1. WHAT IS THE PARENT AIDE PROGRAM?
For more than 20 years, the Parent Aide Program, under Pregnancy and Early Parenting Center, has provided intensive in-home services to at-risk families with young children.
Parenting with a strong support system can be difficult in the best situations. Parenting when stressed, isolated and in need can be crippling.
Our Parent Aides support distressed families and help them build a safe, nurturing environment for their children.
Volunteer Parent Aides provide:
• Trusted Friendship and Mentoring
• Child Development and Parenting Information
• Access to community services
WHY IS THIS PROGRAM IMPORTANT?
Today's child welfare system is only capable of responding to cases where irreparable damage has already happened. The Parent Aide Program helps prevent families from reaching this crisis level. By breaking the isolation and eliminating the sense of hopelessness and despair that characterizes families at-risk, Aides help parents increase their understanding of their child's developmental needs, strengthen their parent-child relationship, and improve their overall quality of life.
2. WHO ARE PARENT AIDES?
Parent Aides are volunteers who are recruited and trained twice a year. They are usually, but not limited to, women who are single, married, grandparents, retired, and working. We’ve had Parent Aides from ages 18 to 80. Some have had experience in the social services, others have never volunteered before.
Qualifications to become a Parent Aide:
• Experienced as a parent or caregiver
• Emotionally mature, stable and self-directed
• Friendly, warm personality
• Open and sensitive to diverse cultures
• Enjoys being with parents and children
• Available 3-5 hours a week
• Valid drivers license and access to transportation
3. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PARENT AIDE?
Parent Aides develop an informal, long-term relationship with a family that enriches the family in the following ways:
• Develops parent self-confidence and self esteem
• Strengthens parenting and individual coping skills
• Increases understanding of normal child development
• Expands social contacts and reduces isolation
• Helps parent access community resources
• Improves problem solving and communication skills
• Promotes supportive and nurturing child/parent bond
4. HOW DO I BECOME A PARENT AIDE VOLUNTEER?
A message from Rachelle Averbach, MFT, Parent Aide Program Director:
Thank you for your interest in this exciting and crucial program. I am responsible for the administration and implementation of the program and work closely with volunteers from the initial interview to the end of their volunteer service. I have been practicing as a licensed psychotherapist since March 1988 and have been the Parent Aide Director for 15 years.
One of the best parts of my job is working with the dedicated Parent Aide Volunteers!
Parent aides are recruited and trained twice a year, usually in the fall and spring.
If you are interested in learning more or becoming a Parent Aide, call me at 491-5709.
After our initial phone conversation, we will schedule an informal interview at our office at 555 Northgate Drive in San Rafael. The next step is a 15 to 20 hour training program which is usually held over several consecutive Saturdays and a few weekday evenings. I will facilitate the training along with various guest speakers from community agencies.
Training topics include the Role and Relationships of the Parent Aide and how to:
• Model Effective Communication
• Teach Parenting Skills for infants and toddlers
• Encourage Positive Changes
• Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect in the social welfare system
• Stop Intergeneration Cycles of destructive family relationships
• Learn about the Dynamics of domestic violence and substance abuse
• Learn Better Cultural Awareness
At the completion of training, volunteers are matched with families that I have previously screened and interviewed. Families are referred by agencies throughout Marin County, including Women's Health Services, Marin Community Clinic, Homeward Bound, as well our own Family Service Agency of Marin.
A bi-weekly case-management group is held for Parent Aides in order to discuss their families and get on-going support and feedback. We expect our Parent Aides to attend these meetings regularly and to make a years commitment to the families they are working with.
If you are interested in learning more or becoming a Parent Aide, call me at 491-5709.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Rachelle
