Parenting and Family Life

Research Core

Hallie E. Ford Center

Researchers and faculty in this core examine healthy parenting and family life as a strong foundation for child and youth development, and healthy communities as a strong foundation for families.

Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative

The Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC) supports delivery of high-quality parenting education programs that are evidence based and culturally responsive.

OPEC Professional Development

Parenting education professionals play a key role in supporting the well-being of families in ways that are culturally responsive and inclusive. As a community of parenting education professionals, we offer opportunities for networking, training, and support, and promote the value of our practice.

Current project summaries from within the core

 

Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative

PI: Shauna Tominey, Ph.D.
Funding: Oregon Community Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, The Collins Foundation, Oregon Department of Human Services

The Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC) is a partnership between four philanthropic foundations and Oregon State University. OPEC strives to increase access to and normalize participation in parenting education programs for families with children of all ages across the state of Oregon and in Siskiyou County, California. OPEC provides an infrastructure for a network of parenting education "Hubs" that coordinate local and regional parenting education services. Faculty and staff at Oregon State University support OPEC through technical assistance and strategic planning; professional development, including the annual Oregon Parenting Educators Conference; and research and evaluation.

 

News articles on core research

Healthy Parenting and Family Life

  • Early Years Resource Guide for Parents
    The Albany Democrat Herald's latest resource guide for parents highlights the expertise of several of the Hallie Ford staff. Megan MacDonald gives suggestions for adaptive activities for children with special needs as well as insight on how to cope with autism (pages 6-7). Denise Rennekamp comments on ways to be a positive influence on your children (page 9), and Kathy Gunter points out the importance of a healthy diet and proper exercise (page 19).
  • Worry More About Under-Involved Parents
    Before we start lots of handwringing about parents and children today, let’s get a grip: If the 20th century American family were displayed in an animated flipbook, the first pages whizzing by would show large families with many children clustered on the margins, evolving to the present with just a few children situated at the center.
  • A unique public/private partnership strengthens parenting education
    “Oregon’s pioneering spirit is putting us on the map once again,” says Denise Rennekamp proudly. “Our contract from the Oregon Community Foundation enables us to create an infrastructure for parenting education programs in Oregon that addresses research, evaluation, coordination, technical assistance, professional development, and methods to share best practices.”

 

Stories on core research and programs