Director of Family Education Programs Receives Colorado State Cooperative Extension Service Award

Christine Cerbana-Whaley, director of Colorado Family Education, Resources and Training, or CFERT, at Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, has received the F.A. Anderson Award. The award is given annually to a Cooperative Extension professional within the state for outstanding service and dedication. Cerbana-Whaley received the award at a ceremony Thursday, Sept. 22.

As director for two years, Cerbana-Whaley has made substantial contributions to CFERT, an organization that provides education and training to individuals struggling with family issues.

CFERT helps agencies and communities implement education programs that teach parenting skills such as speaking to children about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Cerbana-Whaley has developed training programs on childhood brain development and parental stress management.

In the past ten years, CFERT has trained more than 1,000 individuals to conduct parenting classes in their communities, and has made resources and materials available in support of those classes statewide. From 1996 to 2004, there were more than 4,000 requests for materials, and the organization distributed 277,034 pieces of educational material.

Cerbana-Whaley was awarded Parent Educator of the Year in 2004 by Parenting Press.