Parents in Clark and Edgar Counties will soon have a new place to turn for practical help with the earliest and most demanding years of raising a child.
The Human Resources Center of Edgar and Clark Counties (HRC) is launching a 12-week parenting curriculum written for families with children from birth to age five. The program was created by Annie Blaudow, a recovery support specialist at HRC who was named the agency’s July Employee of the Month in recognition of the achievement.
The curriculum will be offered at HRC’s offices in both Clark County and Edgar County, beginning with one-on-one sessions and with group classes planned as enrollment grows.
Each of the 12 weeks pairs a topic with a hands-on activity and a take-home assignment, covering the subjects that matter most in a child’s first five years: safe sleep and home safety, nutrition, bonding, positive discipline, the benefits of routines, and school readiness.
“I’ve tried to set it up in a way where it’s not just like you’re reading a book,” Blaudow said. “It’s easy to digest and very interactive.”
The program grew out of a small assignment. Blaudow was asked to develop worksheets on safe sleep practices for HRC’s existing parenting programming, which centers on the widely-used 1-2-3 Magic model.
“I think 1-2-3 Magic is a wonderful program. It just didn’t fit the needs for everyone,” she said. “I wanted to be able to expand on that and offer more, a more well rounded program.”
Weeks of research followed, drawing on evidence-based sources including the American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5.” When HRC shared the curriculum with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the response was enthusiastic.
Blaudow, a mother of three whose children range from eight months to 14 years old, believes one lesson will matter most for local families.
“I do feel like the bonding and attachment and how to create a safe and nurturing environment will make the biggest difference,” she said. It’s “something all children need. And I think it’s something that all parents strive to do.”
She also has a word for any parent who worries that signing up for a parenting class says something bad about them.
“Parenting is hard. And we’ll never know everything,” she said. Choosing to learn, she added, is a sign of effort, not failure. The program is open to anyone; participants do not need to be in crisis or referred by a court to enroll.
Cost is not a barrier to participation. Services are billed to Medicaid when applicable, with a small copay that HRC can waive for those unable to afford it. Participants without Medicaid are billed to a grant and receive no bill.
To get started, call HRC at 217-465-4118 to schedule a mental health enrollment and mention your interest in parenting classes during intake. Learn more at hrcec.org.
These services are funded in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services.
