B As Cnnctd As Ur Kds R. With iParentnetwork.org You Can.
Ever wanted to talk to other parents to see how they are handling certain thorny issues with their kids? Have a question that you'd love to ask, but frankly, it's too embarrassing? Wondering how other parents handle computer time? New parent with no time and want to find other parents to connect with but just don't have time to reach out? iParentnetwork.org is a new web site that has just launched in the Tri Town area of Mansfield, Ashford and Willington will allow parents to do that and more.
Storrs, CT, August 28, 2009 --(PR.com)-- iParentnetwork.org, A Virtual Town Square for Parents of Mansfield, Ashford and Willington is Now Live.
iParentnetwork is a free online meeting place just for parents in the Tri-town area of Mansfield, Ashford & Willington. Loaded with 21st century technology tools, iParentnetwork wants to get parents talking to one another, providing support and encouragement to each other, in hopes that doing so will help ensure that their community’s kids grow up in safe and healthy ways. Kids today are so connected today by technology that it has created a digital divide between parents and kids.
It's common for parents to want to talk to other parents to see how they are handling certain thorny issues with their kids. Sometimes they even have a question that they'd love to ask, but frankly, are too embarrassed to do so. New parents with no time often are frustrated because they don't have the time to find other parents to connect with but they feel isolated in those first years.
iParentnetwork.org is a new web site that has just launched in the Tri Town area of Mansfield, Ashford and Willington that will allow parents to do that and much more. The theory behind iParentnetwork is that parents who feel connected to other parents, supported by other parents and engaged in the job of parenting are more likely raise kids who mature into healthy and safe young adults. We hope iParentnetwork will help parents become their own "Prevention Experts" on behalf of their children.
Membership is free and is as simple as creating a user ID and password. iParentnetwork will be a living website connection that will grow to become what the community wants it to be.
This initiative began with a committed group of parents, teachers, professionals and community members who came together to brainstorm ways to collectively help keep the community’s kids safe and healthy. See www.iparentnetwork.org/about/ to learn more about how this project began.
The Steering committee (www.iparentnetwork.org/about/steering-committee/) wanted to know why this area of CT had substantially higher rates of underage drinking. To influence change, they decided to focus their programming on parents, a child's true prevention expert. They learned that in addition to risky behaviors among teens, parents of kids of all ages had many other concerns that they wanted to talk about with other parents and often felt isolated in this semi-rural area. And because kids are so connected by technology, it makes it even more difficult to be an effective parent.
With a regional high school, parents reported finding it difficult to make new connections with other parents from the other towns in the regional district, once their child reached high school, isolating them even further.
After much research, the committee determined that the best way to ensure lasting environmental change in our community, was to:
· Give parents a way to feel, and in fact, to be more connected to each other and
· Provide access to information and resources on a range of topics of interest to all parents, regardless of the age of their kids.
· Arm them with information and support. Parents are kids first teachers.
The iParentnetwork is funded by the Tri Town Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking, with the help of a grant from the CT Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, and is just one part of an initiative to create a prevention framework for youth in our communities. The Coalition steering Committee oversees the development of this parent website and other initiatives. iParentnetwork also works with a Parent Advisory Group to improve and expand the website. Anyone interested in helping to shape the future of the web site should contact Barbara Casey (ideas@iparentnetwork.org).
Membership in iParentnetwork is free and open to any parent in the tri-town area. Parents may visit http://www.iparentnetwork.org to sign up.
The more of parents who stand together, the stronger the community. Never doubt what a group of caring parents can accomplish.
From: Barbara Casey, 860-604-2382
###
iParentnetwork is a free online meeting place just for parents in the Tri-town area of Mansfield, Ashford & Willington. Loaded with 21st century technology tools, iParentnetwork wants to get parents talking to one another, providing support and encouragement to each other, in hopes that doing so will help ensure that their community’s kids grow up in safe and healthy ways. Kids today are so connected today by technology that it has created a digital divide between parents and kids.
It's common for parents to want to talk to other parents to see how they are handling certain thorny issues with their kids. Sometimes they even have a question that they'd love to ask, but frankly, are too embarrassed to do so. New parents with no time often are frustrated because they don't have the time to find other parents to connect with but they feel isolated in those first years.
iParentnetwork.org is a new web site that has just launched in the Tri Town area of Mansfield, Ashford and Willington that will allow parents to do that and much more. The theory behind iParentnetwork is that parents who feel connected to other parents, supported by other parents and engaged in the job of parenting are more likely raise kids who mature into healthy and safe young adults. We hope iParentnetwork will help parents become their own "Prevention Experts" on behalf of their children.
Membership is free and is as simple as creating a user ID and password. iParentnetwork will be a living website connection that will grow to become what the community wants it to be.
This initiative began with a committed group of parents, teachers, professionals and community members who came together to brainstorm ways to collectively help keep the community’s kids safe and healthy. See www.iparentnetwork.org/about/ to learn more about how this project began.
The Steering committee (www.iparentnetwork.org/about/steering-committee/) wanted to know why this area of CT had substantially higher rates of underage drinking. To influence change, they decided to focus their programming on parents, a child's true prevention expert. They learned that in addition to risky behaviors among teens, parents of kids of all ages had many other concerns that they wanted to talk about with other parents and often felt isolated in this semi-rural area. And because kids are so connected by technology, it makes it even more difficult to be an effective parent.
With a regional high school, parents reported finding it difficult to make new connections with other parents from the other towns in the regional district, once their child reached high school, isolating them even further.
After much research, the committee determined that the best way to ensure lasting environmental change in our community, was to:
· Give parents a way to feel, and in fact, to be more connected to each other and
· Provide access to information and resources on a range of topics of interest to all parents, regardless of the age of their kids.
· Arm them with information and support. Parents are kids first teachers.
The iParentnetwork is funded by the Tri Town Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking, with the help of a grant from the CT Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, and is just one part of an initiative to create a prevention framework for youth in our communities. The Coalition steering Committee oversees the development of this parent website and other initiatives. iParentnetwork also works with a Parent Advisory Group to improve and expand the website. Anyone interested in helping to shape the future of the web site should contact Barbara Casey (ideas@iparentnetwork.org).
Membership in iParentnetwork is free and open to any parent in the tri-town area. Parents may visit http://www.iparentnetwork.org to sign up.
The more of parents who stand together, the stronger the community. Never doubt what a group of caring parents can accomplish.
From: Barbara Casey, 860-604-2382
###
Contact
iParentnetwork
Barbara Casey
(860)604-2382
www.iparentnetwork.org
Barbara Casey
(860)604-2382
www.iparentnetwork.org
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