OCF and its foundation and community partners believe that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children, and that parents of all circumstances can benefit from parenting education. Research continues to show the fundamental importance of adult-child relationships in the earliest years of children’s lives, as well as the critical role that parents play in nurturing their children’s cognitive and social-emotional development. Healthy and effective parenting can help make sure children have a strong foundation for success in school and in life. "Should We Invest in Parenting Education?" (PDF download), provides an overview of the field of parenting education research.
Business and community leaders and the general public are beginning to see parenting education as a wise investment. A recent publication by the Partnership for America’s Economic Success, a national group of economists and business and foundation leaders, stated, “Our entire nation’s economic health and societal well-being are significantly enhanced when parents have the tools they need to help their kids start school prepared to learn, develop the social skills necessary to pay attention and work in teams, and grow up to be productive adults.”
Oregon early childhood advocates and service providers also recognize the importance of parenting education for all families, identifying it at the Oregon Governor’s March 2008 Summit on Early Childhood as one of the core components of Oregon’s early childhood system.
Oregon has many excellent programs for parents operated by public and nonprofit organizations, but the field is fragmented and funding is inconsistent. The 2009 Oregon State University report, “Snapshot of Parenting Education in Oregon,” found that parenting programs are still not widely available, especially in rural areas, and that too few providers of parenting education are using proven programs. The report also concluded that unstable funding undermines the availability and consistency of parenting education in both rural and urban areas.