Exchange Club Center For The Prevention Of Child Abuse Of Oklah

OUR MISSION IS TO PREVENT CHILD NEGLECT AND ABUSE BY PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT. PARENT PROMISE PRIMARILY SERVES AT-RISK, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING METROPOLITAN AREA AS WELL AS PROMOTING THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

HOME-BASED PARENT EDUCATION AND NURSE-FAMILY SUPPORT: THESE VOLUNTARY EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO PARENTS AT NO COST AND ARE TAILORED FOR FAMILIES IN HIGH-RISK ENVIRONMENTS. MANY OF THE PARENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES) OR RESIDE IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE ACES EXIST. PARENT EDUCATORS EITHER HAVE DEGREES IN A SOCIAL SERVICE FIELD OR AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD. NURSE HOME VISITORS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A BACHELOR'S IN NURSING. AT THE CONVENIENCE OF THE FAMILY, PARENT PROMISE'S HOME VISITORS ARE INVITED INTO THE HOME AND WORK WITH THE FAMILY IN PROVIDING A SAFE, LOVING AND NURTURING HOME ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR CHILD(REN). AT EACH VISIT THE PARENT EDUCATOR PROVIDES PARENTING INFORMATION ON THE CHILD'S DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES, DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, DEPRESSION SCREENINGS AND DEVELOPMENTAL/EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, WHAT TO EXPECT DURING PREGNANCY AND BIRTH, AND MORE. TWO PROGRAM MODELS SERVE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 0-5 AND A THIRD PROGRAM MODEL SERVES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 0-12, WHILE THE NURSE HOME VISITOR SUPPORTS FIRST TIME MOMS WHO ENROLL PRIOR TO 29 WEEKS' GESTATION. FAMILIES ARE REFERRED TO PARENT PROMISE BY A VAST CONGLOMERATE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SELF-REFERRAL, OR FROM OUR PARENT EDUCATOR WHO WORKS DIRECTLY AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

FAMILY COMPASS CO-PARENTING CLASSES: PARENT PROMISE OFFERS CO-PARENTING CLASSES FOR PARENTS FACING DIVORCE WHO HAVE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IN THE HOME. THE CLASSES COVER THE EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN; KEEPING THE CHILD OUT OF THE MIDDLE; ALLOWING THE CHILD TO LOVE BOTH PARENTS; DEVELOPING NEW COMMUNICATION SKILLS; CREATING A NEW CO-PARENTING RELATIONSHIP, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP THE FAMILY. THE CLASS MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF OKLAHOMA STATE LAW 43 O.S. 107.2, REQUIRED PARENTING CLASSES, FOR FAMILIES GOING THROUGH DIVORCE. HOWEVER, ANY PARENT RAISING CHILDREN IN SEPARATE HOUSEHOLDS ARE WELCOME. CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY: AS THE OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OF PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AMERICA, PARENT PROMISE TAKES THE LEAD IN ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT WHILE STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFE-LONG NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ON CHILDREN. THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, OFFICE OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION HAS DESIGNATED PARENT PROMISE AS A LEAD PARTNER IN ITS FIVE-YEAR OKLAHOMA STATE PLAN FOR PREVENT CHILD ABUSE MONTH ACTIVITIES. PARENT PROMISE ALSO IS A LEAD ADVOCATE WITH STATE LAWMAKERS REGARDING CHILDREN AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY POLICIES AND PROTECTING/SECURING FUNDING FOR STATEWIDE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER: PARENT PROMISE PROVIDES AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY ON PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT OF LITERATURE, DVDS AND A REFERRAL SERVICE TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR ALL PARENTS. THIS LIBRARY IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. FOR FAMILIES THAT PARTICIPATE IN OUR HOME-BASED PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS, WE OFFER ASSISTANCE WITH EXPENSES SUCH AS UTILITY AND RENT ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS. OTHER ITEMS PROVIDED TO FAMILIES ARE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO): DIAPERS, WIPES, BABY/TODDLER SAFETY ITEMS AND EDUCATIONAL TOYS. PRIVATE FUNDING ALLOWS FOR PARENT PROMISE TO FURTHER AID PARENTS IN PURCHASING SCHOOL UNIFORMS, PAYING FOR GED TESTS AND PASSES TO ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TRIPS TO THE ZOO OR SCIENCE MUSEUM. THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER ALSO STOCKS BOOKS SO PARENT EDUCATORS MAY TAKE AN AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK TO EACH HOME VISIT. THIS ENCOURAGES A LOVE OF READING IN YOUNG CHILDREN AND HELPS LOWER INCOME FAMILIES BUILD A HOME LIBRARY. THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER HELPS INCENTIVIZE PARENTS TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM, ATTEND GROUP PARENTING ACTIVITIES AND MEET THEIR PERSONAL GOALS. ALL EFFORTS TO HELP THEM IMPROVE PARENTING SKILLS, REDUCE HOUSEHOLD STRESS AND BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT SO THEY MAY PROVIDE A SAFE AND LOVING HOME ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEIR CHILDREN CAN GROW INTO HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE ADULTS.