NEPI) is about working together to make it the birthright of every child in the United States to be raised effectively and humanely by loving and skillful parents who receive the best possible parenting education and support.

Achieving this goal begins with each and every parent committing themselves to being the best parent they can be and to seeking out and receiving the best possible parenting education.


Achieving the goal also includes honoring parents for the contributions they make to their children’s growth, health and happiness through such activities as National Parents’ Day celebrations and effective parenting weeks.

It also involves urging our elected government officials to create and support Effective Parenting Initiatives at the national, state, county and city government levels that will make both effective parenting and parenting education priorities, and thereby facilitate the opportunity for every parent to receive the best parenting education.

Also within the scope of NEPI is creating and supporting effective parenting projects at the community level, such as projects that bring parenting education opportunities into every preschool, child care center, and family day care home, and projects that bring these opportunities into work places and schools. In addition, reaching the goal entails having more individuals trained as parenting instructors, family life educators and parent coaches.

And NEPI strives to prevent the abuse and neglect of all children.

As the overarching goal is achieved through these various actions, initiatives and projects, our communities will become safer and better places to live, and our schools and other institutions will become more effective and productive. Our children will be much more likely to reach their full potentials. Through these actions and their anticipated benefits, we will also become known as a nation that takes good care of its children and families.

Every person and every organization can participate in achieving and supporting this noble and important goal. Specific actions that you and/or your organization can take are listed in the section on What You Can Do.

Best of all, each of you can become a member and important part of what NEPI is accomplishing!

Do join, let’s make our country a great place to raise children! There are three membership programs each with its own set of benefits and responsibilities.

Becka has a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Development, and has 17 years experience in the field. She is a Certified Parent Educator and Licensed Baby, Toddler, and Preschool Sign Language Instructor. You can visit her site, at www.learnandgrowtogether.com