LBCC Parenting Education Receives $50,000 Grant, Ensuring Continued Work on Expansion and Coordination of Statewide System

Earlier this summer, the Linn-Benton Community College Parenting Education Department has received a $50,000 renewal grant from the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC).

The grant is part of a is part of a multi-year initiative supporting expansion of high-quality parenting education programs and a more coordinated parenting education system statewide.

The collaborative, which started in 2010, is comprised of the Oregon Community Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation, The Collins Foundation and Oregon State University.

LBCC was among the first six programs to participate in the initiative, which has grown to 15 programs. This will be the ninth year LBCC has participated, bringing the total funds awarded to $590,000.

LBCC’s project, the Parenting Success Network, supports parenting education classes throughout Linn and Benton counties, and includes numerous public awareness activities and efforts to build collaborative partnerships.

Grant funds will be used to support classes, workshops, parent support activities, and family activities in 2018-2019. A primary goal of OPEC is to emphasize the importance of positive parenting practices through parenting education.

LBCC’s program also hosts a website, parentingsuccessnetwork.org, offers information, parenting tips and resources, along with a comprehensive calendar of parenting education opportunities offered by multiple organizations. The program also supports professional development for all parenting educators in the two-county area.