Lisa Woolard is executive director of the Beaufort/Hyde Partnership for Children. A resident of Beaufort County for 35 years, Woolard graduated from East Carolina University. She is married with two children.

A recent comment in Sound Off stated, “It is time to put this responsibility back with the parents where it belongs.”

I agree that parents do need to be responsible, but who teaches them what their roles and responsibilities are as parents? I have yet to see a child born with directions tattooed on his or her bottom.

There were 392 reports of child abuse and neglect in Beaufort County in 2009-2010. Of these reports, 52.3 percent were children birth to 5 years of age ą our most vulnerable population. Fortunately, there were no reported fatalities because of abuse or neglect. There are presently 61 children in foster care. Obviously, these parents have misplaced their “instruction manual.”

Prevent Child Abuse released the findings of a study it commissioned that reported the top five reasons most often cited by parents for child abuse and neglect. They were: increased alcohol and drug abuse by parents (69 percent), lack of parenting experience or skills (67 percent), abusive parents were abused as children (64 percent), presence of non-family members living in the home (48 percent), and children are harder to control these days (39 percent).

A. Sidney Johnson III, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse America, sums it up well: “As a society, we’re good at helping parents make sure the baby dresses well and is fed properly, but when it comes to helping them learn how to become good parents, they’re on their own.”

Lack of parenting skills seemed to be a national epidemic. How can we expect our children to grow up being responsible if they have never seen it modeled for them at home? The Beaufort/Hyde Partnership for Children’s Board of Directors’ No. 1 goal is to educate parents on their roles and responsibilities. To that end and with very little funding, we sponsor several parenting education programs to address this huge need.

1. Parents as Teachers, a nationally recognized evidence-based home-visitation program. Studies show that parents enrolled in the program are more involved in their children’s schooling, read more to their children and are more confident in their parenting role.
2. Playgroups (weekly for ages 2ą5 and twice monthly for birth to age 2) for parents/grandparents/“babysitters.” These support groups not only allow parents/caregivers an opportunity to interact with each other, but also for children who are not involved in any early care and education to socialize with one another, learn listening skills, follow rules and routines, separate easily from parents, problem-solve and develop other kindergarten-readiness skills.
3. Baby-care classes. Presently, there are none. A four-week pilot class will begin in May to prepare parents/caregivers/grandparents for their role as parents of newborns. We will be offering hands-on education in bathing, diapering, feeding and what to expect when you are home now with the little one.
4. Incredible Years, a nationally recognized evidence-based 14-week parenting-skills class. It is designed to promote positive parenting strategies and to assist parents in managing their children’s behavior. Participants in these classes are not parents who have been required by the court system to attend, but rather working parents whose children attend child care, public schools or are involved in our playgroups. Fourteen weeks (3 1/2 months) is a significant commitment, yet in class after class, many parents receive perfect attendance certificates on graduation night.

Parents do want what is best for their children. They just don’t often know what that is. We, at the partnership, have staff educated in supporting parents in understanding good parenting. By educating today’s parents, children will grow up to be more responsible parents tomorrow. Let’s break the cycle of irresponsible parents raising irresponsible children.

If you would like more information concerning any of our programs, please contact me at 975-4667, ext. 3.

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