Skip navigation.
New Mexico State University

Special Projects

Our county Extension program is responsive to the needs and concerns of our local citizens. Therefore, our staff often takes on special projects which may be unique to our county. These efforts often include promoting local economic development, tourism development and programs in e-commerce and a new parenting program called STRENGTHENING FAMILIES INITIATIVE.

Strengthening Family Initiative

Raising children is one of the most difficult jobs around, especially if you are young, a single parent, or adjusting to a life change such as divorce. The stress of raising children while attending to everything else in your life can be overwhelming.

To help, NMSU's Family and Consumer Sciences and Extension Home Economics departments are offering parenting education classes through Strengthening Families Initiative. People who may not have ready access to parenting classes-incarcerated fathers, teen parents, parents referred by social services, divorced and separated parents, monolingual Spanish-speaking parents, unmarried expectant parents and foster parents-are being served throughout the state.The Strengthening Families Initiative is funded by a grant from New Mexico Health and Human Services Department.

Santa Fe County Extension Home Economists are forming classes that are held once a week for 9 to 24 weeks, depending on the curriculum. Both the parents and children attend class each week.

During the first hour, parents learn to nurture themselves. Topics covered inlcude:

  • HANDLING STRESS AND ANGER-
  • BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM-
  • COMMUNICATION SKILLS-
  • HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS-
  • SUBSTANCE ABUSE-
  • LIFE SKILLS(including resume preparation, goal-setting, money management)
  • NUTRITION EDUCATION (including food safety, stretching your food dollars, healthy eating)

The second hour is spent learning about how to nurture children, which includes information about child development, positive discipline techniques, family rules and establishing routines. In a separate children's program, children learn about feelings and getting along with others. Older children receive information about life skills and nutrition, and complete projects from the 4-H curriculum. For the last half hour, the children and adults come together for family nurturing time, which includes a healthy snack and a fun parent-child activity. Several 20-week classes will be beginning the week of January 10, 2005 and will be held at various sites throughout Santa Fe County. Please call 471-4711 to reserve your spot. Your children are also highly encouraged to attend with you.

For more information for programs in Santa Fe county, contact Lisa Garcia or Noreen Romero at 505-471-4711

If you'd like more information related to positive parenting go to http://keepkidshealthy.com

For more information on a bilingual parenting educational newsletter got to "BABY'S FIRST WISH"