Nonprofit merger creates nation’s largest source of parent education, early childhood information
In a move that creates the nation’s largest center of parent education and early childhood development information, St. Louis-based Parents as Teachers National Center recently announced its historic merger with Meld, another nationally recognized family service organization based in Minneapolis. The merger combines the research-based resources of the two nonprofit organizations in an effort to strengthen and broaden services to thousands of families participating in Parents as Teachers and Meld-affiliated programs.
“The fusion of two leading nonprofits in our industry is unprecedented,” said Susan Stepleton, CEO of Parents as Teachers National Center. “This process has been fascinating as we discovered just how alike our two organizations are, and how combining forces will lead to long-term success for everyone involved. Parents as Teachers National Center was truly in the right place at the right time and now families across the globe will benefit.”
Through the joint infrastructure of the two organizations, the merger provides expanded services for both Parents as Teachers and Meld families. In its 20 years, Parents as Teachers has grown its services to reach more than one-third million families per year; often folded into other programs such as Head Start, Even Start and other community-based and state-sponsored parenting support programs, spanning all 50 states and nine countries.
Meld strengthens families through facilitated parent education and support groups by working with organizations nationwide to bring its programs to diverse communities. Over its 30-year history, Meld developed programs to meet the unique needs of specific populations and currently offers services in 19 states plus the District of Columbia.
As a result of the recent merger, St. Louis-based Parents as Teachers National Center is now the home of Meld, providing all administrative support, training and resources for the organization. In addition, the board chair of Meld will join the board of Parents as Teachers National Center, and Parents as Teachers will host Meld staffers during the Parents as Teachers annual conference in March 2006. Meld services and programming will continue, and the well-known name will stay in tact for the near future.
According to Parents as Teachers National Center Board President David Morley, Meld sought for some time to strategically reposition itself either through an organizational merger or an operational collaboration with another agency. At the same time, Parents as Teachers National Center was crafting a strategic plan to build on its already successful Born to Learntm program model and to expand its reach by cultivating new audiences and new approaches to current audiences.
“Parents as Teachers is honored to have been selected to carry this work forward as the missions of Meld and Parents as Teachers complement each other,” Morley said. “We have the very highest regard and respect for the inclusive, culturally competent programs and materials Meld has developed. We look forward to the sharing and learning this merger offers.”
“We are very pleased that one of Meld’s primary goals –
expansion of services and outreach to more families with parenting support — is well on its way toward being accomplished,” added Estella Johnson, who joins Parents as Teachers as program replication director for Meld’s nationwide programs.
“It was vital to find a partner who understood and respected the work Meld does,” Johnson said. “The fact that we chose Parents as Teachers is a testimonial to every Parents as Teachers parent educator, supervisor and program coordinator. We’re glad to have their support as we continue our work.”
In 2004, Parents as Teachers National Center was selected as one of the Ten Children’s Charities That Deserve Your Support by Parents Magazine and designated as one of America’s 100 best charities by Worth Magazine.
Parents as Teachers National Center is the resource base and backbone of Parents as Teachers, a parent education and early childhood development program serving parents throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten. The nonprofit organization oversees more than 3,000 Parents as Teachers programs nationwide and in Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, Germany and the United Kingdom as well. For more information about Parents as Teachers, visit www.parentsasteachers.org.
