The Parenting Support Newsletter
The Parenting Support newsletter began as a project of three parents
(Mariana Torres, Marilyn Atherley and Barbara King) working in the areas
of education and early childhood development who were all frustrated
with the many cases of parents and caregivers who were making critical
errors in parenting. It was revealed that these individuals were making
mistakes because of a lack of good information and a lack of solid
support. Additionally, many of them could not afford to access the
limited services and magazines and books which were available. This
situation was resulting in child abuse, neglect, poor family
relationships, school dropouts and juvenile delinquents. The members of
the organization felt an obligation to address this problem and in 1995,
the Parenting Support Newsletter was born.
The group produced and distributed the newsletter quarterly during
the first year at its own expense. Two hundred (200) copies were
photocopied and distributed at no charge to readers. Subsequently, the
group started receiving subscription orders, were successful in securing
funding from funding agencies both local and foreign, (the Canadian High
Commission and J.B. Fernandes Memorial Trust 1), and this led to
increased production over the last ten (10) years.
Growth and development
By 2003, the production was increased to 10,000 with 7,000 being
directly delivered to homes in Cedros, Arima and environs by TTPost.
Between the period December 2003 - December 2004, 20,000 newsletters
were delivered directly to homes throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2006 the amount was 35, 000 and in 2007 our target is 40,000. These
numbers are in addition to the 5000 distributed through offices, PTAs
and other groups quarterly.
Our publication skills have improved over the years and the product
is now a twelve-page document with a full colour cover. It provides
information to the general public on parenting issues, child
development, available resources and services, current trends and
research. The content is largely local and culturally relevant.
Feedback from beneficiaries has affirmed that there must be an
aggressive campaign not only to ensure the continuation of the
production of the newsletter, but also to ensure that it reaches a more
homes directly. In recognition of the magnitude of its work, TTIPS has
forged supportive alliances with other non-governmental organizations
such as Families in Action, Creative Parenting for the New Era, the
Autistic Society, the National PTA, and a number of schools and
professionals to ensure a wide distribution.
Money Matters!
The organization has established a Fundraising Team whose
responsibility is to source funding for all the projects and programmes
of the organization including this project. At present, funds, which are
received from sales of the newsletter, are being utilized for its
distribution. As our efforts have been to make the publication easily
accessible, the newsletter has been FREE OF CHARGE with individual
subscribers paying $30 per year and bulk subscribers $200 for 20 copies
or $500 for 50 copies per year.
For 2007 we have received some funding from United Way TT but
we still have a long way to go to cover the full costs of publication
and distribution. The organization continues to seek funding from
corporate citizens and other donors as well as from its own fund raising
efforts but has become necessary for us to end the FREE OF CHARGE policy
and ask parents to pay a small sum ($3 - $5) to help us keep alive.
The Parenting Support Team
T&T Innovative Parenting Support is headed by a Steering Committee,
which includes:
Programme Coordinator: Barbara King, a Certified Professional
Facilitator with the Inter-national Association of Facilitators, who
overseas the administration of the organization. She has been involved
in Parent Education since 1995, as researcher and producer of Baby Talk,
aired on Music Radio 97. She is one of a handful of Caribbean
facilitators certified by the International Association of Facilitators.
She is a Facilitator Trainer with Creative Parenting for the New Era and
has trained parent education facilitators for Families In Action. She
has been responsible for the editing and production of Parenting Support
Newsletter since its inception. And was invited to be a contributing
writer to the new edition of Pathways to Parenting Manual published by
the Child Development Centre of UWI, Mona Campus.
Resident consultant: Marina Torres is a Child Development and
Education Consultant in private practice since October 1988. Marina
oversees the financial matters of the organization liaising with
accounting service-providers and the internal management of funds. She
holds an MA in Education & Human Development with a specialty in Early
Childhood Special Education. She has considerable experience working
with children with varying developmental and educational needs. Ms.
Torres is also a part-time lecturer at The University of the West Indies
and is a co-founder of Parenting Support. She delivers workshops,
seminars and training courses in her area of expertise for organizations
and school populations.
Office Administrator: Jacqueline Jones, co-ordinates the
administration of the organization's activities and staff. She has
worked as a Parenting Agent with the Toco Foundation for more than five
years. She was also involved in supervising and training agents. She has
been trained in Guidance and Counselling, Conflict Management and
Mediation. She has experience in organizational management and her
commitment to parenting education has taken her to regional and
international conferences.
Advisory Board: consisting of Dr. Dorell Philip, Father Peter
de la Bastide, Norma Ottley, Alicia Hoyte, Rani Narace and Kenneth
Simon. The board meets three times a year, with one-on-one meetings as
necessary.
Volunteers: At present there are two part-time volunteers -
Sharon Samuel and Jenifer Quildon, who assist in administrative
functions and five trained on-call facilitators who conduct training
workshops, support groups and counseling sessions as needed.
The newsletter team, which is headed by one of the Directors, Ms.
Barbara King, has the responsibility for the management of the project.
The team also consists of Leslie-Ann Bisnath, layout artist, Veron Sam,
proofreader, two distribution coordinators and a printing consultant.
Printing is carried out by Sprinters Printery in Chaguanas.
Alliances have been forged with a number of non-governmental
organizations, schools and their PTAs as distribution channels. In
addition, Families In Action distributes the newsletter in its Confident
Parenting programmes, SERVOL distributes to the Facilitators of its
Parent Outreach Programmes, Mamatoto to parents attending their support
groups and the CADV's PLUS programme to teachers in the primary schools.
TTPost, which has been instrumental in the home delivery of the
newsletter, will continue to provide that service in 2007. Deliveries
are made to businesses in Port of Spain and other areas of high business
activity.
Over the next 2 years there will be increases in newsletter
production to 25,000 with the aim of reaching a circulation of 100,000
and an increase to 20 pages by the end of 2009.
Subscription Rates
Individual Annual Subscription: $30
Download
Individual Subscription Form here
|
