NEWS & NOTES

Active Parenting Now Promotion Guide Now Available—FREE!
The promotion guide for the Active Parenting Now program is available free of charge through our web site. This 12-page guide includes a sample press release, a sample letter to parents, planning suggestions and ideas for promotion. The information can easily be adapted for use with other Active Parenting programs, too. Just call for a copy or go to: ActiveParenting.com/promo.htm

Web page has flurry of activity after "Oprah" appearance
In October Active Parenting's Dr. Popkin contributed to the "Mothers Who Lose Control" episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." (For a tape or transcript of the show, or for more information on this topic, go to www.Oprah.com and search for "Mothers Who Lose Control.") This resulted in a flood of parents visiting our web site to look for Parent Workshop Listings. Be sure you are listed, too! Click here for information on how to list your Active Parenting workshops free of charge on our web site.

E-newsletter subscribers heard about it first!
Subscribers to our free e-newsletter for leaders received a reminder of the Parent Workshop Listings in time to prepare for Dr. Popkin's "Oprah" appearance. They also get first notice of special sales and other helpful information. Click here for your free subscription to the e-newsletter.

Free grant-writing workshops
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a series of grant-writing workshops for small, faith-based and community groups in communities throughout the U.S. Participants will receive hands-on training in: writing an application and understanding the grant process, matching project ideas to funding sources, developing a budget and establishing an evaluation plan. Click here for details.

After the meeting, Parenting Institute director Cinda Amen wrote: "Thank you, Dr. Popkin. You were the highlight of the conference. So many people said how much they enjoyed hearing you. They loved the examples you used! To actually get to talk with you at the book signings was an added plus."
(To learn more about the NC Parenting Education Network,go to www.NCPEN.org. For information about bringing Dr. Popkin to your community, click here.)

Attention Virginia educators
The Active Parenting program Families in Action for Teens and Parents has been added to the State of Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation Compendium List.

Be a National School of Character
Has your school initiated a successful character education program? If so, apply for a National Schools of Character&REG award or a Promising Practices citation. Ten National Schools of Character winners will receive a commemorative flag and $2,000. Information: www.Character.org or 202-296-7743, x10.

Training expenses as tax deduction
Interested in attending an Active Parenting Leader Training Workshop or Training of Trainers event? An income tax deduction may be allowed for expenses of education (including registration fees, travel, meals and lodging) undertaken to maintain and improve professional skills. (Treas. Reg. 1.162-5) Please check with your tax advisor.

Conferences on faith-based & community initiatives
The White House, together with the Departments of Health & Human Services, Housing & Urban Development, Labor, Education and Justice, has scheduled a series of conferences to help faith-based and community organizations learn more about President Bush's initiative. These free, day-long conferences will equip participants with information about the federal programs that are suited to their needs, the federal funding process, and the legal issues that may apply to recipients of federal funds. For more information, call 202-219-1746 or go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/conferences.html

(Click here for Faith-based programs from Active Parenting Publishers)

News from The American School of Milan
Twelve parents participated in one or more sessions of the Parents on Board Class in October. The parents in the video/discussion based class watched vignettes and discussed various topics relating to helping their children succeed in school.

During the 4 sessions, parents discussed such topics as Learning Styles, How to have a School-Smart Home, Structuring Time, Building Positive Parent-Teacher Relationships, Behavior at Home and at School, Encouraging and Discouraging Influences, Discipline, and Supporting the School's Discipline Effort.

Parents had the opportunity at the last session to become coaches for the rest of the class as they explained how to coach reading, spelling, writing, math and science. Each participant received a certificate of participation. Some parents also purchased the resource book available.

Some comments on what they would remember from the class were: "Have a homework area for the children, use a timer to set limits, being a coach and parent of special activities, don't forget to play, have family meetings, be flexible have structure to life, developing logical consequences, focus on encouragement, remember my tone of voice, don't set too high expectations, empower children, have fun learning something hard, set a good example, learning as a family, be patient and enjoy."

Parent evaluations mentioned: "Talking with other people about school issues helped me understand what I was doing wrong and how I can do better." "I discovered that it is useful for my children that I am involved with the school." "It helped me refresh my memory."

Parents participating were: Lee Hawkins, Paola Jonsson, Joo Yun Kim, Eleni Murhy, Janne Haaland, Liana Roman, Christine Coudray, Pietro Condemi, Katie Sutton, Ken Hawkins, Viviana La Porta, Anna Migliorisi. Rose Anne Hartman, Middle School Counselor, was facilitator for the class. (Click here for more about The American School of Milan's parenting programs.)

Reprinted from Leader magazine.
Copyright 2003 by Active Parenting Publishers, Inc.