Children's Consortium
2122 Erie Blvd. East
Syracuse, New York 13224

Phone: (315) 471-8331
Fax: (315) 475-2622

Parents

Ready, Set, Parent!

Preparing parents for the most important job they’ll ever have, right from the start.

Imagine a community where parents are supported in their efforts to be the best they can be right from the start! Created by EPIC- Every Person Influences Children, a leader in parenting education in Buffalo, NY, Ready, Set, Parent! is an evidence-based parent education program focused on making parenting a positive experience and preparing children to succeed in school. Three areas are targeted: parenting skills, health and wellness, and literacy/language development. The program has three components - a Room Visit, a Newborn Class, and a Community Workshop Series. Flexibility is incorporated into the program allowing all parents to participate in all three components or any combination of Ready, Set, Parent! and still receive program benefits.

 

The Room Visit - provided in Crouse Hospital, Syracuse, NY

Ready, Set, Parent!

Outcomes

Ready, Set, Parent! supports parents! The program provides support, solutions, and advice from local pediatric professionals and the Ready, Set, Parent! staff members. Evaluations show that 80% of the people who attend the workshop series feel more confident and competent as parents, according to an ongoing study conducted by the University of Buffalo School of Social Work. 97% of the parents who attend Dr. Talks report positive changes in parenting behavior.

Ready, Set, Parent! helps babies learn, too! Parents who attend the workshop series have higher quality, more frequent interactions with their babies, enhancing their communication and literacy skills, personal/social skills, and fine motor skills. All children whose parents participated in the Ready, Set, Parent! program scored above the national average in five developmental areas – cognitive, language, gross motor, fine motor, and personal/social – approximately 77.5% of the time.

Parents are visited in their hospital room within 48 hours of the birth of their child to help orient them in their new roles. They are informed about community resources, provided information on safe sleep and on car seat safety.

 

The Newborn Class - provided in Crouse Hospital

This one-hour class occurs on the maternity floor and is offered daily, Monday through Friday. It includes topics such as: 

  • What to expect in the first few weeks
  • All about crying
  • Recognizing postpartum depression
  • Shaken baby syndrome
  • Beginning literacy

The Community Workshop Series

Parents are invited to attend an eight-week Ready, Set, Parent! workshop series about parenting infants and toddlers (birth to age three). The two- hour sessions are led by trained facilitators and provide in-depth parenting information with the interaction of other parents. Two of the sessions are "Dr. Talks", where parents can ask specific questions and get detailed answers from local pediatric professionals. Community workshop topics include:

  • Tuning into Your Baby
  • Establishing Routines
  • Coping with Stress
  • Learning Through Play
  • Setting Limits
  • Promoting Literacy
  • Dr. Talk: Infant Sleep / Nutrition
  • Dr. Talk: Safety / Childhood Illnesses

 

Check out our Parent Workshop Calendar for a list of Ready, Set, Parent! workshops. For more information, or to register for a class, please call us at (315) 471-8331 or email mmaser@childrensconsortium.org.