Parenting Families: From ME to WE

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it?
Parenting Families: From ME to WE is a DVD-based six-session resource for improving parenting skills and building a stronger family- traditional, single parent or blended.
The sessions are fun and interactive, parents get ideas to use immediately, build relationships with other parents and they hear the message of forgiveness in Jesus in a non-threatening way. Churches and schools can host the sessions and invite the entire community to attend with them.

What do I get?
Pre-Packaged Hosting Kit - Only $149! You could also qualify for additional discounts, contact us at (800) 876-9880 to find out more.

Hosting Kit includes:

• DVD of the six sessions on 2 discs (additional sets available at a minimal cost)
• Hosting Guide, including preparation and volunteer notes for promotion through follow-up
• Leader Guide for facilitating small group discussion, tips on maintaining relationships and extra session notes
• Web access to customizable multi-media downloads, containing publicity and participant materials
• 25 Participant Folders*
• 50 Promotional brochures*
• 100 Invitation postcards*
• Project Connect Parenting Families "Practical Strategies" companion parenting booklets*

Items marked with an * are available to be ordered through www.shoplhm.org.

What's in the Hosting Guide?
Hosting Guide provides detailed instructions to promote and prepare, conduct the six sessions, and provides follow-up strategies to keep relationships going.

• Hosting Essentials and Requirements
• Volunteer Roles and worksheet to help manage volunteer contact info
• Task Timeline and worksheet to help manage tasks and deadlines
• Instructions and checklist for conducting the sessions
• Using the publicity tools and instructions for publicity documents
• Sermon/message tips
• Childcare Activities
• Required Evaluation and Feedback Forms
• Follow-up Strategies

See excerpts from the Hosting Guide below

Can I preview the video?
Here's a five minute clip from part one of Session Two: Communication. Find out why listening is important in more ways than one. Meet the hosts and get a sense of how ideas are developed to facilitate discussion. Click here to view.

What do I need to provide?

• Volunteers
• Meeting space
• Hospitality and prayer
• Budget for certain promotional and hospitality costs
• Feedback following the sessions

Can I charge a registration fee?
Yes, a registration fee increases perceived value and helps cover hosting costs.

How far in advance should I be planning?
Ideally, set your dates at least 6 weeks in advance and start preparing 4-6 weeks ahead.

Where can I get more information?
www.parentingfamilies.com (session & video info)

Excerpts from the Hosting Guide

Hosting Essentials

As a parenting resource, the Parenting Families: From ME to WE workshop series makes an immediate impact through strategies that work. Parents report fewer power struggles with their children and more confidence in maintaining healthy boundaries that help children mature.

This workshop series is much more, however, when used as an outreach tool. Your church or school can be a community leader in supporting families by inviting parents from your area. When these non-member parents participate along with your member families, it is an opportunity to form relationships in which the truth and love of Jesus Christ can be shared - relationships that can lead to long-term involvement in the family of faith at your congregation.

Whichever setting you choose - the campus setting (participants at tables in gym or large space) or the home setting (small groups gathered in individual homes) - the potential exists to create meaningful relationships. Select the setting your congregation or school is best equipped to handle and into which your members are most comfortable inviting friends to attend.

In both settings, there are five essentials to conducting this workshop series successfully:

• Strong promotion both within your congregation/school and in the community
• Warm, organized hospitality at the sessions
• Amiable small group leaders who are mature in the Christian faith
• Intentional follow-up to maintain connections with participants
• Participant and Volunteer Feedback collected for better follow-up and LHM program improvement

To that end, you and your leadership will need to gather the necessary people to promote and host the series as well as gather qualified small group leaders to facilitate group discussion at the sessions and maintain connections.

Note: A registration fee of your choosing may be charged. This can help you recoup costs for publicity, hospitality, childcare, etc. Registration fees can also increase the perceived value of the workshop series and thereby increase attendance.

Volunteer Roles

The appointing of volunteer leaders provides accountability and organization to the ongoing efforts of all volunteers. If you do not already have volunteers and plans in place for such efforts, the following are recommended:

• Publicity Team Leader: Enthusiastic individual to manage the scheduling and implementation of all publicity and promotional efforts - everything from getting bulletin announcements printed to placing a press release in local papers. At least two (2) Publicity Team members recommended. Publicity materials included on CD.
• Hospitality Team Leader:
  • Campus Setting: Organized individual to manage hospitality for the six sessions - everything from greeters and signage to refreshments and room set up. At least two to six (2-6) Hospitality Team members recommended.
  • Home Setting: Organized individual to recruit and prepare hosts for home groups. At least one (1) Hospitality Team member recommended.
• Feedback Liaison: Detail oriented individual needed to review and record results from the Participant Feedback Form, Volunteer Feedback Form, and the volunteer feedback session. The Feedback Liaison will complete the Hosting Experience Summary and submit it to LHM via contact information provided on the form.
• Small Group Team Leader: Experienced small group leader to recruit and prepare individuals serving as small group leaders during the sessions. The number of small group leaders should be approximately one (1) leader for every eight (8) participants.
• Small Group Leaders: Friendly individuals or couples experienced at facilitating group discussion. Primary relationship building. Same role in campus and home settings.
• Hosts: Families willing to open their home for a group of six to ten (6-10) people. Hosts will set up a comfortable space to watch DVD and have discussion, provide refreshments as desired. Hosts may also serve as small group leaders but that is not required. Hosts also recommended for making follow-up contacts.
• Childcare Team Leader:
  • Campus Setting: Experienced individual to recruit and manage childcare volunteers, activities, and sign-in. Recruiting enough help to equal one childcare team member for every four (4) children is recommended. Childcare Team Leader may also recruit a song leader or activity leader as desired.
  • Home Setting: Organized individual to recruit, assign, and prepare childcare volunteers for each home group location.
• Childcare Volunteers: Experienced individuals for childcare during sessions in campus and home settings. This can be an excellent way to involve your senior youth. Be sure, however, to have adequate adult supervision.

