Programs and Services

Volunteer Parent Aide Program

The Child Abuse Prevention Center provides support to families ensuring that children can enjoy their right to grow up in a healthy and happy home and to become productive members of our community. This saves our society the enormous costs of coping with maladjusted children who grow into adults who may have drug, alcohol, social problems or exhibit criminal behavior.

• Clients are referred to this program by doctors, teachers, nurses, friends, family, and by the overwhelmed parents themselves.
• Provides for home visitations to strengthen the parent/child relationship and improve the home atmosphere.
• Parent Aides meet for one hour a week in the family home with the parents to offer support while teaching parenting skills, effective non-violent discipline methods, anger management, stress relief techniques and child development. They also provide information on home management and nutrition.
• Parent Aides provide crisis management and emotional support as needed with 24/7 telephone access. (914-682-CARE)
• Parent Aides are Volunteers, Social Work Interns and our Professional staff. Our Volunteers and Interns work under the direction of our Professional staff. English and Spanish speaking Parent Aides are available.

• A contractual program sponsored by the Westchester Department of Social Services designed to prevent the need for foster care.
• An Intensive Parent Aide visits an assigned family for up to 15 hours a week for 90 days.
• Intensive Parent Aides are staff members.
• This is not a voluntary program for the families.

Seminars and workshops are designed for your community organization, business, agency, school or parent group and can be held at your location. Among the subjects covered are:

• Effective discipline
• Family communication
• Bullies and bullying
• Age-appropriate behaviors
• Infant care, growth and development
• Fostering independence in teens
• Preventing sexual abuse
• Managing stress in a 21st century family
• Nurturing self-esteem
• Middle school years

Often a school, clinic, hospital or church refers our clients to us. Sometimes parents contact us directly either at our office at 914-997-2642 or at 914-682-CARE, our 24-hour hotline. We start immediately to work with the client to assess the situation and to get the parent the help that is needed. The Helpline provides information and referral, crisis interventions and supportive services and is manned by our professional staff. Other programs such as Information and Referral, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Back to Sleep, Blue Ribbon Campaign, Workshops, Professional Training, and Parents Groups are conducted on an as needed basis.