Training for educators is available in the Boston area or the Los Angeles area. Training in other locations may be possible by arrangement.
Training in a given location can occur when at least 4 childbirth educators want to get trained at the same time. If you are interested in getting trained, please fill out the Training Interest form. When enough educators are interested Dr. Straus will get in touch to propose dates and schedule the training.
General information on training is described below.
Contact: rob@newchildproject.org for more information
General Information on Training:
A one-day (8 hour) train the trainers program is available for childbirth educators to learn how to incorporate the classes of the New Child Project into their childbirth curriculum or as a free standing set of classes.
Curricula: The basic curriculum on Strengthening and Protecting the Co-parenting Relationship is designed for 2 three-hour meetings of a group of pregnant couples. Additional curricula have been developed:
– a 6 session course including an session on Choices in Childbirth, 2 sessions on Newborn Care, and 3 sessions on Strengthening and Protecting the Co-parenting relationship.
– a 6 session course cover the same material as above, designed for teen parents, currently being piloted through Healthy Families programs affiliated with Children’s Trust in Boston.
Note: training for the 6 hour courses is 2 days, rather than one. Cost to be discussed.
The training covers the research supporting the intervention, training on adult learners, presentation of all the course material, and a discussion of approaches to reach new parents. Educators will have a chance to practice teach much of the material, receiving support and feedback.
The training materials include a comprehensive script of each class, background research supporting the educational material, and Powerpoint slides, and educational videos to be used within the classes.
Cost: $250 per individual; $350 for a male/female training team. Scholarships may be possible if the training group is large enough. I am very interested in encouraging training for couples that includes a male as well as a female educator. Our experience is that this is particularly effective and engaging for male partners.
Training team: In the Los Angeles area, Rob Straus, DMH, JD will train alone or with Diana Peterson, co-developer of the classes and an experienced childbirth educator and doula.
In the Boston area, Rob will train alone or with Lorenza Holt, Executive Director of the Boston Association of Childbirth Educators (BACE).
Rob is a psychologist and lawyer with many years of experience as a couple’s therapist and child custody evaluator. He has spent the last ten years studying pre-birth educational materials and developing, with Diana Peterson, the five-session class that is now given monthly at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, California.