Parents for Parents (P4P) is a peer mentor, education, professional training, and family reunification program that serves parents and their families navigating the child welfare system. The program connects parents who have successfully navigated the child welfare system to parents who have recently become engaged with Child Protective Services. We believe in supporting children and families, and our main priority is to support parents in their reunification and family well-being goals.
P4P provides peer mentoring for families in the dependency court system through early outreach and education by helping parents successfully engage in their court-ordered plans. Mentoring is provided by Parent Allies (PA)s – parents who have successfully navigated the child welfare system, demonstrate professionalism, accept responsibility for the factors involved in their child’s dependency, and are eager to help other parents succeed. PAs receive extensive training and supervision. P4P is a Promising Practice per the University of Washington’s Evidence Based Practice Institute based upon the findings of Washington State’s King County model.
Why is Parents for Parents Important?
Parents for Parents increases the well-being of children in foster care as their parents receive peer mentoring that:
- Encourages their positive engagement with child welfare stakeholders
- Increases their compliance with court ordered services
- Increases their engagement in the juvenile dependency court process
Trauma to children is reduced as parents overcome the issues leading to their child’s dependency, establish stable homes, and safely reunify with their children.
Parents for Parents Program Components
I) Shelter Care Hearing Outreach – PAs meet with parents in the courthouse at their first hearing after the filing of a petition by child protection services. Parents are terrified, confused, angry and alone. The PA introduces him/herself as someone who was once in the parents’ shoes and got their kids back. This gives parents someone they can relate to and offers them hope that reunification is possible. This, in turn, helps diffuse negative attitudes, and encourages parents to be open-minded and engage in the process. PAs also share information about available resources and invite parents to a Dependency 101 class.
II) Dependency 101 – This one-time, two-hour, PA-led class educates parents about the dependency system they must navigate to have their children returned. It provides tools and resources that empower parents to be successful and to understand and support the needs of their children. Several PA’s share their success stories, and child welfare system stakeholders provide information about their roles and what parents can do to succeed. All speakers reinforce the message that return of the child is everyone’s top priority.
III) On-going Support – PAs support parents attending additional dependency hearings, providing them with follow-up support and encouragement. Telephone support is given to assist and encourage parents to overcome barriers to success in their case.
XChange Recovery is the local host agency for the Parents for Parents program. Jammie Lea Havens is your Southwest Washington Parent Advocate. She can be reached at (360) 831-7489.