Prepare Tomorrow's Parents Month 2007 from Mothers Day, May 13, 2007 to Father's Day, June 17 is an important opportunity, for all educators and advocates of preparing Illinois children and teens for parenting, to make a difference.

Illinois advocates: here are some tools for you to use during this period. Click on the links below.

Illinois Prepare Tomorrow's Parents Month Partners:

• DePaul University M.A. Program in Applied Professional Studies: Parenting Education and Support
• Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health
• Illinois Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
• Illinois Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers Association
• Kendall College Early Childhood Education Program
• Sudden Infant Death Services of Illinois

Why Prepare Illinois Children and Teens for Parenting?

Rationale supporting the need for parenting education for children and teens in schools

Poster to promote the importance of preparing young people for parenting, in pdf files for 8.5x11 and 11x17 sizes to print from a computer or send to a copy shop. Includes a space to insert your own information.

Proclamation for you to use to request official declaration of Prepare Tomorrow’s Parents Month from Governor Blagojevich, the Illinois legislature, your mayor or city officials.

Petition to print and get signatures. Let Illinois Governor Blagojevich and Interim State Superintendent of Education Dr. Christopher Koch know their constituency supports and urges Parenting Education for children and teens in Illinois schools.

Sample Press Materials and Illinois Press Contact Lists

• Sample Press Release - Send this to your local Newspaper Editor
• Sample Letter to the Editor - Send this to your local Editorial Page Editor
• Sample Op Ed - Send this to your local Editorial Page Editor
• Sample Feature Story - Send this to your local Features Editor or Education Reporter

Sample Letters

• to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
• to Illinois Interim State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Christopher Koch

Important Illinois Addresses

Family and Consumer Sciences Parenting Education Resources:

• Suggested topics
• Activities and lessons
• Textbooks
• Articles

Check out the many resources on the National Prepare Tomorrow's Parents Month web pages, including a reading list and bookmark, lessons and activities, and more.