In response to community demand, Youth Eastside Services (YES) has added a parenting specialist, Jennifer Watanabe, to its team of youth counselors and chemical dependency professionals.

In a telephone survey conducted in 2009, parents expressed the need for support and education and wanted YES, which is based in Bellevue but has offices in Redmond, to provide this service.

Watanabe brings more than 14 years of experience teaching parenting classes at Bellevue College, where she will continue teaching part time, as well as for other community organizations. She has also completed Seattle Pacific University’s Parent Coaching Institute’s certificate program.

“Jennifer has an extensive understanding of parenting issues and specifically issues relevant to Eastside parents,” said YES Executive Director Patti Skelton-McGougan. “She is a longtime Eastside resident who has raised her children in this community, has worked with hundreds of parents and understands what parents are going through.”

As the YES parenting specialist, Watanabe will offer parent education classes and individual support through parent coaching. As YES’ first parent coach, she will be available to provide one-on-one encouragement and guidance to parents who need help implementing positive and effective parenting practices.

“I look forward to partnering with YES staff to help parents create loving, encouraging and positively structured homes where mutually respectful relationships can flourish,” Watanabe said. “Parents can increase the odds of their child’s success and teaching parents to parent well is what I love to do.”

Parents interested in learning more about parent support at YES can contact Watanabe at jenniferw@youtheastsideservices.org or sign up for the e-newsletter at www.youtheastsideservices.org, which offers parenting tips and lists upcoming programs.