Parenting Support and Strategies

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It’s not necessary to pass a course or get a license to have the job of a parent, but all parents want to develop skills and strategies to help them do their job well. The following programs provide parenting information and “training” in a variety of formats, offering everything from one-time tips to parenting workshops to regular home visits.

ABC

A 10-session service for families with infants and toddlers, ABC helps to build the attachment and connection between parents and children under age 4
Who is Eligible:

ABC is available for any family with a child 6-months-old to 4-years-old. Discuss specific eligibility during your initial phone call.

Where are services offered?

ABC is offered at several agencies including the Center for Child & Family Health, Exchange Family Center, and the Children’s Developmental Services Agency; the 10 sessions are typically one-hour long home visits, but the visits may be done virtually

Cost: 

Free
Services are available in the following language(s): English, Spanish
How to initiate or access services:

Call or text the Center for Child & Family Heath (CCFH) ABC line at 919-378-1811 or fill out the ABC Interest Form. CCFH can connect you with other ABC providers if they are better able to meet your needs.

Learn More:

abcintervention.org

READY Project/Services- ccfhnc.org/ready

Book Harvest provides free books for children of all ages; a Family Space designed for families to read, learn and play together; and programs that partner with parents to nurture language and literacy development.
Who is Eligible:

Book Harvest serves all children ages 0 to 18; the BookBabies program is available to any Medicaid-eligible child that enrolls by 16 weeks of age

Where are services offered?

Free books are available 24/7 at Book Harvest (2501 University Drive, Durham) and via Book Hubs throughout Durham (visit bookharvest.org to see locations).

Book Babies coaches visit enrolled families in their homes or virtually.

Cost: 

Free
Services are available in the following language(s): English, Spanish
How to initiate or access services:

Visit Book Harvest or any Book Harvest bookshelf or Book Box 24/7.

The Family Space at Book Harvest is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9 AM-5 PM (closed on holidays) and there is no cost to visit.

To sign up for the Book Babies program, call 919-907-0998 or visit bookharvest.org/bookbabies

 

Learn More:

Follow Book Harvest on social media @bookharvestnc

Supportive parenting education groups for parents of children in grades K-12
Who is Eligible:

All parents, guardians, and grandparents of Durham County.

Incredible Years Parenting Program is for parents with students in grades K-6. Circle of Parents is for parents of middle and high school students.

Where are services offered?

Classes are in-person or online.

The Incredible Years Parenting Program class is offered in the Fall and the Spring every school year as an in-person class. The in-person location is updated every semester.

Circle of Parents is an ongoing group, offered both virtually and in-person, that parents can join at any time.

Cost: 

The classes are free AND incentivized.

Services are available in the following language(s): English, Spanish
How to initiate or access services:

Interested participants can complete this parent education interest form or contact Andrea Buzzell Bowens at andrea@cisdurham.org.

 

Learn More:

cisdurham.org

Provides families with ongoing, wrap-around support, connections to resources, and programming for Durham children and families from the cradle to college or career.
Who is Eligible:

Open to any family in Durham expressing a need for support

Where are services offered?

DCI offices are at 2101 Angier Avenue, Ste 200 (close to YE Smith Elementary School)

Cost: 

Free
Services are available in the following language(s): English, Spanish
How to initiate or access services:

Call (919) 908-8709 or email TheDurhamChildrensInitiative@dci-nc.org to get started.

Learn More:

dci-nc.org

Parent coaching and family therapy to support a healthy family environment for kids 0-12.
Who is Eligible:

Any family that lives in Durham County with a child between 0- and 12-years-old

Where are services offered?

Throughout Durham County

Cost: 

Free

All family support services and some parenting workshops are free to families

Services are available in the following language(s): English, Spanish
How to initiate or access services:

Call the Exchange Family Center’s office at 919-403-8249, visit exchangefamilycenter.org/parents-caregivers/family-support-program for additional information, or fill out a referral form here: exchangefamilycenter.org/referrals.

For additional information on Parenting Workshops visit exchangefamilycenter.org/parents-caregivers/parenting-workshops.

Network of peer support for families of children with special needs, led by parents with lived experience.
Who is Eligible:

Families of children and young adults with disabilities

Where are services offered?

Family Support Network affiliates are located across the state

Cost: 

Free
Services are available in the following language(s): English, Uses translation service for other languages
How to initiate or access services:

Check out fsnnc.org for more information or call our ACCESS Health Information line at 1-800-852-0042

Learn More:

fsnnc.org

Working with fathers to develop life skills necessary to face financial, health, relationship and other critical challenges.
Who is Eligible:

Any Durham dad and his family

Where are services offered?

Durham

Cost: 

Free
Services are available in the following language(s): English
How to initiate or access services:

Visit FatherhoodofDurham.org

H.E.A.R.T.S. supports young adolescent parents and pregnant people with tools to successfully become independent and self-sufficient.
Who is Eligible:

Parents or pregnant people aged 13-to-22 and their children

Where are services offered?

Anywhere within 60 miles of Durham County

Cost: 

Free
Services are available in the following language(s): English
How to initiate or access services:

Visit our website to learn more and contact us at heartsnc.org/visit-us.

Learn More:

heartsnc.org

A free home-visiting program designed to help new parents as they support the healthy growth and development of their children from birth to 3 years old.
Who is Eligible:

First-time parents in Durham who are pregnant or have a baby up to 3 months old. Families with multiple children will also be considered.

Where are services offered?

Durham County.

Families participate in regular, weekly home visits for up to three years; visits may be made virtually during the pandemic, so please ask for specifics when you call

Cost: 

Free
Services are available in the following language(s): English, Spanish
How to initiate or access services:

Call Sharon Crews, Intake Coordinator, at (919) 632-8948, to sign up or make a referral.

Specialists at the pediatric primary care clinic that work alongside families of children under age 3 to be sure they have the support they need to nurture their child’s wellbeing.
Who is Eligible:

Families whose infants and toddlers under age three receive their medical care at Duke Children’s Primary Care-North Durham

Where are services offered?

Duke Children’s Primary Care, 3116 N. Duke St, Durham

Cost: 

Free
Services are available in the following language(s): English, Uses translation service for other languages
How to initiate or access services:

Ask your doctor about HealthySteps

Learn More:

HealthySteps.org

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