A WORD ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARENTING INSTITUTE

Parenting is art and science, skills and guts, intentional and accidental. The National Parenting Institute, headquartered in Temecula and incorporated in California, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization designed to provide classes, seminars, individual coaching, and programs that enhance parent effectiveness. Basic courses (offered in both English and Spanish)

include two types: a) on-site, in the classroom instruction: "Laying the Foundations," for parents with children Birth - 9 years old, and "Surviving Your Teenager," for parents with pre-teens and teens; and b) self-guided, independent study: Accent On Parenting; Tools for Building 21st Century Kids. Each course covers five basic areas: Human Growth & Development, Communication, Decisionmaking, Self-Esteem, and Discipline. NPI is proud to have met the California requirements for parenting curricula and to have received approval for all our full length courses for court-mandated attendees. In addition, are the exclusive distributors for courses and materials from Accent On Parenting, Inc., including self-guided courses of study for parents needing a certificate of completion for family reunification, mediation, co-parenting, divorce, or incarceration (this course can be ordered on this website). Each of these courses meets or exceeds the requirements of the California Welfare and Institutions Code 165007.7, and the independent study course has been approved by the California Superior Court as of October 19, 2007 for any purposes related to decrees regarding parenting skills education courses.

Available in addition to courses:

"Seminar Series for Parents" where topics are selected to suit the needs of the sponsoring agency
Pot Shots*, a series of parent-child communication workshops
"Talk About Teachers," a series of in-service workshops for teachers working with parents and students
Roots and Wings: A Wisdom Workshop About Parenting*, a "portable conference package" available to groups looking for a 1-2 day parenting faire motif
"For the Love of Learning: Libraries & Literacy for a Lifetime"
Telephone coaching for individual parents or couples.

NPI's staff continually receives education and training in the latest parenting skills methodologies and strives to link with nationally recognized parenting programs to provide an ever-expanding educational opportunity for parents. The primary goal of NPI is to help parents learn skills that will make raising children more rewarding and successful. "Since they don't come with an operator's manual or even a 30-day warranty, there are concepts everyone can learn that will make life with kids easier and healthier. In this day and age, we're all faced with stresses that sometimes overwhelm us. Any technique we can learn that will improve our skills is worth finding out about," stated Barbara Tooker, Executive Director of the Institute. "Our Board of Directors is dedicated to working in concert with schools, parent-teacher organizations, churches, governmental agencies, the legal system, and businesses to provide a high level of support to parents in all walks of life."

The Institute also provides a method for service clubs or individuals to donate scholarships to low-income parents in need of parenting classes. Our very active Speakers Bureau is always available to provide dynamic, knowledgeable speakers and workshop leaders. NPI's Research & Development Division keeps a constant eye on the body of work about parenting skills and provides timely information to our speakers and workshop facilitators. The Division also prepares pamphlets, special reports, and products that are made available to the public.