Babies Room Expands

Grinnell Regional Public Health will begin offering the Grinnell Regional Babies Room parenting classes in Montezuma and Brooklyn. The parent education classes will be held once per month in Brooklyn and Montezuma following the evidence-based curriculum of The Incredible Years Babies and Toddlers series by Carolyn Webster-Stratton, PhD. A free package of diapers will be given to all participants.

“Transportation and access has limited the ability of parents in these communities to participate in positive parenting classes. We are bringing this class to Brooklyn and Montezuma in hopes of improving child-rearing education,” says Diane Dolmage, Grinnell Regional Babies Room educator.

“For parents who meet qualifications, they may earn free child merchandise/items for good parenting and care of their infants and toddlers. This component of the Babies Room is a point system where points earned may be used to receive free merchandise such as diapers, high chairs, toys, and blankets/bedding,” Dolmage says.

The classes offer parents effective tools to promote positive behavior in children, which in turn is proven to reduce risk of abusive behavior. This curriculum helps parents build skills to be positive, caring, protective parents/caregivers. It also helps maintain social connection, receive information on accessing health, medical, and community resources, and create a nurturing bond between and within families.  The Incredible Years Babies has greatly benefited parents when the children are infants; therefore, the program has been expanded to include parents with toddlers. Fathers, mothers, and family support members are encouraged to attend the classes.

The Grinnell Regional Babies Room in Brooklyn will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Brooklyn Library. Dates will be February 25, March 24, April 28, May 26, and June 23.

In Montezuma, the Babies Room will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at the Community Hope Church. Dates will be February 22, March 28, April 25, May 23, and June 27.

“Funds to support the classes come from a Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Welfare Decategorization grant. This will provide classes and incentives to parents for six months,” says Patty Hinrichs, Grinnell Regional Public Health interim director.

For more information Grinnell Regional Public Health at 641-236-2385.