Family Help Line: (800) 932-HOPE (4673) - Toll-free in Washington State. In Seattle, call 233-0156

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The Parent/Caregiver Group Program
Being a parent isn't easy.

You're not alone...

group Parent Trust groups provide environments that are:
  • Caring,
  • Nurturing,
  • Supportive
The groups are for parents and caregivers who want to improve relationships with their children.

The group program strives to create a non-judgemental, safe place for parents/caregivers to talk about issues in their families' lives. 		Parent Trust groups can help.

group Through Parent Trust group meetings, parents work at
  • changing attitudes
  • learning new, more effective ways to parent
  • learning to enjoy themselves and their children
  • problem solving
  • sharing information and resources with others
The groups are not magic cures or pat answers. We work together to build on your family's strengths.
More Information About the Parent/Caregiver Groups
joingroup How to Join A Group: There are many groups located throughout WA state more info... startgroup How to Start A Group: We collaborate with many local agencies to create groups...more info... whoattends Who Attends? Many kinds of families attend Parent Trust for Washington Children group programs...more info...
quotes What Do Parents Say? Participant quotes and testimonials about the groups...more info... children What About the Children? There is usually a Children's Group run with the Parent Group... more info... outcomes Proven Effective The Parent/Caregiver Group Program conducts outcomes evaluation surveys more info...
All Parent Trust Parent/Caregiver Groups are free!
How To Join A Group

We want our groups to be immediately accessible for families. There are no intake forms, no waiting lists, no registration required. You can find out about a group in your area, and show up that week!

Their are two ways to find out if there is a group in your area:
  • Call the Family Help Line. The parenting coach who answers will help you determine if there is a Parent Trust group in your area. If not, they will suggest an alternative resource. The FHL number is: 1-800-932-HOPE (4673)

  • Search our online database. Enter your city and/or zip code into the search page and press the Search button. Scroll through the listings. Look for the Parent Trust for Washington Children logo:
    In reading the description, you'll be able to tell if it's a group program or one of the other Parent Trust programs. If you have questions, call the Family Help Line.

    Each listing should give you detailed information such as contact name, contact number, address, day and time of meeting. Some of our groups are for Latino families. Some are for young parents. Some are for families in recovery. Some are for everyone! If you have questions, call the Family Help Line. 1-800-932-HOPE (4673).

Once you determine that there is a program in your area that will meet your needs, you can simply show up. There is no need to register. However, we do recommend that you call the local contact and make sure that group is meeting that evening, or to ask for directions and parking information.
How To Start a Group

Parent Trust for Washington Children partners with many community agencies to run the groups. Below is a small peek into what is needed to run a successful group program:


What does Parent Trust for Washington Children bring to the partnership?
  • A group model that has been successful for over 25 years.
  • Training and assistance in group development
  • Connections to a national network (Circle of Parents).
  • Outcomes evaluation assistance, including survey tools, data entry, data analysis and yearly reporting.
  • Coordinator and facilitator trainings and training materials.
  • Demographic collection tools
  • Ongoing technical assistance via phone and site visits
Everything we provide is free of charge to our partner agencies who agree to run a Parent Trust parent/caregiver group.

What do community agencies provide?
  • Outreach to families to ensure minimum number of group participants.
  • Staff and volunteers to run the program.
  • A safe group meeting site.
  • Snacks and supplies for the group meetings.
  • Local supervision of the program.
What do parents provide?
  • Many of our groups started because one parent called and said, "Let's start a group!". So call us today!
This is just a brief overview. Parent Trust for Washington Children has decades of experience starting and maintaining groups in a thoughtful, meaningful, and successful way. If you don't have a group in your community, we'd love to help you get one started. Whether you're a parent or agency professional, we're here to talk with you.

Please contact our Program Coordinator, Thelma Dirkes:
206-233-0156 ext. 222 or toll free 1-866-543-4968 ext. 222
tdirkes@parenttrust.org
Who Attends These Groups?

Parent Trust for Washington Children Groups can provide a safe place to freely discuss difficulties and celebrate successes in raising children.

If you want support and education to be the best parent/caregiver that you can be, these groups are for you. Every parent/caregiver is welcome:
  • dads
  • moms
  • foster parents
  • adoptive parents
  • single parents
  • grand parents
  • parents of teens
  • parents of toddlers
  • parents of infants
  • parents who have and don't have custody of their children
Parents/caregivers talk about everything you can imagine, from toilet training to surviving the teenage years. Every parent/caregiver who attends our groups has something to share with another. Our groups provide opportunities not just to receive support, but to share your parenting expertise with others.

Some of our Parent Groups have Children's Groups that meet at the same time. If your group does have a meeting for children, there may be age and capacity limits. Check with the local contact person for information about the group closest to you.

Parent Groups are co-led by a trained facilitator and parent leader. The Children's Groups are run by a trained facilitator and support staff/volunteers.
Quotes and Testimonials

Parent Trust Groups are non-judgemental.
"I needed a place to go, to get out of the house and be with other adults...to be with parents who understood what I was going through without feeling like they were superior."

Parent Trust groups are free.
"The one thing holding me back from getting help before was that I had no money and no place to leave my kids. I just wanted to sit down with the grown-ups and talk about my troubles without the kids screaming in the background."

Parents help other parents.
"What a surprise: I ended up having some good ideas to share and people listened to me like I really knew something. I guess I did."

Parent Trust groups are places to safely discuss difficulties and get help.
"When I started [at my group] three years ago, I was very dependent in an abusive, sick marriage. I hated myself and my husband. My life was very isolated and I took it out on my child. [Parent Trust] was my first step out of that mess."

Parent Trust groups are a chance to be with people who understand.
"What Parent Trust means to me is a place that I can go to get support and practical solutions and ideas for some of lifes everyday problems arising from raising kids in modern times.... It's a comfortable, safe place to be with friendly people whom many have dealt with or are still dealing with similar situations. It has brought our family a lot closer together! It's just a great place to be!"
The Children's Group

The Children's Groups meet at the same time as the Parent Groups, but in separate rooms. This way, the whole family gets to experience something positive, while at the same time getting a brief break from one one another!

When available, the Children's Group provides:
  • a safe place for parents to leave their children while attending the Parent Group
  • a place where children make friends and learn positive friendship building skills.
  • age appropriate activities
  • positive adult role models (trained facilitators and volunteers run the group)
  • fun!
Many of our Children's Groups will serve children as young as 5 weeks old, all the way through the teen years. Don't be surprised if your teen is asked to become a Peer Leader in the Group! Children attending one of our Children's Groups must be accompanied by their own parent, legal guardian, or primary caregiver.

To find out if there is a Children's Group that is run with your Parent Group, and what age limits there might be, call the Family Help Line and ask the parenting coach for details. The number to call is 1-800-932-HOPE (4673).
Proven Effective

The Parent/Caregiver program conducts outcomes evaluation surveys to help determine effectiveness. We gather data on:
  • family management skills
  • social support networks,
  • healthy family relationships.
This information helps Parent Trust for Washington Children improve our service to families and show achievement rates and outcomes results.

For more information, visit the Proven Effective Page of our website.
 
 

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