but we can help. Protective factors improve and child abuse risk decreases when parents get support from professionals and each other, learn what is normal behavior for children at different ages, gain flexibility and confidence, and when non-abusive parenting skills become second nature. For The Child supports parents in creating happy, abuse free families by providing many opportunities for parents to learn from each other and other experienced parenting professionals.
For The Child is a partner in the Parent Support Circles of Los Angeles County, a First 5 funded effort to establish 100 support groups for parents of children birth to five across Los Angeles County. These groups are designed to increase social connections with other parents; increase parents’ knowledge, confidence and effectiveness; and raise parents’ awareness of resources available to help them. Focused on (1) parents of new babies, (2) fatherhood, (3) parents of children with disabilities, and (4) self-care for parents to prevent depression, these are parent-led small groups for parents to talk about what is challenging about parenting and to share resources. This program is part of a county wide effort to improve protective factors and outcomes for young children and families.
The Incredible Years parent education groups are a research-based series of age appropriate programs focused on strengthening parenting competencies and fostering parents’ involvement with their children in order to promote children’s academic, social and emotional competencies and reduce behavior problems.
These 10 week groups for parents or foster/adoptive parents of young children (3-5 years) help parents slow down and reflect upon their own parenting style and their child’s responses. Using a workshop model, these groups enable parents to discover new ways to think about the links between behavior, feelings and actions, while also learning strategies and techniques designed to enhance their self-awareness and understanding of the key role they play in creating a relationships where they and their child learn to understand and manage emotions and behavior.
We provide Parent Education and Support groups in English and Spanish for parents referred by the Department of Children and Family Services or the court who are at risk of losing their children because of abuse, neglect or violence; or who are seeking reunification with their children after foster placement. Topics include: positive discipline, anger management, building self-esteem (parent and child), cultural differences in child rearing practices, communication skills, conflict resolution skills, child and adolescent development, child abuse prevention, mental health, domestic violence awareness. Priority for these groups to DCFS or Court referred parents.
Her husband was unemployed. She had no health insurance and had not received any prenatal care. She was worried and anxious about her pregnancy. Her group leaders helped her sign up for health insurance with Covered California. She saw a doctor the next week. Her baby girl is now a healthy nine month old.