Parenting is an extremely rewarding, yet very challenging, endeavor. Our future depends on the way today’s children are raised. The Parent Aide Program is a comprehensive program designed to assist parents who may be having a difficult time raising their children. The program offers in-home services to help parents transform their unhealthy patterns of behavior toward their children to ones which will enable them to live as healthy, functioning family units. This program is designed to provide one-on-one support to parents during a crisis or time of need.

Parents need to achieve confidence and to trust their ability to make decisions for themselves and their children. A Parent Aide provides this type of therapeutic and nurturing relationship. Relationships between parents and Parent Aides are informal and long-term, generally lasting between 12 and 15 months. A Parent Aide is a mentor, a friend, a teacher, a support system for the entire family, and ultimately, someone who works to enhance the strengths and assists in empowering the family. The aim of the Parent Aide Program is to increase the strength and stability of families.

A Parent Aide helps families in the very setting where they have the greatest need their home. Instructions in problem solving methods are practiced to deal with troublesome behavior. A Parent Aide provides education to parents in healthy family communication, and stress management techniques. The Parent Aide stands beside the parent as they jointly tackle problems in the home.

Parent Aides aim at reducing families' social isolation, improving parenting and interpersonal skills, enhancing parents' self esteem, increasing their ability to solve day to day crises and otherwise lessening the problems associated with child abuse and neglect.

A Parent Aide can assist you in solving your problems one at a time. A Parent Aide can offer you encouragement and suggestions to help you meet the daily challenges of being a parent. The Parent Aide will assist individuals with meeting their needs. A Parent Aide will help you establish trust with other people, and be able to achieve independence. A Parent Aide can provide you with a therapeutic and nurturing relationship and at the same time work with you as your friend and help you to make decisions.

Services are offered at no cost to the parents. You can call the Center at 601.634.0557 in Vicksburg or at 601.437.5977 for Port Gibson services any time between 8:00-4:30 Monday through Friday.

To be a volunteer for the Parent Aide Program does not require a college degree. The requirements are to be caring, compassionate, non-judgmental, and genuinely concerned for the well being of children and their families.