Parent Connection Services for County
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Parent Connection
Select your county for contact information or learn more about what the Family Services Parent Connection offers.
- About
- Eligibility
- Resources
- Funding
Parent Connection is a voluntary education and early learning program that encourages, strengthens and supports families. Transitioning to parenthood can be difficult, which is why we’re here to help alleviate stress and provide the support you need to be there for your family.
Our Services:
- Welcome Baby
- This program is designed to make the transition to parenthood easier when parents have had or are welcoming a new baby. The program helps set families up for the best possible start and can help connect eligible families to voluntary programming offering ongoing support.
- Home Visitation
- Parents as Teachers TM Home Visitation: This program is designed for parents with young children. Our staff is happy to provide home visits and provide a variety of tips and resources, including positive parenting information, constructive play ideas and developmental screenings.
- Families First Home Visitation: This program is offered only in Winnebago County. The Families First Program offers developmental, behavioral strategies and support to families in need. Initial screenings, a needs assessment & parental goals drive the individualized family plan.
- Family Wellness Program
- Designed to share valuable educational and parenting support to promote Family Wellness within our service area through evidence and research-based Parenting Workshops, Classes, Groups, Fairs, Events and our Family Wellness Newsletters and Social Media posts.
- Our parenting workshops/classes are open to the public and presented by professionals in our community. Topics include positive parenting techniques, child growth and development, and more. Family Wellness programming is at available locations in the Fox Valley and online. Free childcare is offered during most in-person classes.
View Our Current Workshop/Class Schedule and Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Eligibility varies depending on the program you are interested in:
- Family Wellness Program:
- Workshops, events, newsletters, and social media are all available to the public.
- Learn more about upcoming workshops and events and stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter and social media.
- Parents as Teachers™ Home Visitation
- In Outagamie County & Calumet County with an Appleton or Menasha address: you must be a first-time parent-to-be or parent with at least one child under 12 months old.
- In Winnebago County: you must be a parent-to-be or parent with at least one child under 12 months old.
- In Shawano & Menominee Counties: you must be a first-time parent-to-be or parent with a child under 12 months old.
- Families First Home Visitation
- In Winnebago County: you must be a parent with multiple children and/or at least 1 child under age 6.
Parenting Workshops
You aren’t alone in your parenting journey. At these community workshops, parents come together to discuss triumphs and challenges. Together, we cover a variety of topics, ranging from positive discipline to family communication. Plus, free childcare is available during these events.
Family Fun Events
Looking for something fun to do with the whole family? On Fridays our Facebook posts are all about free or low-cost Family Fun options (open to the public) that are being held over the weekend within our service area. Our Family Wellness Program also hosts some annual fun, low-cost events focused on Family Wellness. These events include:
- Autumn Adventure- Fall
- Parent Resource Fair- Spring
Parenting Newsletter Parent Connection newsletters contain information about our latest Parenting Workshops, Community Resource Connections, Family Fun Events, and more.
Parent Connection is a program of Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin a 501(c)(3). It receives a portion of its funding from MIECHV, US Venture, JJ Keller, Mielke Family Foundation, ThedaCare, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Shawano Area Community Foundation, Fox Cities United Way, Oshkosh Area United Way, Outagamie & Winnebago Counties, agency fundraising and generous donations.
We are also thankful to have funding from a variety of partners, grants, and donations for our annual Parent Resource Fair.
Habla usted Español?
Si usted desea obtener información acerca de Parent Connection (Un programa para padres por primera vez) en Español por favor llame al teléfono 920-739-4226 ext. 124.
Our Impact
Through the generous support of our community, Parent Connection’s certified staff help parents lay a strong foundation for their child’s future success. By understanding what to expect at each stage of development, parents can easily capture the teachable moments in everyday life to enhance their child’s language development, intellectual growth, social development and motor skills.
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of parents surveyed said the program helped strengthen their bond with their child.
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families received services through Parent Connection in 2021.
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Home Visits equipped families with positive parenting tools and support in 2021.
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of families served last year were teen parents.
“This really helped when we had our son.
Elissa came and did extra visits at this stressful time to help our family transition! She’s an amazing person and really cares!”
— Mom enrolled in Parent Connection
“[Parent Connection] has helped us understand and grow closer to our child.”
— Dad enrolled in Parent Connection
“Throughout the years, Parent Connection lifted so much off my shoulders.
From baby food, to diapers and wipes, to just someone to talk to for support, it has reduced so much stress!”
— Mom enrolled in Parent Connection
“Melissa reassured me that I’m doing a good job with [my son].
The activities we do and the ones she suggests really help to make sure [my son] is on track. I don’t have to stress as much if I’m doing a good job as a Mom or not. Very helpful.”
— Mom enrolled in Parent Connection
“The regular visits when my baby was young helped me with my feelings of isolation and depression.
It really got me through some rough weeks.”
— Mom enrolled in Parent Connection
FAQs
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Is there a fee to participate in Parent Connection programs or workshops?
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Parents as Teachers TM Home Visitation is free for eligible and enrolled families. Some Parenting Workshops are free while others have a nominal fee. Scholarships to cover workshop fees are available within our registration system to those in need who reside within our service area.
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What age children do you serve?
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It varies by program. Parents as Teachers™ Home Visitation serves children prenatal through age three. Parent Workshops will list the ages of children served from the curriculum based upon what is evidenced-based or research based. Families First is focused on families with at least one child under the age of six.
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What can I expect during home visits?
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Initial visits are devoted to building rapport and answering any immediate questions about your baby’s development. Ongoing visits will continue to address concerns about the infant’s health and well-being, assessing family needs, and providing any additional assistance that may be requested. Activities and home-made toys are demonstrated for parents to share with their children to enhance their growth and development.
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May I be involved in more than one Parent Connection program?
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Parents may be concurrently taking classes/workshops with our Parent Education Program and enrolled in one of our other services Welcome Baby, Parents as Teachers TM Home Visitation or Family First Home Visitation.
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Does Parent Connection offer any volunteer opportunities?
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Parent Connection often needs volunteers to help with:
- Client Only Group Connections
- Client Only Play Groups
- Public Events
When we are looking for volunteers, we will post about opportunities through https://www.VolunteerOshkosh.org or connect with clubs or groups that connect volunteers to opportunities.
If you would like to be on our radar to be considered for volunteer opportunities, contact us via [email protected]
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I’d like to donate items to help local families. How can I do that?
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Parent Connection welcomes item donations from our wish list. You can easily purchase and send needed items through Amazon here: https://a.co/fy6JIBX
The Parent Connection Program also relies in part on generous donations from individuals in our community. To make a monetary donation, please visit the Family Services donation page. When making your donation, you may choose to direct your gift to Parent Connection Program.