Parent Café
Coordinator Training

A resilient family provides a foundation that fosters confidence, emotional intelligence, and the ability to bounce forward from difficulties.

Learn how to facilitate Parent Cafés in your community or organization with this training! You’ll receive the tools and resources you need to engage and support the families in your community. 

“I really enjoy being able to chat and get tips that I can use from other moms.”

Mother attending a Parent Café in Mt. Orab.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Parent Cafés?

A parent cafe is a place where parents of all types can gather and share their stories, their experiences, their worries, their fears, their wisdom, and find community and strength together. As a family-serving professional, you can be there to help introduce parents and start the conversations.

Who can be a Parent Café Coordinator?

Anyone interested in offering parent cafes to their organization or region can be trained as a coordinator.  Parent Cafés are often offered through schools, libraries, childcare/community centers, or to specific parent groups such as foster parents, kinship providers etc. This training is required for anyone interested in being certified by the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund.

What will I learn in this training?

The training covers the essentials you’ll need to know to successfully offer a parent cafe program. Those include:

  • Understanding the goals of the parent cafe model.
  • How a parent cafe is structured, including the agenda, set-up, session plans, and supplies you’ll need.
  • Topics for parent cafes.
  • Roles you’ll need for a parent café.
  • Location considerations.
  • What to think about when scheduling a parent cafe.
How long is the training?

The training will take place over two days from 9 am until 4 pm. This training is approved for 10 hours of Ohio-approved credit. 

What format is the training offered in?

The training is offered in two ways:

  • In-Person Sessions
    These sessions will take place on a specified day and time at a predetermined location, where all participants will be present.
  • Virtual Instructor Led Sessions
    These sessions will be held virtually via Teams. There will be a designated day and time when participants must be online, and a live instructor will lead them through the training. 
How much does it cost?

Each participant must purchase the course ($125 per person). Each agency is required to purchase one Parent Café Coordinator Resource Guide ($25) to share among the attendees. The Resource Guide will be delivered as a digital download. If a physical flash drive of the content is preferred, please contact Tricia Glass at tglass@costars.org to arrange payment by check.

How do I sign up?

Click the registration link for the session you would like to attend. You will register and pay for the class online. For virtual instructor-led sessions, you will receive the link and materials after you have registered. 

For more information, email Trish Glass at tglass@costars.org

Parent Cafe Coordinator Training Dates:

Virtual Instructor Led Sessions:

Date Time Location Location Register
May 14 & 15, 2025 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Virtually via Teams $125 per participant, + $25 for each Parent Cafe Coordinator Resource Guide (1 guide required for each agency)