my project is not taking off

[Zoe Girl]

the project of parenting classes is not getting registrants. sigh, it has been a big deal to me and the psychologist but people don't want to take it. even the psychologist is doing something different with her money. i need to contact the teachers and tell them we can try again in January after the holiday break, i don't see another way. i am going to send a survey and see if there is a gap between what i am offering and what people want, i would have loved to just pay a teacher like a social worker an hourly or affordable flat rate for the class but i have not found that in the last year. the different parenting class programs are all about the same price. the PTA has a connection to a parenting safe children program for a saturday and it is also expensive but maybe by splitting the cost we can make it work. one of the biggest limitations i have is that i need to serve the families at my school.

Meanwhile my job is just so big right now. i did take time for that project but it is in my job description to get parenting programs in. i am finding that i am kinda worn out at the end of the week, and last week i left some calls and emails unfinished because of it. i was simply needing to turn it off. So far parents have been okay but it is on the edge. the good news is that i saw my job coach on Saturday and she moved her daughter to our school district so she knows even more about what i do, plus she made the connection to the grant i have at my site. So that just gives us more information ahead of time.

Kinda dreading going to work for the overall work load today, i don't dread going to work unless it is meeting with some sups

[Ultralight]

Could it be that every parent already knows everything? ;)

[sweetana3]

It does not matter what anyone is organizing, getting people to sign up is the hardest part. The second hardest is to keep them for the whole program.

We have national quilting speakers that we pay for and sometimes we cannot get a guild of 400 members to sign up for 40 slots in a class for a ridiculously low price. It is subsidized by the guild. This is a national problem and I suspect covers all areas of life.

I would think since you set it up and did all the necessary paperwork, if it were to go forward, your supervisior should understand. But it is also important to try and find out why.
Time of day, dates, cost, travel could all be factors. If you could do a little investigation, it might help. It can be difficult to get honest answers from people. In the end, it might just be that those you hope to reach just want to relax and watch some tv or something after a long hard day of work.

[rodeosweetheart]

It does not matter what anyone is organizing, getting people to sign up is the hardest part. The second hardest is to keep them for the whole program.

We have national quilting speakers that we pay for and sometimes we cannot get a guild of 400 members to sign up for 40 slots in a class for a ridiculously low price. It is subsidized by the guild. This is a national problem and I suspect covers all areas of life.

I would think since you set it up and did all the necessary paperwork, if it were to go forward, your supervisior should understand. But it is also important to try and find out why.
Time of day, dates, cost, travel could all be factors. If you could do a little investigation, it might help. It can be difficult to get honest answers from people. In the end, it might just be that those you hope to reach just want to relax and watch some tv or something after a long hard day of work.

I think Sweetana is right--you can't really know what the issue is for them until you ask. And it could be something as simple as time of day, or conflict with work schedule, or difficulty with someone to watch the children while attending. So asking might be a really, really good idea.

And for what it's worth, it sounds like a great program, and I would have liked something like that when I had elementary school aged children.

[Zoe Girl]

I am thinking about sending a survey to interested families and the families of the younger kids (3year olds through 1st grade) since they are more likely to be looking for a class.

Then if I try again after winter break the families will have had weeks home with their kids and so they may REALLY want the class :)

[Float On]

Remind me was it a one evening seminar or several week class? Its almost impossible anymore to get anyone to commit to any sort of weekly class. Sad but true.

[Zoe Girl]

It is a 6 week class, the price is lower than usual but still no interest. I think that they have had better luck with larger churches (my guess is that they are Mormon). It makes sense that a regular class is harder.

The PTA idea is a one time class so I may look at that more closely. One of the issues is according to my grant I need to serve parents of OST students at my school in an on-going activity (6 sessions). So I do many family nights and try to get the same families to come, even if they stay a short time.

[herbgeek]

You also might want to think about marketing it differently. People look for solutions to problems. If you billed it as (making stuff up here just to illustrate) how to help your children organize their rooms, you might get parents who were looking for help with a specific issue that would not be attracted to a generic "parenting class". They may think of themselves as good parents already so would not be receptive to something called a parenting class. But they might be attracted to a specific angle. I think I've seen parenting classes with a "how to talk to kids so they'll listen" angle. Likely similar content to a parenting class, but a different packaging.

[mschrisgo2]

Ok, so here is my take on your dilemma... remember, I've worked in and around public schools for 30 years now, classroom teacher, after-school program, supplemental education, I've done it all.

