Community Outreach
Parent Workshops & Community Training Opportunities
Young Parents Network has many workshops for:
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Parents
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Other human service agencies
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Educators
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Community members
See below for more information and opportunities available offered to the community.
Youth Development
Examples of workshops for Youth Development include:
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Everyone's an Asset Builder
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Sharing the Asset Message
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Preventing Teen Pregnancy
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How to discuss sex, values and expectations with your child
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Workshops may also be designed to meet the needs of the group requesting. To learn more about these opportunities, please contact Crystal Hall at 319.642.3113 or click to email Crystal.
Early Childhood & Parenting
Examples of these workshops include:
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Parenting with Love & Logic
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Promoting Social & Emotional Competence in Children
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Shaken Baby Syndrome
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Maternal Depression
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The Absentee Father Problem
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Dads Do Make a Difference
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Ten Best Gifts a Grandparent Gives to their Grandchildren
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Seven Habits of Highly Successful Families
For more information or to schedule a program, contact Beula Dvorak - Program Director at 319.364.8909 or click to email Beula.
Baby Think it Over Mannequins
Baby Think it Over mannequins are available to schools and sites on a first come, first serve basis and are free of charge. These lifelike dolls are designed to give students an experience of parenting that includes feeding, diapering, crying and other activities associated with taking care of a baby.
Young Parents Network does require a contract holding either the school or student liable for damages or lost items. Schools will also be asked to participate in a simple survey pertaining to youth experiences with the mannequins.
To schedule use of the Baby Think it Over or if you have any questions, please contact Sara Gerlach, Linn, Cedar, & Jones County Lending Closets at 319.247.4824 x2501 or click to email Sara or you may contact Crystal Hall, Benton and Iowa County Lending Closets at 319.642.3113 or click to email Crystal.
Family Team Meetings
A Family Team Meeting is a gathering of family members, friends, community resource representatives, and other interested people who join together to:
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Strengthen a family
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Brainstorm ideas to assist the family in reaching goals
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Develop a protection and care plan for the children
A facilitator sets up the Family Team Meeting by having met with the family, coordinating and speaking with invited participants and service providers. A strategic plan that everyone agrees to will be devised from the information gathered and each participant will receive a copy of the plan.
For more information or questions, contact Steve Nylin - Dads Specialist at 319.364.8909 or click to email Steve.
Sexual Abuse Prevention
"Nurturing Healthy Sexual Development" teaches parents and other adults ways they can teach children to protect themselves. Topics included are:
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Using anatomical names for all body parts
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What is normal sexual development
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Signs of sexual abuse
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How to respond to a disclosure of sexual abuse
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How to become an 'askable' adult
"Care for Kids" is the corresponding curriculum for children ages 3 - 7 years. Six lessons provide information and activities to increase the child's ability to protect themselves from potential sexual abuse.
"If we don't teach our children healthy sexuality, someone will teach them about unhealthy sexuality."
Young Parents Network Sexual Abuse Prevention program is funded by Prevent Child Abuse Iowa.
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Teri Hamilton at 319.364.8909 or click to email Teri or Sheri Drahos at 319.642.3113 or click to email Sheri.