CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

 

We get to know each child and family that comes to us so we can support the children’s healthy development. The kids need the everyday “normal” childhood experiences that people with homes might take for granted. Our staff engages children in age-appropriate activities that are fun and informative and model healthy social behavior, a skill critically needed during recovery from homelessness. We help these children to believe in themselves and to have hope in their future.

 

FULL IMMERSION RESIDENTIAL PARENTING EDUCATION

Many of the homeless moms and dads were poorly parented as children and suffered abuse and neglect.  Therefore, they lack the skills they need to help their own children.  COTS knows that good parenting is the foundation for rebuilding family life.  Kids First helps parents understand their children’s development and foster their children’s strengths.

Kids First not only offers classes based on a state-of-the-art child development curriculum, but also full immersion residential parenting education (FIRPE).  The key to FIRPE is that the homeless parents reside in environments that COTS manages.  So we are able to support sound parenting practices not only in Kids First classes, but also as part of the day-to-day living experience in COTS—the same way an immersive environment supports learning of a foreign language.

We integrate shelter services with programs such as Kids First, Children’s Haven, and case management, providing an intensively focused educational experience that leverages the residential nature of COTS and strengthens parenting skills.

 

CHILDREN’S HAVEN

 

Children’s activities and family support services for homeless children and parents

Overview:

• Children’s Haven provides developmentally appropriate children’s activities and family support within our Center for Homeless Children and Their Families.
• The Infant and Toddler Outreach program helps families in COTS' housing programs, providing intensive support to homeless children from birth to 18 months old, and to their parents, to address the developmental delays, neglect and abuse suffered by many homeless children.
• The Haven’s preschool program includes therapeutic play, language development, social skill building, fine motor skills activities and literacy development for children ages 18 months to five years.
• The Haven’s after-school tutoring and summer enrichment program integrates staff, volunteer tutors, parents and the local school district liaison to support the academic development of homeless school-age children.

KIDS FIRST

 

Parenting education and mentoring to strengthen homeless families

Overview:

• Kids First is a 12-week intensive parenting course that is required for all parents in our Transitional Housing.
• The program is designed to help homeless parents improve their long-term ability to lead, nurture and support their children.
• The course is offered several times a year, with meals and daycare provided. Sessions cover the following topics:

— Stages of child development
— Nurturing self-esteem in children
— Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
— 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