Print the petition below or from this Word File to gather signatures to let CT’s Commissioner of Education and Governor know their constituency supports and urges Parenting Education for children and teens in CT schools.

Connecticut Coalition for Child Development Education

Petition to Gov. Jodi Rell and Education Commissioner Dr. Mark McQuillan:

Parenting is the most important job we do because it determines the character of our children and the quality of our society. Yet few people get any training for it.

The Connecticut Coalition for Child Development Education and the national organization Prepare Tomorrow's Parents (PTP) have launched the annual campaign to provide education in child development, child safety, the needs of children, and parenting skills for all students in our schools. For six years, PTP has designated nationally the month between Mother's Day and Father's Day as Prepare Tomorrow's Parents Month.

An alarming number of children are at risk of being abused, neglected or otherwise poorly cared for by inadequately prepared parents. Neglected or abused children are prone to perpetuate this cycle by becoming adults without resources for healthy parenting. Inadequate parenting contributes to teen pregnancy, depression, addictions, academic failure, delinquency and later violent criminal behavior.

Research shows that through Parenting Education, children and teens develop attitudes, knowledge and skills vital to their social and emotional well-being and to sound future parenting. Preparing young people to become caring, competent parents may be the single most effective way to prevent child abuse and other violence, increase mental health, advance school preparedness, and achieve academic success for future generations.

The vast majority of U.S. adults surveyed nationally believe that schools should prepare young people for parenting. Let’s work together toward a Connecticut in which parenting is a valued occupation undertaken only by prepared adults. Let’s help assure that every Connecticut child is well-nurtured emotionally healthy, and capable of reaching his or her full potential – by requiring preparation for the most important job nearly all our young people will ever have: parenting.

Return original signed petition copies to:

Joan Barbuto, Coordinator
Connecticut Coalition for Child Development Education
136 Ridgeland Circle, Wallingford, CT 06492
joanbstone@aol.com Phone: 203/269-1946
For more information, visit www.preparetomorrowsparents.org.

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The Connecticut Coalition for Child Development Education, formerly the Connecticut Coalition for Parenting Education is comprised of approximately 40 people and organizations dedicated to bringing education in child safety, child development and parenting skills to all Connecticut students sometime before they graduate from high school. Members include Yale psychology professor Edward Zigler, who helped launch Head Start, Yale child psychiatrists Kyle Pruett and James Comer, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, the Mental Health Association of Connecticut; the Connecticut Child Advocate, pediatricians, psychologists, social workers, parents, and other state residents.

Nine years of coalition experience with the legislature and Commissioners of Education indicate the need for a groundswell of public support to bring about action. For more information and to get involved, contact Joan Barbuto, Coordinator of the Coalition, at joanbstone@aol.com or 203/269-1946.

Return to the Connecticut Prepare Tomorrow's Parents Month Index Page

Return to Prepare Tomorrow's Parents Month Index Page