SAL Community Services’ Post

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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. SAL Community Services, the Quad Cities-based nonprofit, offers early education and child care services for children that also support families. SAL programs offer parenting training opportunities that improve parent involvement, build parent-child relationships, and decrease parental distress. SAL offers high quality care and services to families with children up to age 13, including specialized early care programs for children from zero through three years. “Our early education and care programs provide a nurturing and welcoming space for both parents and children,” said Marcy Mendenhall, president and CEO of SAL Community Services. “We know that children who receive quality early care experience less abuse and are 93 percent less likely to be removed from their home. Parents leave our workshops with tools to create a positive and nurturing atmosphere at home. Seeing their success and watching their children grow is an inspiration. We’re committed to bringing these services to as many families as possible.” Studies show that families participating in Early Head Start have better parenting and family outcomes, including lower levels of parenting stress, more supportive home environments, and less family conflict. These lower the risk of child maltreatment by 10-22 percent and decrease the likelihood of child welfare system involvement. Parents involved in SAL’s early care program have seen the same positive impact on their families. “No parent wants to abuse their child,” said Nicole Carroll, a parent ambassador for the Illinois Head Start Association who also has children enrolled in SAL’s Early Head Start program. “Parents from all backgrounds face so many challenges and frustrations. Without the right tools, frustration can lead to abuse. If we can meet parents’ needs, we can prevent a lot of violence." SAL’s safe and enriching environment prepares children for continued growth and learning leading to success in school and beyond, all while giving parents the tools they need to be wonderful, self-sufficient caregivers. SAL offers workshops like “Positive Solutions for Families,” which gives families enrolled in Early Head Start access to an evidenced-based child education curriculum and sends them home with practical tools for dealing with stressful situations. “The program emphasizes the importance of positive parenting behaviors,” said Rosie Zbaracki, family engagement manager for SAL’s EHS program. “Parents learn about things like creating beneficial routines and giving encouraging feedback. They leave with a lot of materials and a plan for creating positive interactions when they get home.” “If my story can help tip the scale even a little bit and help other parents like me, then I feel like I have a responsibility to share it,” Carroll said. To learn more about SAL Community Services Early Head Start Child Care Partnership, visit https://lnkd.in/g3J5_U4j.

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