Parenting Matters Foundation Programs
Publications of Parenting Matters Foundation have been exceptionally well-received by parents and the communities they reach. Parenting Matters Foundation publishes newsletters for parents of children from 0-5 and those in kindergarten. Articles for each publication are brief, easy-to-read, research based information written in a friendly, visually appealing format which encourages parents to read the material.
First Teacher (Ages 0-5)
Our goals are to increase a parent's knowledge of:
- early child development - nurturing and attachment
- effective parenting skills
- health, nutrition and safety issues
- kindergarten readiness issues, and
- community resources and local programs.
Information is about development, health and nutrition, brain development, discipline, early literacy, reading and learning, trusting relationships, choosing preschools, and local resources in English and Spanish.
Kindergarten Parenting Matters
Our goals in providing monthly information to parents are to increase parent knowledge of:
- the importance of parental involvement in helping their child transition successfully into school
- effective ways to support school based learning
- health and safety issues
- appropriate social emotional skills
- community resources and local programs
Articles also promote health and nutrition, reading and learning, positive relationships, and local resources in English and Spanish.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
PMF was recently selected by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration) to participate in their Service to Science initiative, which enhances the evaluation capacity of innovative programs and practices that address critical mental health needs. Nominated by Washington State, our First Teacher program was one of 50 national awards given. The program is designed to give technical assistance to examine our program outcomes and evaluation procedures. This is certainly one of our organizations recent successes. We will soon apply for additional funds to expand our capacity for program evaluation.
Challenging times will create new opportunities. We are finding this to be the case. A current need of our organization is to become more active in finding alternative sustainable funding. We have weathered some significant cutbacks in the last few years but funding still allows us to continue. Our two biggest immediate needs are to examine additional ways to reach out to families and how to use the internet for a lower cost way of disseminating our material. The closing of the parenting facility in one district will now allow us to concentrate more in the dissemination and funding of the newsletters. We believe that the moderate change in the direction of Parenting Matters Foundation will benefit us in the long run.