Parent Aid Program

Promoting safety, strengthening families,

empowering people through individualized

services, and fostering a meaningful quality of

life for youth, families, and the community.

Amanda Bush, LSW

University of New England

Importance of Parent Aid Program

Who needs Parent Aid Services?

◦ Families currently separated due to

previous removal of children

◦ Families at risk of removal of children

◦ Families in crisis, poverty, or struggling

with substance abuse issues

◦ Families needing knowledge, resources,

and support to improve their living quality

and health

Importance of Parent Aid Program

Why the Parent Aid Program?

Parents and Families Need

Supervised visitations to reunify families

Restoration of parental family functioning

and assurance that children are obtaining

the care they are entitled to

To gain knowledge of community resources

To learn new, effective parenting skills

To obtain household management skills

Importance of Parent Aid Program

Why the Parent Aid Program?

Community Needs

◦ Current increase in crime, violence,

poverty, and discrimination

◦ Current feelings of mistrust and defeat

toward Children Services

◦ Need for increased reconnection through

a multisector, empowerment approach

provided by the Parent Aid Program

Community- a

resource developed for families

Agencies & Programs are redefining their conceptions of family and community to explore ways to strengthen the community as a key resource for families.

Sviridoff, M., & Ryan, W. (1997). Community-centered family service. Families in Society, 78(2), 128-139.

Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/230197470? accountid=12756

Importance of Parent Aid Program

Learning from History

My previous work within the foster care

system has shown me how detrimental

removal can be for children and their

caregivers

The trauma that is endured by each family

that has this separation, especially for the

children, is tragic.

Need for a more proactive approach vs. the

current reactive approach

Program Approach:

Empowerment

Clients’ strengths will be built upon to:

Develop self-determination

Learn to advocate

Gain access to community resources

Overcome barriers that prevent social justice, equality, and health as a universal right

Families will be reunified and/or stabilized

Have improved quality of life for the family

Strengthened and reconnect community

Implementation through Action

Parent Aid Program is one of many

programs offered through a larger

agency.

◦ Current suitable administrative, accounting,

and management systems in place to support

the delivery of services from the Parent Aid

Program.

◦ One Program Manager

◦ One Full-time direct staff

◦ Two Part-time direct staff

Current negotiations of funding through

Children Services Contract

Community Partners

The Parent Aid Program will be the

beginning, but the community must work

together for success!

Continued Quality Improvement

Evaluation Plan & Tools

Community-level indicators of impact reports in collaboration

with Children Services

◦ Quantity of removals and reunifications within set time

frame

Satisfaction surveys

◦ Administered to clients, children, Children Services

workers, direct service workers, and community partners

Interviews with key participants

◦ Supervision from Program Manager to direct workers

◦ Any other identified key participants per supervision and/or

surveys

◦ Interviews from Children Services officials

The semi-annual goal attainment report

◦ Action plan reviewed quarterly to produce goal attainment

report

Continues Quality Improvement

Analysis and Interpretation

Monthly meeting as part of the agency’s already

scheduled time for continued quality improvement

Meeting including management staff that will

compute, analyze, and interpret

◦ Plan for future adjustments as needed

Various evaluation methods therefore various times

of completion

◦ Consistently reviewing with colleagues monthly

Collaboration data with Children Services will be

provided quarterly and incorporated into the

monthly review meeting.

Conclusion

Help the Parent Aid Program assemble

an empowered community of strong,

stable families that thrive in a society

of equality, diversity, and overall

quality health;

Help the Parent Aid Program create a

community without barriers to human

dignity and resources.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME