Connecting rural families to parenting resources
Abstract
Parents with young children in rural communities are often isolated from the many community resources available to help them create the optimum setting for their children's growth and learning. The Young Children and Families Project in rural Latah County, Idaho, launched several initiatives in 1999 to specifically connect rural parents with community resources. This paper, by AmeriCorps*VISTA Joan Heron, won honorable mention in the 2000 Northwest National Service Symposium, hosted by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL).Issue
In 1997, the Early Childhood Service Council — a group of agencies that provide services for families with young children in rural Latah County, Idaho — identified families' isolation as a serious impediment to making connections, accessing services, and providing the optimum environment for the growth and learning of their youngest children. In the predominately rural county of about 33,000 people, factors such as limited public transportation, weather conditions, unpublicized community resources, and lack of appropriate activities for infants, toddlers, and preschool children contribute to the social, emotional, physical, and cultural isolation experienced by many families.Action
To address the isolation of families with young children and provide them with resources to offer the optimum environment for growth and learning, the Young Children and Families Project launched several initiatives including:- Questions about Kids — a telephone help line answered by a child-development specialist
- First Steps — a telephone support service, provided to parents of newborns ages three to six months, staffed by trained volunteers
- Community Compass — a resource directory for families that is distributed to schools, police and sheriff departments, beauty parlors, family-service agencies, and to each parent of a newborn at the medical center
- Baby Tracks — immunization reminder postcards sent to parents before each immunization is due to be given. Cards are sent to parents of all infants born at the medical center who wish to have this service
- Ages and Stages Questionnaire — a developmental screening questionnaire sent to families with children between the ages of four months and five years
- Formation and coordination of a variety of coalitions to address issues pertinent to young families (e.g., parenting education)
Context
The Young Children and Families Project began operating in January 1999 to provide a variety of services to all families with children from newborn to eight years in Latah County. Latah County is a predominately rural community of about 33,000 people. During 1999, the project was staffed by a three-quarter time project director, a full-time program manager, and a three-quarter time administrative assistant. In the late spring, an AmeriCorps*VISTA member joined the program.Citation
Heron, Joan. "Making Connections." Stories of Service: National Service in the Northwest.Portland, Oregon: Northwest Regional Education Laboratory, June 2000.Outcome
Since the project began, there has been a gradual increase in the number of calls to the Questions About Kids phone line. In 1999, the phone line received 92 calls. Whereas, in just the three months from December 1, 1999, to February 29, 2000, the phone line received 48 calls. Also since the program began, the immunization rate for young children in the county has increased from 76 percent to 89 percent.Posted On
May 22, 2001Resources
Read "Making Connections by Joan Heron.
From The Resource Center library:
Stories of Service: National Service in the Northwest
Item number: M1678