MELD’S mission is to strengthen families by improving the quality of parenting in the United States

The Beginning
As the recipient of a 1973 grant from the lilly Endowment, Ann Ellwood, MELD’s Executive Director, conducted a thorough investigation of the fields of early childhood education and parent education to answer the question, "How can families be strengthened?"

Ellwood concluded that parents can learn from each other, they can give each other support, and they should be free to make informed choices. She founded MELD, a nonprofit agency whose parenting education programs value and model that philosophy.

Programs for Parents
MELD piloted five groups of new parents in Minneapolis in 1975. Since then, MELD has developed eight programs using the peer self-help group model of parents helping parents.

• MELD for New Parents
• MELD Special
• MELD for Young Moms
• MELD for Growing Families
• MELD para Nueva Familia
• MELD for Young Parents
• MELD for Young Dads
• MELD for Parents Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• MELD for African American Young Mothers

Purpose
Each program’s purpose is to provide the most useful information in the most supportive environment that can be created. A primary prevention program, most of MELD’s programs serve groups of parents during pregnancy and the child first two years. Experienced parents volunteer to facilitate MELD groups. After careful selection, they receive extensive training and support from a MELD site coordinator.

Curriculum
MELD offers parents and group facilitators comprehensive curriculum materials. Within each of five subject areas (health, child guidance, family management, and personal growth), the curriculum is designed to be responsive to the needs of parents at each phase of their children’s lives.

MELD participants plan their meetings be choosing from many topics. Together, parents personalize, reinforce and expand upon information presented in the group meetings. Handbooks for facilitators are uniformly organized, rationale, objectives learning activities, supplemental materials and a bibliography are provided for each topic.

Philosophy
MELD helps communities and individuals realize that positive parenting behaviors can evolve when parents get valuable information and emotional support. A powerful support system develops in MELD groups that helps parents solve problems together.

MELD believes that there is no one right way to raise a child. We encourage respect and appreciation for the uniqueness of each individual.

MELD’s inclusive, respectful and accepting philosophy is warmly received by many kinds of parents. Its administrative and programmatic practices promote cultural inclusiveness. When reaching parents in new cultures, MELD partners itself with agencies and professionals who know are trusted by parents.

Benefits
Children of MELD participants and facilitators benefit in many ways. Parents make better use of community resources and helping systems for themselves and their child. Parents learn to respect and appreciate the uniqueness of each child, to be sensitive to each child’s needs and interests, and to develop appropriate expectations of their child’s behavior at each age. As a result, children are more likely to receive the consistent responsive care they need in order to competent adults.

Evaluation
Since the MELD program began in 1975, a formal evaluation system has been developed. The evaluation design seeks information about the program in a way that does not interfere with the voluntary, supportive nature of the groups.

Outside evaluations have found that MELD’s successes lie in:

• improving parent’s knowledge about meeting the emotional and physical needs of children.
• coping with issues of personal development while raising children.
• decreasing familial isolation.

Growth
MELD has expanded extensively in the past 20 years. Professionals have been trained to deliver MELD’s program in more than 100 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Each program is sponsored by a MELD-trained site coordinator.

Replication
MELD replication packages include:

• training for the sponsoring agency, site coordinator, and volunteer group facilitators.
• materials for the parents, facilitators, site coordinator, sponsoring agency and program evaluators.
• ongoing technical assistance for the site coordinator and agency in program management, training, evaluation and fundraising.

MELD programs address the universal needs of parents. They are flexible enough to be adapted by each sponsor to respond to the unique qualities of the sponsor’s community.

MELD PROGRAMS:

• MELD SPECIAL
  This parenting program organizes discussion groups for parents of children through the age of three who are chronically ill or disabled. The program focuses on the "daily" tasks of raising a child rather than medical information/ Curriculum topics include coping with grief, sibling issues, child guidance and development, self-esteem and more. Groups are facilitated by men and women who are the parents of older children with special needs.

  Program Locations:

  Illinois
  The Rockford Group
  Rockford Memorial Hospital
  Rockford,IL

  Iowa
  The people Place/Family Life Enrichment, Inc.
  Ames, IA

  Pennsylvania
  Dr. Gertrude Barber Center
  Erie, PA

• MELD for NEW PARENTS
  This comprehensive two-year program brings together groups of first-time parents. Groups of 20 parents meet twice a month from pregnancy until children are two years old. Groups are facilitated by teams of two families.

  Program Locations

  California
  Oak Valley Family Support Network
  Oakdale, CA

  Illinois
  The Rockford Group
  Rockford Memorial Hospital
  Rockford, IL

  Iowa
  The People Place/Family Life Enrichment. Inc.
  Ames, IA

  Minnesota
  Southwest Family Room, way to Grow & Early Childhood
  Minneapolis, MN

• MELD for Young Moms
  This comprehensive two-year program was developed especially for adolescent mothers aged 13-20. The group are facilitated by a team of women who become single mothers in their teens. Young moms meet weekly to receive basic, practical information and support regarding parenting and decision-making. Young moms support each other, and are encouraged to pursue and achieve their educational and career goals.

