WITH THE spiralling crime rate and the high levels of violence in schools, the need for more effective parenting has increased in Jamaica and one project is committed to filling this need.

A course to provide training and certification for parenting facilitators across the Caribbean has been developed and implemented by Parenting Partners Caribbean (PPC), The National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) and the University of the West Indies - Open Campus (UWI Open). The project, which started in July 2007 at a regional consultation in Antigua, will see some 18 countries participating.

Professor Julie Meeks-Gardner, director at the Consortium for Social Development and Research, says the facilitators "will be expected to hold parenting workshops for parents".

Meeks-Gardner explains that the programme will not only be about academics, but also hands-on training. This includes helping more mature parents and youngsters deal with parenting.

Time for certification

Marjorie Barrett, from the public relations unit at NCTVET, says there is an existing pool of competent parenting facilitators who have been working in the field, but are not certified. As such, one of the major aims of the project is to certify these people.

The signing of a memorandum of understanding, which marked the collaboration of PPC, NCTVET and UWI Open, took place at the Caribbean Child Development Centre at the UWI, Mona campus, recently. Start-up funding for the project was provided by UNICEF, which will also be donating money for channelling the course.

In reference to the parenting programme, Jane Bennett, from the UWI Open Campus in Belize, says: "We do need that kind of training in the region and it's a good start."

Positive impact

Pro vice-chancellor and principal of the UWI Open Campus, Professor Hazel Simmons-McDonald, notes that the programme will have a positive impact in the Caribbean.

"We look forward to its success," she said, while commenting that it would transform parenting in the region.

Antenatal care for all parents

Dr Marigold Thorburn, president of Parenting Partners Caribbean, said recently that Belize and Guyana have already started courses and the other countries will follow suit. She added that the programme should be an important "part of the antenatal care for all parents".

Meeks-Gardner says classes will be starting in Jamaica in September. Interested persons can contact the UWI Open through any of participating institutions.

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