PARENT SEMINARS

James G. Beierlein / James E. Van Horn
Professor of Agricultural Economics / Professor of Family Sociology
Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology
Penn State University

Copyright/Access Information

Human resource staff and/or outside consultants can organize forums to inform working parents about available resources and support systems in the community. Workshops on a wide variety of parenting issues are also appropriate to address common concerns facing working parents. A program may have one or several of the following purposes:

• To provide basic information about parenting, child care, and other community resources.
  
• To assess the family support and child care needs of working parents in the company, in preparation for the development of another child care service.
  
• To supplement another kind of child care service, such as reimbursement or information and referral, by offering in a more structured way the information parents need.

The type and amount of information offered through this system will vary with the needs of parents. Formats will vary as well. They can range from group discussions or seminars using expert presenters to a fair where employees can get information from brochures or from representatives of local support groups and where employees share their own experiences with each other.

Single workshops or a series may be offered, usually on-site, on topics such as:

- How to Work and Parent Successfully

- How to Select Child Care

- How to Monitor Your Child's Care

- Time Management for Working Parents

ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES:

-Relatively inexpensive, requiring only a small amount of staff time, a group leader, space (conference room), and time off for employees. Can be adapted to reflect parent and company concerns. Can supplement other company programs such as employee assistance or employee relations efforts.

- Can provide a visible indication that the company is sensitive to employee needs.

- Can foster collective problem solving and generate a variety of responses and solutions to stressful situations.

- Can be used as an interim step for companies considering other child care services.

- Can reduce employee stress and improve performance and morale.

DISADVANTAGES:

- Not a direct child care service.

- Participation may not be widespread.

STEPS IN DEVELOPING A PARENT SEMINAR

1. CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT

A needs assessment should be conducted among employees to determine the interest in this type of assistance. A sample needs assessment with suggested questions can be found in this file under "Questionnaire." This questionnaire may be copied and distributed among employees as it is written, or changes may be made to reflect the needs and interests of a business.

2. CONSIDER ESTABLISHING A MANAGEMENT-EMPLOYEE COMMITTEE TO PLAN THE PROGRAM OR SERVICE

A joint management-employee committee may be useful in developing the program. It can foster a sense of program ownership among employees and provide a forum for them to give input into design features of the program or service.

3. DESIGN THE PROGRAM

Initial considerations that go into designing educational programs/seminars are:

- Type of format (seminar, fair, workshop).

- Kind of presentation (lecture, written, discussion).

- Scheduling the sessions (consider the desires of employees).

- Size of the group (depends on format).

- Whether to provide handouts and how they will be prepared (reprints of articles, lists of resources, outlines).

- The breadth of topics (may evolve from parent input).

- How to conduct follow-up (individual contact or a form for participants to complete).

4. DECIDE WHO WILL PRESENT THE PROGRAM

Employers may wish to contact employer-supported child care providers/specialists, local colleges, women's groups, advocate groups for children and teens, and other employers for recommendations. Employers should interview potential program presenters, check their credentials, discuss the company's goals (particularly as they relate to this program option), and ask how they can contribute to attaining the goals.

5. REVIEW A WRITTEN OUTLINE OF THE SESSIONS WITH THE PRESENTER

An introductory overview session open to everyone is a good way to begin the educational programs. Organization of subsequent workshops should be in accord with outlined goals.

6. REVIEW THE PRINTED MATERIAL

The presenter should ensure that any handouts reinforce the company's goals and do not raise expectations for a service that the company has no intention of offering.

7. PUBLICIZE THE SEMINAR/WORKSHOP WELL IN ADVANCE

Publicity should begin at least 1 month in advance, using regular in-house methods such as bulletin boards, newsletters, and interoffice memos. If employees are not learning about the seminar/workshop - or at least not in sufficient time to arrange to be away from the work station - changes should be made in the publicity methods used. A few days before the event, phone calls can be made or memos sent to remind those who have signed up as well as others.

8. CONDUCT AN EVALUATION

Immediately following the session, participants should be asked to complete evaluation forms that survey their reactions to the presentations and discussion and ask for their ideas for future sessions, as well as any comments they wish to make. Management may request a report on the results of the survey and on the broad issues discussed. Employees names, however, should not be included or attributed to any issues that were discussed.

9. MAKE LONG-TERM PLANS

Issues raised or settled during discussions at seminars and workshops can supplement information gained through the needs assessment concerning other options for assisting parents. The nature of employee concerns can be assessed while information and counseling needs are responded to. Employees may wish to take responsibility for continuing formal or informal follow-up sessions.

10. CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL COSTS INVOLVED

Parent seminars are a relatively inexpensive option for employers. They can be planned as a package to cover a broad range of topics, or each session can be based on discussions from a prior session. The needs assessment also will provide information about the topics employees want addressed.

Presenter fees will vary depending on the number of programs to be presented and the format for each. The level and type of expertise required for the topic will also influence cost. Other expenses may include preparation of handout materials - whether provided by the presenter, the guest expert, or the company. Time off for employees to attend the sessions will also contribute to the overall cost.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Programs are sometimes managed using in-house staff from personnel, human resources, or employee assistance departments. The programs also may be developed or managed under contract with outside experts or a consultant, child care agency, human services agency, or college or other educational institution. The state or local government system also may be able to assist.

You may want to consult with your local Cooperative Extension Service to help determine child care needs. The Cooperative Extension Service also could present educational programs on child care, parenting, and other work/family-related concerns.

Other people in your community may be consulted in planning a child care assistance option. You should consider: nursery school teachers, director or staff of a day care center, child care Resource and Referral agencies, local Cooperative Extension 4-H agents, retired persons with child development backgrounds, vocational technical schools with a child care curriculum, community colleges, and local child care sponsoring agencies (such as a child care council or community action agency).