Office of Justice Programs News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2000
OJJDP
202/307-0703

ATTORNEY GENERAL UNVEILS NEW WEB SITE FOR PARENTS

http://www.parentingresources.ncjrs.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? A new Website - http://www.parentingresources.ncjrs.org - will offer parents information on topics such as child care, education, health and safety. The site, "Parenting Resources for the 21st Century," is part of a joint effort by several federal agencies to promote a national agenda for children and foster positive youth development.

Attorney General Janet Reno unveiled the site today at the quarterly meeting of the federal Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. In May, First Lady Hillary Clinton announced the development of the Website during the White House Conference on Teenagers.

"This Website covers everything from caring for a newborn to finding college scholarships," said Reno. "It will provide quick and easy access to a broad array of information that parents need to meet the challenges of raising a child."

The site, which includes information on advocacy, education, employment, mental health, nutrition, learning disabilities and volunteer activities, is divided into eight categories:

  • Child and Youth Development - Presents information about common behaviors and developmental milestones, as well as emotional and physiological changes that typically occur during different stages of a young person's life.

  • Child Care and Education - Provides information on what skills children are expected to master at each grade level, how to support children's learning process, and how to ease children's transitions between schools. Also offers guidance on home schooling, alternative schools and standardized tests.

  • Family Concerns - Presents information about topics including gangs, hate crimes, school safety, domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse, tobacco, mental health and suicide.

  • Family Dynamics - Provides information on matters pertaining to different types of family relationships such as single, two-parent, and multi-generational families; special circumstances such as the incarceration of a family member; and work and family issues such as alternative work schedules and day care.

  • Health and Safety - Includes information on exercise and nutrition guidelines, recommendations for a preventive approach to health, and strategies for dealing with chronic ailments. The links also deal with topics such as Internet safety and caring for aging parents.

  • Out-of-School Activities - Provides links to information about a wide range of activities to do at home and in the community, including sports, arts, volunteering and employment.

  • Resources - Offers information about financial assistance and publications of interest to parents and youth-serving organizations.

  • What's New - Provides up-to-date information about new parenting-related developments, research, publications and events.

"Parents will be able to use the information on this Website to help provide a safe and secure home for their children," said John J. Wilson, Acting Administrator of the Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). "This knowledge and support will also help parents detect signs of substance abuse or other behavior that can lead to future delinquency."

The Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which developed the site, is chaired by the Attorney General and includes the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, and Housing and Urban Development and juvenile justice professionals appointed by the Senate, the House and the President.

Information about the Coordinating Council and information about OJJDP publications, programs and conferences are available through the OJJDP Website at http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org and from OJJDP's Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, Box 6000, Rockville, Maryland 20857. The toll-free number is 1-800/638-8736.

Information about other Office of Justice Programs (OJP) bureaus and program offices is available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov. Media should contact OJP's Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 202/307-0703.

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