Task Timeline

Planning (4-8 weeks prior by Staff/Leadership, and Team Leaders)

• Determine setting/venue: Campus or home setting?
• Set participant goal: What is the ideal number of participants?
• Recruit Team Leaders. (See volunteer role descriptions page 5.)
• Recruit team members, childcare volunteers, other volunteers, and hosts as needed.
• Set publicity date(s): When and where will we publicize?
• Create hospitality plan: Greeting, signage, set-up, refreshments, etc.
• Create registration plan: Who will manage? How can people sign up? Registration fee? Sign-up for childcare.
• Create childcare plan: sign-in, ages, activities, etc.

Publicity and Registration (4-6 weeks prior by Pastor, Publicity Team, Hospitality Team)

• Begin internal church/school promo: announcements at events and in publications, show promotional videos (on DVD) to influential people, preview one (1) session with staff and leaders.
• Begin community publicity: Ads and press release in local media outlets, contact area family service organizations, etc., as desired.
• Send postcard invitations: mail to targeted mailing list of non-member parents or distribute personally.
• Sermon or pastor messages: use sermon tips to prepare and motivate members.
• Bulletin inserts/video clips: Use in worship to build excitement. Begin registration (and fee collection as desired).

Preparation (1-2 weeks prior by Small Group Leader Team, Hospitality Team, Childcare Team)

• Small group leader session: Preview Session 1, review handouts, discuss goals, pray.
• (Optional) Childcare prep session: Review procedures and activities.
• Hospitality needs covered for set up, signage, etc.

Conducting the Sessions (Pastor/staff, all teams)

• Weekly communication by Team Leaders with members recommended.
• During Session Six please have participants complete the Participant Feedback Form

Follow-Up* (Starting 1 week after sessions by Small Group Leaders, other volunteers, and Feedback Liaison)

• Follow-up contact #1: Call or send card - glad to have met you, etc. one (1) week after last session.
• Feedback session: Team leaders and staff review positives and negatives, complete Volunteer Feedback Form, make additional follow-up plans, complete Hosting Experience Feedback Form for Lutheran Hour Ministries.
• Follow-up contact #2: Invite to event/activity or other communication as desired.
• Follow-up contact #3: As desired.

Using the Publicity Tools

Customizable Downloads:

• Posters: Add your dates, times, and location with an easy-to-use template. Print the 11x17" posters in color or black-and-white.
• Press Release: Add your details to a professionally written press release and arrange for publication in local papers.
• Print Ads: Place attractive color or black-and-white advertisements in local publications. Select from two (2) sizes and drop in your details.
• PowerPoint Slide Template: For making announcements in worship or presentations to church and school groups, add your details to this eye-catching slide template.
• Bulletin Inserts: Use three (3) bulletin inserts to get members pumped for the workshop series. Add your dates, times, and other details. Pastors and worship leaders can make brief announcements (samples provided) to draw attention to the inserts and give personalized invitations. The 5.5" x 8.5" inserts also make great invitations for members to give to friends.

Brochures: The tri-fold, full-color brochures explain the "ME to WE" parenting concept, describes the workshop series experience, and list the credentials of personalities in the video. The brochure is general enough for many uses. 50 brochures are included in the kit. Additional copies may be purchased.

Sermon Tips: A pastor's influence is not only crucial in motivating members to attend the parenting workshop series, it is necessary for motivating members to invite unchurched friends and neighbors so it can be used as an effective outreach opportunity. Your pastor knows how to cast a vision and rally people behind a Christ-centered purpose. The sermon tips can be used for preaching or crafting other messages about the Lord's plan for parenting. It is also recommended that the pastor(s) at your church preview at least one session of the DVD.

Postcards: Use the 5.5 x 8.5" postcards to invite people to the workshop. Create a targeted mailing list to parents in your community, unchurched families whose children attend your school, or other lists as appropriate. Postcards need first-class stamp to mail or can be hand delivered. Ask volunteers to hand-write messages or run the cards through your printer. Sample message: Join us for parenting strategies that reduce power struggles and promote healthy, united families. Judgment-free zone! Just $X for all six sessions. Childcare provided. Call 123-456-7899 to register now! Community Lutheran Church 123 Luther Ln, Anytown. Watch video excerpts at www.parentingfamilies.com. 100 postcards are included in the kit. Additional packages of 100 may be purchased.

Video Clips: Show short video commercials as part of motivational messages in worship or as presentations to church and school groups. The 30-second, 60-second, and 3-minute videos target parents and explain the benefits, introduce the video personalities, and let people know that the workshop series experience is fun and makes an immediate impact. If you have a relationship with a local TV station, you could tag it for local airing.

Web site: www.parentingfamilies.com is a site for parents to get details, view video clips, and send information to friends. All promotional materials list this Web site. You can also add a link from your church/school Web site. Your webmaster can add a text link or a web banner ad. Instructions at http://www.lhm.org/about/bannera.htm.