2008 Woodie Awards
New Club for Student Parents
Stephanie Hall
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: News
Health Education student, Deanna Johnson, and Anderson Gender Center Assistant Director of Programming, Heidi Harold, have collaborated to create a club that will act as a support group for student parents and future student parents.
The Baby U Club was created "in response to student need," according to Harold.
Johnson said that, as a new parent, she became interested in forming the group when she noticed that the Gender Center, while providing many valuable services to students, does not offer many services for parents of more "traditional" type families.
"The purpose of the club is to try and raise awareness of special challenges and special needs of student parents and provide a support network-especially for people who don't have family nearby," Johnson said.
"We think this is especially important for students who aren't from around here, because they don't have the family around for support," Harold said.
"All students are invited but we're specifically geared to people with kids, people thinking about having kids or women who are pregnant. But even if you're not a parent, sometime in your life you're mostly likely going to be a parent, and these resources will expand beyond the time you are here at ISU," Johnson said. The club is not just for new parents with babies but for students with kids of all ages.
One resource the club seeks to provide is creating an "area in the library designated for parents with kids-with crayons and things-where students with kids don't have to worry about disturbing other students," Johnson said.
They also want to inform breast-feeding mothers of the closest places on campus to breast feed.
"Currently we are working on a project of making a map of places on campus that are safe for mothers to breast-feed, because we support and encourage breast feeding. It's called a mother map at some other schools-we're calling it a lactation station map," Harold said.
The club also wants to compile a library of parent resources that will be available in the Anderson Gender Center.
In the spring, the club will be putting together a student parent fair. "It will be kind of like a health fair type thing," said Johnson. "We're going to bring together all the organizations in town like WIC and Medicaid that student parents are involved with."
Johnson said Baby U Club is going to look for other ways to provide valuable services to student parents. They will be sending an e-mail survey to students within the next few weeks.
"We hope to accomplish a better understanding of what those specific needs of students are and find ways to serve them better," Harold said.
Johnson said she has seen a large student interest in the new group. "I've been receiving about 5 to 10 e-mails a week from students wanting more information about it," Johnson said.
To join the list-serve, get more information about Baby U, or to contact Johnson, you can e-mail her at stradean@isu.edu.
The Baby U Club was created "in response to student need," according to Harold.
Johnson said that, as a new parent, she became interested in forming the group when she noticed that the Gender Center, while providing many valuable services to students, does not offer many services for parents of more "traditional" type families.
"The purpose of the club is to try and raise awareness of special challenges and special needs of student parents and provide a support network-especially for people who don't have family nearby," Johnson said.
"We think this is especially important for students who aren't from around here, because they don't have the family around for support," Harold said.
"All students are invited but we're specifically geared to people with kids, people thinking about having kids or women who are pregnant. But even if you're not a parent, sometime in your life you're mostly likely going to be a parent, and these resources will expand beyond the time you are here at ISU," Johnson said. The club is not just for new parents with babies but for students with kids of all ages.
One resource the club seeks to provide is creating an "area in the library designated for parents with kids-with crayons and things-where students with kids don't have to worry about disturbing other students," Johnson said.
They also want to inform breast-feeding mothers of the closest places on campus to breast feed.
"Currently we are working on a project of making a map of places on campus that are safe for mothers to breast-feed, because we support and encourage breast feeding. It's called a mother map at some other schools-we're calling it a lactation station map," Harold said.
The club also wants to compile a library of parent resources that will be available in the Anderson Gender Center.
In the spring, the club will be putting together a student parent fair. "It will be kind of like a health fair type thing," said Johnson. "We're going to bring together all the organizations in town like WIC and Medicaid that student parents are involved with."
Johnson said Baby U Club is going to look for other ways to provide valuable services to student parents. They will be sending an e-mail survey to students within the next few weeks.
"We hope to accomplish a better understanding of what those specific needs of students are and find ways to serve them better," Harold said.
Johnson said she has seen a large student interest in the new group. "I've been receiving about 5 to 10 e-mails a week from students wanting more information about it," Johnson said.
To join the list-serve, get more information about Baby U, or to contact Johnson, you can e-mail her at stradean@isu.edu.
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