THE PARENTING COTTAGE

THE PARENTING COTTAGE PROVIDED A BROAD RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN LUBBOCK COUNTY, INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN IN HOME VISITATION PROGRAM UTILIZING A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CURRICULUM, PARENTS AS TEACHERS, THAT PROVIDES PARENTING EDUCATION, EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AND TOOLS FOR PARENTS TO MOVE THEIR FAMILY TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY, INCREASING THE STRENGTH OF THE FAMILY UNIT AND THEIR ABILITY TO SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILY. THE MAJORITY OF FAMILIES SERVED PRESENT WITH MULTIPLE CHALLENGES INCLUDING THE LACK OF BASIC RESOURCES, INCOMES BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL, LOW EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND INADEQUATE OR INACCURATE KNOWLEDGE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. OTHER HIGH RISK FACTORS FOR FAMILY STABILITY INCLUDE FIRST TIME PARENTS, SINGLE PARENTS AND TEEN PARENTS. EVIDENCE BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS PROVIDED ALMOST 9,000 CLIENT ENCOUNTERS WITH FAMILIES IN 2024. THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS HOME VISITING PROGRAM PROVIDED ALMOST 40% OF THE TOTAL ENCOUNTERS SERVING JUST OVER 200 FAMILIES IMPACTING OVER 400 CHILDREN. GROUP PARENTING EFFORTS FOR PARENTS EXPECTING A BABY AND FOR THOSE ATTEMPTING REUNIFICATION OF THEIR FAMILIES FOLLOWING A LEGAL INTERVENTION BY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES PROVED OVER 650 CLIENT ENCOUNTERS WITH PARENTS IMPACTING AN ADDITIONAL 300 CHILDREN. THE REMAINDER OF THE AGENCY'S EFFORTS WERE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE AGENCY'S CAR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO SERVICE FOR A PORTION OF THE YEAR FOLLOWING COVID RESTRICTIONS BY SERVING JUST OVER 60 FAMILIES PROVIDING CAR SEATS TO PARENTS UNABLE TO PURCHASE A CAR SEAT FOR THEIR CHILD. EARLY LITERACY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL READINESS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY WERE COMPLETED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 7 LOCAL LIBRARIES IN LUBBOCK COUNTY WITH PARTICIPATION BY OVER 4,700 PARENTS AND CHILDREN.