About PDEL

Program Development Team

Our programs are constantly evolving, being enriched by new research findings and current practice. Since the beginning of PDEL’s history, a small team of passionate individuals have supported this evolution. All are experts in child development and highly experienced in supporting parents and training service providers. They continuously work to keep PDEP up-to-date and create new programs, such as Positive Foundations for Everyday Parenting.

Dr. Christine Ateah, Professor Emeritus of Nursing at University of Manitoba, PDEP Core Training Team member and international trainer

Christine Ateah, PhD

Professor Emeritus, Nursing, University of Manitoba; Member of PDEP Core Training Team

I am a Registered Nurse, hold an Interdisciplinary PhD and work in the field of child and family health promotion. I taught at the university level for more than 25 years, conducting research on how parents think about discipline, and on the needs of expectant and new parents. I’ve had wonderful experiences training facilitators and Country Trainers in very diverse countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Indonesia, Kosovo, Lithuania, Nepal, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and the United Arab Emirates. As the mother of two grown daughters, I am dedicated to supporting parents along their journey.

Dr. Joan Durrant, Professor Emerita of Community Health Sciences, PDEP creator and Core Training Team member

Joan Durrant, PhD

Professor Emerita, Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba; Member of PDEP Core Training Team

I am a Developmental Psychologist who taught university students for more than 35 years before retiring to lead Positive Discipline in Everyday Life. Since creating PDEP in 2006, I have been amazed to watch it grow into a global program that has supported parents living in many different countries, contexts and circumstances. I have had the honour of training facilitators in Albania, Canada, Fiji, Indonesia, Mongolia, Philippines and Vietnam. As a parent myself, I know that everyone needs a lot of support and information to meet the challenges of raising a unique human being.

Dr. Ashley Stewart-Tufescu, Assistant Professor of Social Work at University of Manitoba, PDEP Core Training Team member and international trainer

Ashley Stewart-Tufescu, PhD

Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Manitoba; Member of PDEP Core Training Team

I am a Registered Social Worker, hold a PhD in Applied Health Sciences and teach in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba. My academic work focuses on child developmental health, children’s rights and parenting. I have had the privilege of training PDEP facilitators and Country Trainers in Canada, Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, Palestine, Panama, Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. I am the mother of two grown children who have strengthened my commitment to upholding children’s rights around the world.

Jean Tinling, Director of Program Implementation and Training at PDEL, former early years teacher and PDEP Core Training Team member

Jean Tinling, BEd

Director of Program Implementation and Training, PDEL; Member of PDEP Core Training Team

After 30 years as an early years teacher and parent educator, I changed careers to pursue my passion for supporting newcomers to Canada. At Mosaic Newcomer Family Resource Network, I led a team offering 25 PDEP parent programs a year in 18 languages. Today, most of my time is devoted to my position of Director of Program Implementation and Training at PDEL. I have had the opportunity to train PDEP facilitators in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania. My greatest life-long learning resources are my four children and six grandchildren, who keep me grounded in the realities of everyday parenting.