47 families in Choctaw County participated in the program.

Who does the program?

• 55% parents initiated contact
• 2% referred by advisory board
• 21% program assistant made first contact
• 2% self referred
• 9% referred by other BEE families
• 1% missing data

Location

• 23% live in town
• 75% live in rural areas
• 2% missing data

Adults living in the household

• 32% one adult
• 40% two adults
• 11% three adults
• 2% four adults
• 15% missing data

Parents living in household

• 36% single parent household
• 47% mother and father
• 17% missing data

Number of non-parents living in the household

• 70% nobody else
• 9% one other person
• 4% two other persons
• 2% three other persons
• 15% missing data

Employment

• 28% full-time
• 13% part-time
• 40% not working
• 19% missing data

Age of parent(s)

• 55% 20-30 years old
• 23% 30-40 years old
• 15% 40-50 years old
• 7% missing data

Where do you think that children learn the really important things in life?

87% of parents initially indicated that home was the primary place childen learned the most important things in life. 100% of those answering this question after their participation in the program identified home as the most important influence.

What are some things you do with your child that you think will help him/her get ready for school?

When asked initially how they helped their children develop skills for school, only 10% of parents described behaviors other than teaching basic facts (abs's, counting, etc.). Post program responses indicated that 49% said they would read to their child; 47% would provide special learning experiences; and/or 45% would spend more time with their child.

Children do not need a parent's love and support to grow up OK.

98% of parents disagreed initially with the statement that children will grow up OK regardless of parental love and support. After the program 100% of those answering disagreed with this statement.

Teaching a child to obey is easier when the child feels loved and supportd.

94% of the parents agreed initially and at the end with the statement, that teaching a child to obey is easier when the child feels loved and supported.

I notice more of the bad things that my child does than the good things.

There was a change in the % of parents disagreeing with the statement, that they noticed more of the bad things children did than the good things--from 78% to 98%.

Discipline only works if it makes children feel bad.

There was a change in the % of parents disagreeing with the statement--from 81% to 89%.

Good discipline means teaching children how to act.

There was a change in the % of parents agreeing with the statement--from 89% to 100%.

When your child misbehaves, how do you correct him or her?

When parents were asked initially what disciplinary method they used when their children misbehaved, 11% indicated that spanking or physical punishment was their first choice. At the end of the program, no parents mentioned spanking as their first choice; rather, 49% of parents indicated talking to or reasoning with their child as their first choice.

Information and usefulness of the program

100% of the parents said that they knew more about how to help their children develop than they knew before the program.

100% of parents said that they had learned ways to help their children live up to their expectations.

When parents were asked how the program had influenced their relationship with their child, 66% said they were giving children more attention, involvement, or affection; 15% noted that they were more patient and understanding with their child.

100% of parents agreed that they knew more about parenting after they completed the program.

100% of parents agreed that they learned better way of parenting.

Parents indicated that the information received during the lessons was useful. 74.5% said all the time, 17% most of the time, and 8.5% some of the time.

What activities were used during the session

On the average, the program assistant in this county used three activities during a session. The three most often used activities were (1) to read through material, (2) to give examples of their own parenting experience, and (3) to give examples from the handouts. Additionally, role play was often used, and discussions about how to apply the information to everyday parenting situations was used on several occasions.