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The Parent & Child Center

Support Services

We offer a variety of support services to keep you and your family healthy.

The Caring Closet

Our Caring Closet offers basic need items – diapers, wipes, baby food, clothing and other baby items – to low-income clients. The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis. All items are supplied through community donations and may not always be in stock. Call The Parent and Child Center at Bristol Hospital at 860.585.3481 or pcc@bristolhospital.org for more information about signing up for this program.  

Walk-In Program Hours:

  • Monday:  1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm 
 
 

SPECIAL EVENING HOURS:
The Caring Closet will be open from 5 -7 pm on the second Wednesday of each month

  • September 11
  • October 9
  • Novemeber 13
  • December 11
  • January 8
  • February 12
  • March 11
  • April 8
  • May 13
  • June 10
  • July 8
  • August 12

Parent Support Center

Families can "drop in" during program hours to discuss struggles and challenges in their lives. Utilizing our Resource Library, parents can:

  • find information on an issue encountered with a child
  • learn about services available to the community
  • obtain referrals to community agencies
  • have a "listening ear" from our qualified and skilled staff or volunteers
The Resource Library also includes books and videos that illustrate ideas for dealing with specific child behaviors and parenting issues.

Parenting Survival

Whether you are trying to figure out if parenting gets easier or just need guidance on how to support your child through developmental and emotional disruptions this group allows for parents to have a safe place to connect, discuss, and learn from peers and educators.

2nd Wednesday of every month 6:00pm-7:30pm
 

Circle Of Mums

Build your Mom Tribe! Share your experiences during pregnancy, the first few weeks and beyond.
Every week Thursday 10am-11:30am
 

Full Circle Dads Group

Dads and male caregivers come together and share their experiences and challenges with parenting.
 
4th Thursday of every month, 6:00pm-7:30pm
 

Grandparents

Whether you are raising your grandchildren on your own or co-parenting with your child, gain support and learn from peers.
 
3rd Monday of every month 5:00pm-6:00pm
 

The Family Life Works Program

The Family Life Works Program provides comprehensive education and referral services to at-risk families. The Center supports its individual and group-based parenting education program focusing on developmental stages in children and parenting support groups for families. The program hopes to improve the healthy functioning of involved families by teaching parents about the physical, language, cognitive, and social/emotional development of their child(ren) at various developmental stages. Parents’ communication and discipline skills will be developed as they learn about their child’s abilities at each developmental stage and learn age-appropriate ways to decrease misbehaviors.  Families will complete a full intake to assess needs and have access to individualized support specific to their family’s needs.  Individual sessions will be coupled with group education, a parenting support group and referrals to more specialized services as appropriate.
Case management intakes can be schedule by calling 860-585-3481 or pcc@bristolhospital.org.
 

The Family Wellness Program

The Family Wellness Program at the Parent & Child Center is designed to address the obesity epidemic that affects children and adults in the United Way service area.  Specifically targeting low-income adults and children in the United Way service area the program provides support and education regarding risk factors for unhealthy nutrition, lack of healthy physical activity, and affording healthy foods on a limited budget are proven prevention tools. We address these areas by offering:
  • Couponing Collaborative:  Learn how to shop and save money with coupons. 
  • Gardening for Health:  Families have the opportunity to learn how to grow healthy, nutritious food.  Each family will receive gardening materials and guidance on how to grow their own food.
  • Family Zumba:  Fun, dance-based workout for you and your child.  The class is open to families with children ages 4 to 18. 
  •   Search for existing geocaches before trying to create your own and hide it. 
  • Family Cook Classes: Interactive workshop for parents and kids.  Together you will have the opportunity to try some healthy afterschool or anytime snack choices, make snacks that kids can do on their own and easy meals that require minimal preparation. Nutritional guidelines and information on healthy portion sizes will be included. 
  • Moving and Learning Classes:  Build coordination, flexibility and socialization skills. Melodic and rhythmic patterns provide both physical and brain exercise. Each class includes dance, directed activities and sport activity skills.
  • Behavior and foods:  Many parents are asking what the connection between diet and behavior is, and what changes should I make now for my child? Learn more about the connection between diet and behavior below, and consider making changes in your family's diet.  This approach can be effective for adults as well.
  • Identify a medical and dental home:  Assist parents to enroll and participate in a system of ongoing family health care (including medical and dental homes) and encourage parents to be active partners in their children’s health care process.
  • Identify appropriate and safe child care:  Assist parents to learn about options in their community and understand what to look for in finding a quality child care arrangement. 
  • Trending Wellness Issues: Examples-asthma diabetes or allergies.

Home-Based Parent Education Services

This program provides intensive in-home parenting education services for families who are either not appropriate for group-based classes or need additional services as mandated by the courts or the Department of Children and Families.  We will work collaboratively to develop one-time parenting workshops or a series of parenting classes to meet the needs of referred families. Services are available during day or evening hours and are offered in English and Spanish. Topics of interest may include:
 

  • Parenting Newborns and Infants
  • Toddler Development and Discipline Series
  • Preschool Development and Discipline Series
  • School Age Development and Discipline Series Preventing Risky Behaviors: The Teenage Years Attachment and Bonding Trauma and Toxic Stress
  • Recognizing Signs of Abuse
  • The NOT So Stranger Danger
The program is fee-for-service.  For our current rates or to refer a family for services, please call 860.585.3481.

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