Introduction to Parent Aide Services

Parent Aide services provide a consistent relationship between a trained and supervised individual and a parent or primary caretaker whose family is at risk of or is currently experiencing problems with child abuse or neglect. Parent Aide services provide support and encouragement; build self-esteem; assist in ability to mobilize personal resources; enhance parenting skills; and reduce isolation. The objectives of Parent Aide services are to assist in the prevention of child abuse and neglect and its recurrence; improve self-esteem and promote the emotional growth and independent functioning of the parent or primary caretaker; strengthen parent-child relationships and enhance parenting skills; promote the effective and appropriate use of community resources; enable the parent or primary caretaker to develop appropriate relationships with others; enable the parent or primary caretaker to cope with normal periods of stress and adjust to changes associated with develop-mental stages of growth; reduce or eliminate stress leading to the abuse or neglect of children; support efforts to prevent placement of children or to assist in the acceptance of placement when necessary; prepare a parent or primary caretaker for eventual reunification when substitute care has been used and assist when reunification occurs; and reduce isolation resulting from cultural and linguistic barriers.