ParentCorps

ParentCorps is an evidence-based program for families of students enrolled in Pre-K programs in public schools in underserved, urban communities. The goal of ParentCorps is to help children succeed by supporting families and schools to teach children important behavioral, social and emotional skills. These skills provide the foundation for success during the transition into school and throughout children’s lives.

Please watch this 5-minute ParentCorps video directed by Academy Award nominee Nathaniel Kahn for an overview of ParentCorps with comments from parents, children, teachers, and guidance counselors.

ParentCorps Program:

ParentCorps is for the whole family! The program includes 14 weekly groups for parents, preschoolers and older children in the family. The program is held in the early evening at the child’s school.

ParentCorps gives parents and children extra opportunities for positive interactions with teachers and other important school staff. The program is co-facilitated by mental health professionals and Pre-K teachers, educational assistants, guidance counselors, and parent coordinators from the school.

  • Groups for Parents give parents a chance to meet together with other parents from their child’s school. Each week, the group facilitator presents information about strategies that are proven to help children behave well and learn important new social, emotional, behavioral and academic skills. Through group discussion, activities, and homework assignments, parents are encouraged to set individual goals for their children based on their cultural and family values, and communicate about strategies for achieving these goals to important adults in their children’s lives, including teachers and other caregivers. Groups offer opportunities for parents to share ideas and work together to figure out solutions to difficult or challenging situations.

  • Groups for Children in Pre-K occur at the same time as the parent groups. Through lessons with life-sized puppets, activities, and play, children learn social, emotional and self-regulation skills, such as sharing, using polite words, paying attention and dealing with feeling mad, sad or scared. Group facilitators promote children’s self-regulation and help to achieve the goals that parents set for their children, using the same proven strategies for managing behavior that the parents are learning. This also makes it much more likely that children will respond well when parents try new strategies at home.

  • Groups for Older Children occur at the same time as the parent and Pre-K Groups. Older children in the family are invited to participate in a creative arts group. Each week, they complete a different art project that supports children in exploring their ideas and hopes for the future. Toddlers may join this group as well; infants are welcome in the Parent Group.

Throughout the program, parents learn strategies to help them follow the

ParentCorps Principles:

Play – Play with your child everyday to promote healthy development
Accept – Accept and promote your child’s individual strengths to build self-confidence
Read – Read and tell stories with your child to encourage imagination and a love of reading
Enjoy – Enjoy special time with your child, laugh, dance, sing, and hug
Nurture – Nurture your child by establishing healthy habits for eating, activity and sleep
Teach – Teach your child right from wrong with clear rules and consistent discipline
Coach – Provide guidance and support to help your child through difficult situations
Organize – Organize and establish routines so that your child feels safe and knows what is expected
Reinforce – Praise and reward your child’s positive behaviors whenever you see them
Plan – Set and communicate goals for your child based on your cultural values and beliefs
Support – Support your child’s development by taking care of yourself

ParentCorps also supports teachers, educational assistants, guidance counselors and parent coordinators through professional development and consultation.

  • Professional Development focuses on proven strategies to help children behave well in the classroom so they benefit from the instruction that teachers provide. Teachers and other school staff learn specific strategies for communicating with parents from the beginning of the school year, to engage parents as partners in helping children succeed in school.
  • Teacher Consultation helps teachers to implement the new strategies learned in professional development, and tailors strategies to fit with the teacher’s philosophy and goals as well as student needs. Consultants are also available to support teachers and parents in working together to address concerns that may arise about children’s behavior and academic progress.

ParentCorps is Unique:

ParentCorps incorporates a core set of parenting strategies that have been shown repeatedly to promote positive behavior. ParentCorps is unique in that it was designed to take into account the important role of family cultural values, beliefs and traditions, and encourages parents to share experiences of challenges often faced in underserved, urban communities. Parent Groups provide a unique setting for families to reflect on their cultural values and family background as they set and work towards goals for their children.
ParentCorps is built on the premise that parents and early childhood educators play essential roles in helping children reach their full potential. ParentCorps trains school staff to co-facilitate the program and holds the groups at the children’s school so that parents and school staff have unique opportunities to communicate and work together to help children succeed.

