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FAQ

1. What is the iParentnetwork?

iParentnetwork (iPn) is a broad based community coalition of parents, professionals and other community members from Willington, Ashford and Mansfield, Connecticut. The mission of our group is to equip parents with the tools to be prevention experts so our youth develop in healthy and safe ways. Our long term goal is to better support parents in their difficult job of parenting, in hopes of reducing high risk behaviors, such as underage drinking in our youth.

In all our research and discussions with parents in town, the single comment that keeps coming up is our desire to have more of a feeling of community – that we’ve lost that “town square” feeling of a small town.  In the age of the internet, our goal is to recreate that feeling by encouraging discussions and open public forums to discuss issues that are important to parents. We want to hear people's stories, questions, suggestions, ideas, and reactions. In many respects, this web site is an open window into life our tri-town area of Mansfield, Ashford and Willington.

If you are a parent in our tri-town area, this is an opportunity to connect and engage with other parents. With our towns so geographically dispersed, this will be an opportunity to talk to your neighbors and to participate in a lively exchange from the comfort of your own computer.  We welcome you to our site and appreciate your input and ideas as part of our broader virtual community.

2. What can you do on iParentnetwork?

Many things!  You can join an existing group or start your own group and have others join yours.  This way you can discuss things that are of common interest with others.  You can also read our blogs written by parenting experts and comment on those topics.  We even have a way to ask an anonymous questions (see "ask a question" at te top of each page), so that even the most sensitive questions can be thrown out there for other parents or our parenting experts to weigh in on.

This will be the epicenter for information on parenting in our little corner of the world, with resources and information to help us do the best job we can for our kids.  We'll also have a tri-town calendar listing all the local events that might be of interest to those with kids.

 

3. Who runs the project?

The Steering Committee now known as the Tri Town Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking is a group of volunteer citizens from the towns of Willington, Ashford and Mansfield. They oversee the project and work closely with the part time Project Coordinator and a committed Parent Advisory Group. Administrative oversight and support is provided by the Town of Mansfield Director of Human Services. These staff members facilitate planning, document the work of the project and maintain communication with the funder, the Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Funding for this project is assured until October 2009. Additional support for the project is provided by the University of Connecticut Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Services. iPn works closely with the Mansfield Campus Community Partnership. The Tri Town Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking meets on the third Thursday of the month at 9:00 AM in the Mansfield Town Hall and is open to visitors who want to learn more.

4. How can I help?

There are many ways that citizens from the tri-town area can get involved. Some of these are:

  • Meet with the Project Coordinator or attend a Steering Committee meeting to learn more about iPn
  • Join the Parent Advisory Group to help make sure the site stays relevent
  • Apply for a mini-grant to conduct activities that will help keep teens safe
  • Host a house party with friends and neighbors at which an iPN volunteer will invite you to think together about how we are handling this issue in our towns and what we can do about it
  • Watch for the launch of the iPN website and participate in parent blogs, forums or ask experts questions
  • Tell your friends  and invite them join iParentnetwork to learn more with you

5. Who should I talk to about iParentnetwork?

Ruth Freeman, LCSW is the Project Coordinator. You can reach her by calling 429-3315 or email her at: PositiveParent@earthlink.net.