Often those who are asked to offer parenting education lack expertise in delivering services and education to diverse parent audiences. Additional resources and a professional support mechanisms for accessing information to assure the delivery of parenting education to meet broad and specific parent needs is necessary. Currently there is not a cohesive parenting education delivery system in North Carolina. All parenting education programs are not accessible by all parents. Some programs are fee-based and some are free.
Some parents enroll in parenting programs because of particular needs.
Some parents don't realize such programs exist. Some parents are referred by courts and mandated to attend parenting classes. Parent education programs for parents with children under 5 years of age out number programs for parents with school-age and teen children. There are many gaps and perhaps a few overlaps in parenting education programs and services from county to county. Having multiple organizations delivering parenting education is not an overwhelming concern, however the lack of a professional support structure, common research base, or accessible teaching and resource materials presents a great concern in meeting the growing need for high quality parenting education in North Carolina.