How to Find a Certified Parent Educator

You don't need to be at risk of losing custody of your children to need a little guidance. We all do, whether or not we want to admit it. Children don't come with instructions, and parents are bombarded with so much conflicting advice that it's guaranteed they will make mistakes. Whether a family court judge orders you to take parenting classes or you just want to try to do this all-important job better than you could alone, you can always seek the support and guidance of a thoroughly trained and certified parent educator. They can help you make sense out of all the noise and implement healthy parenting practices that will make life easier for your whole family.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet access
• Telephone

Instructions

1. Contact one of the non-profit organizations that certify parent educators (also known as parent coaches). These include:
   The Institute for Children and Families (INCAF) at icaf.org, or call 352-375-6498
   The Positive Discipline Association at positivediscipline.org, or call 1-866-767-3472
   The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) at parentcoachinginstitute.com, or call 888-599-4447

   These organizations can provide you with leads to certified parent educators in your area. Whether you call or search online, have a notebook and pen handy to write down the names and numbers you find.

2. Look over the websites thoroughly. You may find an article that speaks directly to your greatest concern, like sibling rivalry, defiance or bedtime hassles. Some of the organizations listed above also offer home video courses if you can't find someone local who can help you.

3. Interview two or three certified parent educators. You can do this by phone or email to begin with, but a face-to-face meeting will really help you get the feel for whether you can work with this individual. Ask about how they will assess your needs, the process they use, how closely they will work with you, and whether they can provide ongoing support. The interview will also help you to ask for references and actually call those parents. See how they're doing after working with the certified parent educator.

4. Enlist the support of extended family. If you hope to really use what you learn, it will be important to have all parents, stepparents, grandparents and others on the same page. Even if you're afraid of what they might say, give them the chance to participate in this important process.

5. If you have no success finding a certified parent educator through the non-profits listed above, you can also try your state mental health association, state family court (the judiciary section of your state website) or state department of health and human services. If they can't put you directly in touch with a certified parent educator, they may be able to direct you to other valuable parenting resources.

References

• The International Network for Children and Families
• Positive Discipline
• Parent Coaching Institute