ParentCorps Testimonials:

“The group was very fun. As parents, we got to know that we have some of the same values and beliefs even though we come from different cultures.” ParentCorps Parent

“It was very interesting and fun and very open-minded. It’s good to see parents getting together for the best interests of their kids. It’s good to unite and share opinions.” ParentCorps Parent

“It was very helpful to hear that other parents are going through the same situations and I’m not the only one.” ParentCorps Parent

“ParentCorps helped me feel happier as a parent instead of being scared all the time.” ParentCorps Parent

“The program was very exciting and educating. I’ve learned a whole lot on caring for my child and will keep it with me forever.” ParentCorps Parent

“It was excellent to help each other learn how to manage our kids’ behavior.” ParentCorps Parent

“I believe I am better at my job! I acknowledge positive behavior and try to ignore inappropriate behavior such as pointing out the children that are doing the right thing and thanking them.” Educational Assistant

“The families that have participated in ParentCorps have greatly enjoyed and benefited from the program. ParentCorps has also given my preschool staff the chance to work more closely with the families of their students.” Principal

ParentCorps in the News:

Read about ParentCorps in Newsweek.

Watch ParentCorps on the Today Show.

Evaluation of ParentCorps:

Papers describing ParentCorps program development:

  • Calzada, EJ, Caldwell, M, Brotman, LM, Brown, E, Wallace, S, McQuaid, J, Rojas-Flores, L, O’Neal, CR. Training community members to serve as paraprofessionals in an evidence-based, prevention program for parents of preschoolers. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2005; 14:387-402.
  • Caldwell, MB, Brotman, LM, Coard, SI, Wallace SA, Stellabotte, DJ, Calzada, EJ. Community Involvement in Adapting and Testing a Prevention Program for Preschoolers Living in Urban Communities: ParentCorps. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2005; 14 (3): 373- 386.
  • Brotman, LM, Kingston, S, Bat-Chava, Y, Calzada, EJ, Caldwell, M. Training school personnel to facilitate a family intervention to prevent conduct problems. Early Education and Development, 2008; 19:622-642.

Papers describing ParentCorps outcomes for children, families and schools.

  • Brotman, LM, Calzada, E, Huang, KY, Kingston, S, Dawson-McClure, S, Kamboukos, D, Rosenfelt, A, Schwab, A, Petkova, E. Promoting effective parenting practices and preventing child behavior problems in school among ethnically diverse families from underserved, urban communities. Child Development, in press.

Papers describing outcomes for children and families from a family intervention that informed the development of ParentCorps:

  • Brotman, LM, Gouley, KK, Klein, R, Chesir-Teran, D, Dennis, T, Shrout, P. Prevention for preschoolers at high risk for conduct problems: Immediate outcomes on parenting practices and child social competence, Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 2005; 34:724-734
  • Brotman, LM, Gouley, KK, Huang, KY, Rosenfelt, A, O’Neal, CR, Klein, RG, Shrout, P. Preventive intervention for preschoolers at high risk for antisocial behavior: Long-term effects on child physical aggression and parenting practices. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 2008; 37:386-396.
  • Brotman, LM, O’Neal, CR, Huang, KY, Gouley, KK, Rosenfelt, A, Shrout, P. An experimental test of parenting practices as mediators of preschool physical aggression. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2009; 50; 3:235-245.
  • Brotman, LM, Gouley, KK, Huang, KY, Kamboukos, D, Fratto, C, Pine D. Effects of a psychosocial family-based preventive on cortisol response to a social challenge in preschoolers at high risk for antisocial behavior. Archives of General Psychiatry, 2007; 64:1172-1179.
  • Brotman, LM, Dawson-McClure, S, Gouley, KK, McGuire, K, Burraston, B, Bank, L. Older siblings benefit from a family-based prevention program for preschoolers at risk for conduct problems. Journal of Family Psychology, 2005; 19:581-591.