March 21, 2003March 21, 2003
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| Developers,
from left, Carol Mertensmeyer, Yvonne Matthews and Bob Hughes debuted the Healthy Parenting Tool Kit at a March 17 news conference. |
The Healthy Parenting Tool Kit -- an integrated package of resources to help military families cope with deployment, relocation and dangerous work issues -- was introduced at a news conference at Lincoln University March 17.
The Tool Kit is a joint venture of LU, UMC and UO/E in collaboration with USDA, the Department of Defense, and Virginia Polytechnic and State University under an agreement with USDA. Project directors are Yvonne Matthews, LU human resource development specialist; Carol Mertensmeyer, ParentLink program director; and Bob Hughes, former Human Environmental Sciences associate dean. The team began work on the $550,000 grant-funded project two years ago.
Ron Turner, executive vice president and director, said the project is both "timely and timeless" -- timely because of the stress on military families at this time and timeless because "dealing with stress is endemic in our modern society."
The Tool Kit comprises stories, games, postcards, checklists, frequently asked questions and answers, and other materials that parents can use to communicate with their children, ages birth through the fifth grade. Topics covered include separation anxiety, fears about the possible death of a parent, dealing with media exposure, changes in routine and related issues. In addition to the information posted on the web, a tangible Parent-Child Activity Center with hard-cover books, a finger puppet, a cloth map of the world, an activity apron, a journal and suggestions for use of the materials has been assembled. To date, a CD-ROM of the online information and 80 Tool Kits have been produced and are being distributed through the Department of Defense. Additional funds will be sought to expand distribution.
Jo Turner, 4-H youth development program leader, said, "This project exemplifies the integration of research and science that our Universities produce with a process to turn it into something that people need now."
The project development team interviewed parents, children, support providers and educators at Ft. Leonard Wood, Whiteman Air Force Base, San Diego Naval Station and Camp Pendleton to learn what parents' most pressing needs are. "We wanted to develop something that would hold relevance and have longevity," Matthews said, "a product with universality that can be used by military and civilian families alike."
After the initial research and model were completed, the team hired several vendors throughout the state to bring the concept to life. Toni Gillmore, prevention parenting specialist at Fort Leonard Wood, said parts of the Tool Kit will be incorporated into parenting classes on base.
For more information about Tool Kit products, including the Parent-Child Activity Center, contact Matthews at 573-681-5547 or ParentLink at 1-800-552-8522.
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Eileen Yager,
yagere@umsystem.edu |
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