First, your timing is off. It is the busiest season of the year, starting right now: Halloween, parent-teacher conferences. Thanksgiving, Winter holidays, i.e Christmas, etc., and school vacations, which are a huge drain for working parents, who often have to use their sick leave or vacation time to cover the kids who are out of school.

Second, nobody, but nobody, commits to a 6-week series of classes any where, any more. Life is too busy and changes too fast. Just not going to happen.

Third, restructure your class offerings. Do them on a Saturday, with childcare that extends a couple of hours after the class is over- so mom can run and do the grocery shopping without dragging the tired kid(s) with her. Basically, you would be giving her something very practical in the daily living realm- TIME- to shop, and, even more importantly from your point of view, TIME to be with her own thoughts post workshop.

Structure each day as a stand-alone workshop. Some people may to come to all, but likely many people will come to 3-4. Just because they wrote "series of classes" in your job description, doesn't mean you have to guarantee that every person attends all 6 classes.

As someone mentioned above, give each one a catchy title. Something directly related to the needs of the parents.

In summary, I think it's very possible to have the parenting classes successfully, but it needs to be structured differently.

[kally]

I train volunteers for a particular role. 7 years ago we had the course run many many evenings. Now we have changed it to run 3 Saturday mornings and a number of follow ups during the year. I find it harder and harder to get people to commit to any length of time.

I also have come to believe that it can be good to do an initial shorter module, let the participants practice what they are learning and then come back to discuss the ins and outs.

[ToomuchStuff]

back...

Several points have been made that I was thinking.
Time factor (bad timing, holiday's, kids sports, etc)
Cost (both in people that wonder why should I pay for advice, I can get from x person, and you have low income people in your area, that get low/reduced cost stuff and maybe already getting this advice from a social worker)
No reputation (catch 22. Won't get feedback/reviews without attendee's, won't get attendee's without feedback/reviews)
The WTH factor (what give you the right to tell me how to raise my kids)

[freshstart]

First, your timing is off. It is the busiest season of the year, starting right now: Halloween, parent-teacher conferences. Thanksgiving, Winter holidays, i.e Christmas, etc., and school vacations, which are a huge drain for working parents, who often have to use their sick leave or vacation time to cover the kids who are out of school.

Second, nobody, but nobody, commits to a 6-week series of classes any where, any more. Life is too busy and changes too fast. Just not going to happen.

Third, restructure your class offerings. Do them on a Saturday, with childcare that extends a couple of hours after the class is over- so mom can run and do the grocery shopping without dragging the tired kid(s) with her. Basically, you would be giving her something very practical in the daily living realm- TIME- to shop, and, even more importantly from your point of view, TIME to be with her own thoughts post workshop.

Structure each day as a stand-alone workshop. Some people may to come to all, but likely many people will come to 3-4. Just because they wrote "series of classes" in your job description, doesn't mean you have to guarantee that every person attends all 6 classes.

As someone mentioned above, give each one a catchy title. Something directly related to the needs of the parents.
.

ITA, I would've gone to something like mschrisgo suggests. Especially with child care. But 6 is too many, 3-4 sounds just right. And how much is the cost to the parents?

I can remember Open House nights at school, elementary and middle, where having already been there for two hours, they wanted to shunt you into another hour of parenting classes. Nobody stayed, people were offended that this was shoved down our throats and after many years in the district most of us had the hang of it and we were not looking for more help at home. We wanted to meet the teachers and review curriculum and go home before 10pm. But a short series on one topic about parenting at the library for free, I would do

[rodeosweetheart]

ITA, I would've gone to something like mschrisgo suggests. Especially with child care. But 6 is too many, 3-4 sounds just right. And how much is the cost to the parents?

I can remember Open House nights at school, elementary and middle, where having already been there for two hours, they wanted to shunt you into another hour of parenting classes. Nobody stayed, people were offended that this was shoved down our throats and after many years in the district most of us had the hang of it and we were not looking for more help at home. We wanted to meet the teachers and review curriculum and go home before 10pm. But a short series on one topic about parenting at the library for free, I would do

Good point about the library, freshstart. I think the classes would be an easier sell at the library, for the reasons freshtart states.

If you did 6 standalones, how about one about holiday stressors and your family? I think people might go for that one.

[sweetana3]

And if these are parents with multiple kids, the time constraints are even worse. They may need more help but not have the time to get it. The library might be able to coordinate a parent's meeting(s) with a child's activity so both could be accomodated at the same time. Seems a win win.

[Ultralight]

And if these are parents with multiple kids, the time constraints are even worse. They may need more help but not have the time to get it.

That is rough.