Exchange Club Center For The Prevention Of Child Abuse Of Oklah

OUR MISSION IS TO PREVENT THE NEGLECT AND ABUSE OF OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN 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.

HOME-BASED PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT: THIS VOLUNTARY EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO PARENTS AT NO COST AND IS TAILORED FOR FAMILIES IN HIGH-RISK ENVIRONMENTS. MANY OF THE PARENTS HAVE EXPERIENCED ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES) OR ARE PROVIDING HOME ENVIRONMENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN WHERE ACES EXIST. PARENT EDUCATORS EITHER HAVE DEGREES IN A SOCIAL SERVICE FIELD OR AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD. THEY GO INTO THE HOMES AT THE PARENT'S CONVENIENCE AND HELP THE PARENT UNDERSTAND HOW TO PROVIDE 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. TWO PROGRAM MODELS SERVE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 0-5 AND A THIRD PROGRAM MODEL SERVES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 0-12. THIS PROGRAM FILLS A GAP IN THE COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 6-12. INCREASED PRIVATE FUNDING HAS HELPED PARENT PROMISE EXPAND STAFF AND PROGRAMMING TO SERVE ROUGHLY 200 FAMILIES A YEAR. FAMILIES ARE REFERRED TO PARENT PROMISE BY A VAST CONGLOMERATE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SELF-REFERAL, OR FROM OUR PARENT EDUCATOR WHO WORKS DIRECTLY AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

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, THE LIFE-LONG NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ON CHILDREN AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE MONTH ACTIVITIES. 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 THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. 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 AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM WHERE PARENTS CAN EARN POINTS THAT CAN BE REDEEMED FOR CONCRETE NEEDS THAT AID IN PROVIDING SAFE, LOVING AND NURTURING HOMES FOR THEIR CHILD(REN). THESE ITEMS CAN INCLUDE 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.

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.