An in-home parenting program is now available to all parents of children five and younger in the Tulsa area free of charge at Family and Children’s Services (FCS).
The innovative, evidence-based program, known as Safe Care, was previously available only to families referred to FCS by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS). Now the program has been expanded to serve all area families as the result of a grant recently provided by OKDHS.
“We will visit the home to help parents increase positive interactions with their children, more effectively manage difficult behavior and keep them safe and healthy,” said Christine Marsh, FCS chief program officer of Child Abuse and Trauma Services.
The Safe Care in-home parenting program is for parents of children five years and younger. FCS providers will visit a client’s home for weekly sessions, focusing on interaction between parents and their infant or child, improving home safety and enhancing the child’s physical and mental health. The program is available to Tulsa residents and the surrounding counties.
FCS family preservation specialists will help parents know when to treat their children at home, see a doctor or visit the emergency room. FCS staff can also provide basic health supplies such as a thermometer, medicine dropper or first-aid kit.
Through home evaluations, FCS will help parents identify common household hazards and make them inaccessible to the children, as well as help parents develop the skills needed to prevent accidents and injuries. Parents are also provided with child-proofing safety devices.
