The Texas Agricultural Extension Service and Texas Department of Health will host a Building Healthy Families training series beginning April 28. The training is part of Extension's Master Parent Volunteer Program. The course is designed to train volunteers in assisting parents of young children.
Volunteers are often teachers, social workers, child care providers and health personnel.
Talma Benevides, county Extension agent in Corpus Christi, has been coordinating her county's program since 1994. In Nueces County, we've got one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in an urban area. Dr. Dorothy James, Extension family life specialist, said the program is not limited to professionals. Volunteers will receive training in personal skills like communication and anger awareness. Benevides estimated about 85 volunteers have been trained in her county.