Parenting education and mentoring to strengthen homeless families
  Overview:

• Kids First is a 12 week intensive parenting course which is required for all parents in our Transitional Housing.

• The program is designed to help homeless parents create lasting changes to behavior and environment to improve their long-term ability to lead, nurture and support their children.

• The course is offered three times a year, with meals and daycare provided. Sessions cover the following topics:

  
    — Stages of child development;
 — Nurturing self-esteem in children;
 — Determining family goals and values;
 — Positive guidance and discipline;
 — Creating safe and healthy home environments;
 — Accessing community support resources.		    
 

• Key to the program’s success is the specialized follow-up from COTS’ Children Haven staff and case managers who monitor progress as parents implement their new skills.

• Kids First is the cornerstone of COTS’ Residential Parenting Education, where families living in emergency shelter or transitional housing learn how to keep what’s best for the children at the heart of family decision-making.