  Program Locations

  Arkansas
  The Parent Center
  Little Rock, AR

  California
  Friends of the Family
  Van Nuys, CA

  Colorado
  Family Resource Schools
  Denver, CO

  Resource Center
  Grand Junction, CO

  Florida
  Community Coordinated Care
  for Children, Inc. Orlando, FL

  Illinois
  Ounce of Prevention Fund
  Chicago, IL
  Dr. King Center, Kankakee
  Family Focus, Lawndale
  Harris YWCA, Chicago
  Children’s Home & Aid Society,
  Chicago.
  Christopher House, Chicago
  Catholic Charities, Chicago

  Greater DuPage MYM, Inc.
  Rockford MELD, Inc.
  Rockford, IL

  Iowa
  Young Womens Resource Center
  Des Moines, IA

  Massachusetts
  Brockton Neighbors United
  Brockton, MA

  Minnesota
  MELD Central
  Minneapolis, MN

  Seton Outreach Services for Families and Women
  St. Paul, MN

  New Jersey
  The New Jersey Chapter, NCPCA is a Partner in Statewide replication of the MELD program.

  Camden
  Dover
  Hackensack
  Irvington
  Lakewood
  Pemberton
  Plainfield
  Pleasantville
  Trenton

  Pennsylvania
  Philadelphia Society for
  Services to Children
  Philadelphia, PA

  Texas
  Methodist Healthcare Ministries
  San Antonio, TX

  Virginia
  Comprehensive Health Investment Program
  Richmond, VA

  Wisconsin
  Lutheran Social services
  Milwaukee, WI

• MELD for GROWING FAMILIES
  This program is an extension that brings together single mothers of children aged 3-5. The curriculum includes age-appropriate child development information and managing outside influences on childrens’ lives: Living situations, violence, relationships, balancing work and family, health and well-being.

  Program Locations

  Arkansas
  Hippy Programs

  • East Central Arkansas Economic Development
    Augusta, AR
  
  
  
  • Ozarks Unlimited Resources
    Cooperative
    Harrison, AR
  
  
  
  • Helena School District
    Helena, AR
  
  
  
  • SE Arkansas Educational Co-op
    Monticello, AR
  
  
  
  • North Little Rock Public Schools
    North Little Rock,
  AR

  Connecticut
  New Britain General Hospital
  New Britain, CT

  Minnesota
  Seton Outreach Services for St. Paul, MN
  Southwest Family Room
  Minneapolis, MN

  Pennsylvania
  Philadelphia Society Services to Children
  Philadelphia, PA

  Texas
  Methodist Healthcare Ministries
  San Antonio, TX

  Virginia
  Comprehensive Health Investment Program
  Richard, VA

• MELD para Nueva Familia
  This Program Addresses the needs of Hispanic/Latino Families. All programs curricula are in English and Spanish. Issues of bi-lingual/bi culturalism, as well as recent immigration are discussed. Couples, singles, and adolescent Hispanic parents have been served in MELD programs.

  Program Locations

  Illinois
  Latino Youth
  Chicago, IL

  A number of MELD for Young Moms and Young Dads programs serve Latino adolescents.

• MELD for HMONG PARENTS
  As a result of a one-year feasibility study about the needs of Hmong parents, this program serves Hmong parents of adolescents and younger children. A partnership with the Womens Association of Hmong and Lao, Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota has been instrumental in program development and expansion. These groups explore issues of cultural differences, The legal and school systems, and parental guidance over the years of childhood and adolescence.

  Program Locations

  Minnesota Hmong American Partnership St. Paul, MN

  MELD Central
  Minneapolis, MN

  Minnesota Extension Service
  Dakota Country, MN

  Women’s Association of Hmong and Lao, Inc.
  St. Paul, MN

• MELD for Young Dads
  This program serves young fathers who face emotional , societal, financial and interpersonal barriers to participating in their child’s life. Through group work and other services, fathers receive information and support that can help them understand their role in their child’s life. Comprehensive curricula has been developed to help professionals, facilitators, and young fathers who are part of this program.

  Program Locations

  Illinois
  Greater DuPage MYM, Inc.
  Glen Ellyn, IL

  Massachusetts
  Denison House
  Dorchester, MA

  Minnesota
  MELD Central
  Minneapolis, MN

  New Jersey
  FamCare
  Bridgeton, NJ

  School Based Youth Services Projects:
  Irvington
  Pemberton
  Plainfield

  Texas
  Methodist Healthcare Ministries
  San Antonio, TX

  Wisconsin
  New Concept in self Development
  Milwaukee, WI

• MELD for PARENTS who are DEAF and HARD of HEARING
  This two-year program was developed for parents who are deaf or hard of hearing. Teams of experienced parents who are deaf facilitate groups. This program’s curriculum describes concepts of child health, development, nutrition, play, accident prevention and family management, using over 1,000 illustrations.

• MELD SPONSORS
  MELD’s Programs have been replicated since 1975. Many kinds of agencies have sponsored MELD programs in their communities.

  • Non-profit Agencies that serve families
  • Childcare Resources Centers
  • Alternative School Settings
  • Home Visiting Programs
  • State or Country Agencies
  • City, Country and State Prevention Collaboratives
  • Hospitals/Clinics and Health Departments
  • YWCAs/YMCAs
  • Military Bases
  • Department of Education and Boards of Education
  • International Sponsors

For more information, contact MELD, 123 North 3rd St., suite 507, Minneapolis, MN, 55401, 612-332-7563

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