Parents & Caregivers
Parent Trust for Washington Children
Parent Trust is a statewide network offering support, education, and leadership programs for every type of family in Washington State. Parent Trust believes that “families deserve support from conception to college.” Parent Trust bases their programs on the best available research and evidence to increase their effect on providing new skills and knowledge to create stronger families, ensure family bonding, create healthy early brain development in children, enhance early learning and prevent child abuse and neglect. Parents and caregivers have access to information about child development, stress management, and general parenting concerns. An important feature that I would like to highlight is The Parent Information Line. Parent Trust offers a phone service that can be used 24 hours a day. The Parent Information Line has a menu of recorded messages about helpful resources and phone numbers in all 39 counties of Washington State. Call +1 (800) 932-HOPE (4673) and press “4” at the message.
Incredible Years
The Preschool Basic parenting program strengthens parent-child interactions and attachment, reducing harsh discipline and fostering parents’ ability to promote children’s social, emotional, and language development. Parents also learn how to build school readiness skills and are encouraged to partner with teachers and childcare professionals so they can promote children’s emotional regulation and social skills. In the parenting groups, trained Incredible Years® facilitators use video clips of real-life situational vignettes to support the training and trigger parenting group discussions, problem-solving, and practice exercises. Online classes start at $525.
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Children need to have clear limits to unacceptable behaviors and are best supported when limits are held with explanations in a climate of mutual respect and caring. These classes help adults learn how to support and attend to children when they are engaging in problematic behaviors.
The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated
The National Resource Center of Children and Families of the Incarcerated (NRCCFI) is focused on children and families of the incarcerated and developing programs that serve them. The NRCCFI organization provides information and resources to children and families of the incarcerated and helps connect them with national, state, and local programs.
Child Trauma Academy
The ChildTrauma Academy’s (CTA) mission is to improve the lives of children who are at high risk by implementing and improving systems that educate, research, program consultation, and exploring innovative practices. CTA believes that through collaboration partners in academia, the corporate world, private organizations, and the public sector, each can identify best practices for assisting children to heal from the mental scars of trauma. Free resources are available on a variety of aspects of trauma and brain development in children.
Center for Disease Control
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The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is responsible for protecting the citizens of the United States from health, safety, and security threats. Today, CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. The CDC is available to support our communities by providing information and resources for families on all topics from diseases, how to raise healthy children and safety in the home.
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Specific information can be found here for safety in the home and community for parents with children ages 4 to 11. Information related to trauma includes Child maltreatment, injuries, safe child, sexual violence, suicide prevention, and violence prevention. By clicking on the link provided, caregivers will be able to watch a video on the topic to further understanding. Fast Facts, prevention strategies, and resources are also included.
Head Start\ECLKC
Head Start programs promote the school readiness of infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children from low-income families. Services are provided in a variety of settings including centers, family childcare, and children’s own home. Head Start programs support children's growth in a positive learning environment through a variety of services. These programs encourage parent involvement through regular visits to the child’s home, regular opportunities for parents to volunteer in the program, and special activities. Head Start and Early Head Start programs also link children and families to other services in the community. Head Start programs are operated by local nonprofit organizations, community action agencies, and school districts. Children who attend these programs participate in various educational activities. They also receive some free medical and dental care services, have healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting.
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
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Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) is a prevention-based approach that pairs a mental health consultant with adults who work with infants and young children in the different settings where they learn and grow, such as childcare, preschool, home visiting, early intervention, and their home. By implementing mental health consultations caregivers are equipped to facilitate children’s healthy social and emotional development.
Through educational sessions, webinars, presentations, and other targeted approaches, the CoE for IECMHC provides technical assistance to state, local, territory, tribal, and national stakeholders in enhancing their IECMHC programs. IECMHC has been shown to improve children’s social skills and emotional functioning, promote healthy relationships, reduce challenging behaviors, reduce the number of suspensions and expulsions, improve classroom quality, and reduce provider stress, burnout, and turnover.