New Parents Network, a local organization with national outreach, has helped parents for nearly 20 years, but moms now have an opportunity to tell the organization their concerns about the safety, education and health of their children.
A Tucson-based Web site with links to nearly 1,000 sources of parenting information, the nonprofit New Parents Network last week launched an online survey to identify the needs of parents and caregivers.
"What I would like to see is more access to early childhood education programs," said Bridgett Lopez, the mother of Jose, 7, and Elias, 2.
"With Head Start, there is a waiting list and you have to qualify,'' said the Tucson mom, who has taken the survey. "I would also like more parenting classes for people with young kids and teens."
The survey, in Spanish and English, is designed for parents and caregivers of children 5 and younger. Questions vary from child care issues to reading with children.
"Two hundred people have filled out our survey at this point," said Karen Storek, CEO of New Parents Network. It takes about three minutes to complete the survey, and those who fill it out before Oct. 15 will be eligible to win $100.
"This is a pioneering effort to reach out to families. It has never been done in this way before," Storek said. "The voice of the Hispanic community is often unheard, and we are reaching out to a population that has been ignored with respect to parenting. Never before has any organization asked those in our community what is important to them in child care."
United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona is partnering with the network on the survey.