Meet the Executive Director
BRENDA MCGOWAN
Brenda McGowan is a nationally recognized Nurturing Parenting® Program Trainer/Consultant with over two decades of experience. She has trained thousands of parents, mental health professionals, educators, and child welfare workers in the United States and 23 countries. Brenda began her NPP Facilitator Training while working as a Parent Educator with St. Joseph County, MI Public Health Department and later contributed to the Michigan Department of Child Protective Services.
Brenda holds a degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University and a graduate degree in Public Administration from Walden University. In 2013, she committed to eradicating the cradle-to-prison pipeline through trauma-informed, family-centered parenting education. As vice president of domestic and international programs, she oversees over 5,000 mentors globally, driving efforts to strengthen cross-cultural competencies and enhance family cohesion.
Certified in Cultural Intelligence (CQ), Brenda trains facilitators to develop nurturing parenting skills that lead to better student outcomes. Residing in Georgia, she enjoys time with her family, cultivating plants, and her 31-year marriage to Robert.
Family Education and Development Services, LLC
Vision
To foster a future where every child thrives within the embrace of a nurturing, stable family and a supportive, loving community, transforming the child welfare system into a bastion of safety, permanence, and well-being
Mission Statement
Family Education and Development Services is devoted to empowering professionals within the child welfare system with the knowledge and skills needed to create environments prioritizing children and adolescents' safety, permanence, and well-being. Our training and development services are designed to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors in families by equipping providers with the tools to implement trauma-informed, data-driven, and culturally responsive strategies. Through our efforts, we envision a future where every child thrives, supported by a nurturing, stable family and loving community.
Who Can Benefit
Faith-based organizations
Government
Early Childhood -K 12 School Systems
Child Welfare Agencies
Child and Adolescent Treatment Centers
