EVALUATION OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN PACER PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR NATIVE AMERICAN PARENTS OF DISABLED CHILDREN
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EVALUATION OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN PACER PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAM
FOR NATIVE AMERICAN PARENTS OF DISABLED CHILDREN
The term "parent education" typically evokes the image of an expert lecturing a group of mothers about the ages and stages of child development. Yet a view of parent education and support as a staff-directed, didactic activity is neither a complete nor accurate portrayal of many programs of parent education and support. The concept of the parent education field has broadened considerably in the past two decades. At federal, state, and local levels, there are now a variety of ambitious and diverse initiatives aimed at supporting families with young children. (p. 1)
One of the most important of these efforts to support families of disabled/handicapped children is considered to be parent education and support programs that provided skills training to parents in the care of their handicapped children. Indeed, according to Bawden, Ralph and Herrick (1991), disabled children whose mothers receive some form of skill training tend to outperform their counterparts whose mothers did not receive training.
In addition, the authors state that these children also evidence greater psychoemotional and psychosocial development than their counterparts. Bawden, Ralph and Herrick (1991) further report that parents, especially mothers, who do not receive assistance, support, and training in the care of their handicapped children are at much greater risk for depression than are those who participate in parent education programs.
The just delineated facts highlight the importance of this report's evaluation of a parent training program, namely the American Indian PACER program designed and implemented to provide education and supportiv...