Nebraska Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC)

From 1997 through 2002, Nebraska SPRING (Statewide Parental Resources and Involvement to Nurture Growth) was the designated Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC) for the State of Nebraska. Funded by the United States Department of Education as part of the Goals 2000 initiative, Nebraska SPRING was dedicated to serving Nebraska parents and families. FRCCN was one of five original collaborative partners working to make Nebraska SPRING a true statewide PIRC.

Nationally, there were 58 Parent Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs). Support and technical assistance were provided to the PIRCs by the Parental Assistance Coordination Center (PACC).

Although Nebraska SPRING no longer receives funds through the US Department of Education, many of the original PIRC activities were incorporated by the original Nebraska SPRING partners and subgrantees. The Nebraska SPRING Core Team continues as an ad hoc advisory board, meeting as required.

Please contact us if you are interested in one or more of the programmatic strategies discussed below. We will make every effort to see you are connected to local resources that can assist you or your community.

Nebraska SPRING had three main purposes:

• Parents. To increase parents' knowledge of and confidence in child-rearing activities,

• Partnerships. To strengthen partnerships between parents and professionals, and

• Children. To enhance the developmental progress of children assisted through the program.

To accomplish our purposes, Nebraska SPRING had two main objectives:

• Parental Assistance. To provide training, information, and support to parents of children ages birth through secondary school, and

• Professional Support. To provide training, information, and support to individuals who work with parents.

To accomplish our objectives, Nebraska SPRING had 13 main strategies. Information on implementing these strategies can be found under Programs and Services.

1. Parent Information & Resource Center. Operate a statewide, free-loan Parent Information and Resource Center;

2. Family Resource Line. Maintain a statewide, toll-free Family Resource Line;

3. Translation Services. Translate selected parenting information;

4. NRRS. Work with the Nebraska Resource and Referral System statewide database to make parenting education and family support resource information available online;

5. PAT. Assist Parents As Teachers programs in both urban and rural areas of the state. PATs and other programs can participate in a special Prevention for Families training sponsored by the State PAT Office;

6. Family-School-Community Outreach Projects. Six Family-School-Community Outreach Projects were funded to serve all families with a special focus on teen parents, low-income families, low-literacy level families, and multi-cultural families;

7. Networking. Work with schools, parents, community-based family resource centers, and other local partners in both urban and rural areas of the state to develop local linkages;

8. ECTC. Expand the focus of the current provider-oriented Early Childhood Training Center Media Center and "800" CHILD Line to include information on children ages birth through secondary school;

9. Training. Provide on-site, regional and statewide training via a collaborative effort of ECTC, Family Resource Center Coalition of Nebraska, and the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. Nebraska SPRING helped expand access to Rise Learning Solutions'™ acclaimed HeadsUp! Network and their live videoconference Winning Teams SM:Guiding Behavior;
   

10. Title I. Enhance the goals of Title I programs, improve outcomes at low-performing Title I schools, and promote quality programs that serve young children and their families;
    
    
11. Public Information. Use public information materials to broaden statewide visibility;
    
    
12. Web Site. Maintain a web site; and
    
    
13. Computers and Family Literacy. Train parents to use the Internet via the Computers and Family Literacy program.

To assess the effectiveness of our efforts, Nebraska SPRING used an independent evaluator to answer the key question "What impact does the implementation of the Nebraska SPRING model have on children and families?" Based on experience, we anticipated the following outcomes:

Parent Self-Confidence. Parents who have knowledge of and confidence in parenting their children effectively support their child's development.

Success in School. Children have success at school through increased parent involvement.

Parent Education. Project partners promote and enhance parent education to all families within their system and community, especially those who represent traditionally underserved populations.

Family Support. Providers demonstrate skills and knowledge to effectively support parents.

Collaboration. Community programs increase collaborative efforts in order to support family access to community resources and information on parenting education.

Access to Resources. Families will be aware of community resources and have the skills to effectively access community resources and information.

Nebraska SPRING was a collaborative effort of:

Blue Valley Community Action Inc. (BVCA) , Early Childhood Training Center (ECTC), Family Resource Center Coalition of Nebraska Inc. (FRCCN) , Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Northeast Family Center Inc. (NFC) , local school districts, and community-based family resource centers.

Blue Valley Community Action Inc. (BVCA). This private nonprofit corporation has a 30 year history of building upon the strengths of individuals, families and communities by providing diverse and innovative opportunities to impact personal responsibility, family well-being and community development. BVCA operates over 40 programs in southeast Nebraska and north central Kansas. BVCA was the administering agent for Nebraska SPRING. Questions regarding Blue Valley’s role in the Nebraska SPRING project can be directed to Rick Nation at changlinglives@bvca.net or phone 402.729.2278.

Early Childhood Training Center (ECTC). For over 20 years, ECTC has provided, enhanced and coordinated professional development opportunities throughout Nebraska. They promote an interdisciplinary model of training for professionals working with early childhood and family programs. Through Nebraska SPRING, ECTC expanded its focus to include support for professionals working with children ages birth through 18 and their families. ECTC also houses a statewide, free-loan Media Center and coordinates training opportunities for parents and professionals. Questions regarding ECTC’s role in the Nebraska SPRING project can be directed to Carol Fichter at cfichter@esu3.org or phone 402.597.4822.

Family Resource Center Coalition of Nebraska (FRCCN). Organized in 1993, FRCCN is a statewide network of community partnerships that serve all Nebraska families with a special focus on educationally and economically disadvantaged families. This nonprofit corporation articulates, develops and promotes attitudes that strengthen and support families by providing support, technical assistance, networking, and advocacy for local family resource centers. Local FRCs are family-focused, community-based organizations that strengthen and preserve families by promoting community collaboration in the development and delivery of programs that encourage families’ self-sufficiency, enhanced family function and parenting skills.

The lead agency for Nebraska SPRING, FRCCN monitored contracts to other partners (including the Family-School-Community Outreach Projects), handled daily program operations, and provided maintenance and technical support to add parenting and family resources to NRRS (Nebraska Resource and Referral System) – a statewide database that is a precursor to Nebraska's 211 system. Finally, FRCCN continues to operate the Parent Information and Resource Center, develops resources for on-going project support, and promotes the development of programs and services that provide family support. Questions regarding FRCCN’s role in the Nebraska SPRING project can be directed to president@frccn.org or phone 402.223.6040.

Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI). A division of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Munroe-Meyer seeks to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities and their families. The Institute's services, interdisciplinary education, research, technical assistance, and outreach programs evolve with the support and guidance of consumers. Their aim is to promote the independence, inclusion, and productivity of persons with disabilities in order to empower those individuals to exert greater control over their everyday lives. MMI served as the project evaluator for the Nebraska SPRING grant. They worked with the Collaborative Team and local projects to identify and assess project outcomes. Questions regarding Munroe-Meyer’s role in the Nebraska SPRING project can be directed to Barb Jackson at bjjackso@unmc.edu or phone 402.559.5765.

Northeast Family Center (NFC) . Since 1990, this community-based family resource center has provided support and parenting programs for families in Lincoln, Nebraska. It has operated a Parents as Teachers (PAT) program since 1992. As a result of Nebraska SPRING, NFC coordinates the Nebraska State PAT Office. NFC schedules training and in-service sessions, and assists new and existing PAT programs to collaborate, thus benefiting from the statewide network. PAT locations range from local school districts to family resource centers. Questions regarding NFCs role in the Nebraska SPRING project can be directed to Barb Gaither at nfc1@alltel.net or phone 402.471.3700.

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