Parent Child Development Services

Program Size: 250 children and their families

Participants: Low-income parents and children ages birth to 5

Impact: 90% of parents report improvement in parenting skills

The early stages of a person’s life are a time of constant growth and learning. From the first steps to the first words, a young child’s world is full of excitement, discovery and wonder.

During this time, it is critical that a child receives the support needed for emotional, physical and mental development. Impact Northwest’s Parent Child Development Services (PCDS) is founded on the fundamental principle that parents are a child’s first and foremost teacher during this stage and throughout life. The program works with parents of children ages birth to five years to help them develop the skills they need to support their children’s learning and development.

PCDS classes are held at Impact Northwest’s Brentwood Darlington Community Center and in schools throughout SE and NE Portland. Parents of children under the age of three take part in fun, interactive classroom activities with their kids and receive support in areas such as nutrition, child development, and discipline. Parents of children between three and five years old participate in groups that concentrate on developing social skills, school readiness skills, and provide support for transition to school.

Impact staff also visit families in their homes to provide parent education and support, early childhood education, and linkages to other support services. Additionally, children in the program receive immunization checks and are screened every six months in the four domains of development: communication, physical, social/emotional, and cognitive.

Learn more about our program that reduces the trauma of foster care placement by clicking here.