ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) - As your children head back to class, you may be hoping they’ll get what they need to succeed in life.  One group says what’s lacking are lessons on being parents themselves.

“Why are we waiting until our children become parents?” Asks Rene Howitt, founder and Executive Director of COPE24.  The St. Louis non-profit stands for Changing Our Parenting Experience.  Howitt’s main goal — cutting the rising number of reports of child abuse and neglect.

She’s created a video series and curriculum to take into middle and high schools.

“Nobody’s taught you the right way to respond to a crying baby, or to a toddler tantrum, or to potty training issues, all of those things that are the most common triggers for child abuse.”

And Howitt says if teens come from tough homes themselves, they have no examples of appropriate ways to parent.  She also hopes the program will make teenagers think twice about starting a family before they’re really ready.

Since authoring a book about her experience as a foster parent, Howitt’s spoken at dozens of school to thousands of students.  The COPE24 curriculum launched as a pilot program earlier this year and is expanding to more schools this fall.

Click here for a link to the organization

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