#136 Dr. Kathy Masarie - Parent / Family Coach

Dads of Great Students

Parenting expert Dr. Kathy Masarie is generous in heart and spirit. Her caring commitment to the well-being of families touches all facets of her life. In her pediatric practice in the late 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Kathy spent extra time getting to know each family. From many professional experiences, she knew how lonely parents can feel in today’s culture. She saw parents, especially parents of teens, struggling in isolation with family-centered problems such as pregnancy, depression, risky drinking and drug use. In 1996, she founded the non-profit organization Full Esteem Ahead and then Family Empowerment Network to “support parents to support kids and one another.” Through FEN and with colleague Ruthie Matinko-Wald, she offers parenting talks and classes as well as support materials in the way of parenting books and videos that can be used as curriculum for self-led discussion groups. Since their publication, Raising Our Daughters, Raising Our Sons, and Face to Face: Cultivating Kids’ Social Lives in the Digital World Parenting Guides have provided parents, school professionals and other caring adults with powerful vehicles for learning, self-discovery, networking and connecting with kids and other adults. Today, Kathy continues to spread the word about the power of parent networking through presentations, seminars and classes. She is also available for one-on-one parent, individual or family coaching.