Our Mission
"Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for Parents Place." – Kathy
Parents Place's mission is to strengthen families and protect children through prevention, intervention, and education in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Parents Place provides quality family programming, as well as child maltreatment prevention services to children that are at risk of or, have experienced child abuse and neglect.
Background
Parents Place, Inc. began in 1983 as a grassroots response to the increasing problem of child abuse and neglect.
At the original request of Waukesha County Human Services, the Supervised Visitation Program was developed. This one-of-a-kind program was designed to provide children who have been placed in foster care an opportunity to visit with their parents while the Department is formulating a permanency plan for the family. Children and their non-custodial parents are able to spend quality time together in the nurturing environment of Parents Place. Supervising staff observes the families, facilitates one-on-one intensive parenting instruction if needed, and provides written documentation for the court system. Assessing and engaging the family in their case plans regarding their supervised visitation access, we teach positive parenting instruction and other skills that assist in enhancing overall family functioning and the parent/child relationship with the goal of supporting children in their efforts to maintain a relationship with their parents by providing visits after a child has been placed in out-of-home care.
In 2000 Parents Place obtained coordination and administration of the Community Education contract, which is known as Waukesha County's Family Resource Center for families with children ages 0-18. We continually collaborate and maintain a network of community service providers while offering services like parent and child education and support groups, one-on-one parent instruction, information and referral, crisis support, networking opportunities, community awareness, and special events.
Lastly, to reach at-risk families that have been screened out or closed after an initial report and assessment to Child Protection Services of alleged maltreatment, the Community Response Program assists in preventing child abuse and neglect while reducing the risk of entry into the child welfare system by strengthening families’ protective factors, promoting self-sufficiency, and increasing stability.
Parents Place also acts as a leader in the advocacy arena for children at the local, state, and national levels. Many relationships are formed to ensure a strong network of resources for the families we serve which include Waukesha County Safe and Stable Families, Trauma-Informed Care Partnership of Waukesha County, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, Waukesha County Drug-Free Communities, Waukesha County Child and Family Services Advisory Committee, Waukesha Intervention Project, Supervised Visitation Network, and the Wisconsin Prevention Network, just to name a few.
Parents Place receives its funding from the WI Department of Children and Families, Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services, United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, Waukesha County Community Development Block Grant, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, and numerous other community foundations, grants, and individual contributions.
The Parents Place financial audit and form 990, conflict of interest, and other government documents are available upon request.