Parent Info Line

Caring for a child can be one of the most joyous and challenging jobs you will ever have. The staff at Headquarters realizes that we all need help at times to provide the best possible environment for children and parents.

In 1999, Headquarters, in conjunction with Success by Six, began providing the Parent Info Line as a service to caregivers in Douglas County. Our carefully trained volunteers have access to a variety of resources available in Douglas County as well as state and national resources. You are not required to give any identifying information. Whenever you call The Parent Info Line with a question or concern, you will be treated with the utmost respect and your call is always confidential.

The following are some brief examples of the hundreds of resources available for children and caregivers in and around Douglas County:

Early Intervention Programs

tiny-K Early Intervention: A group of parents, community members and professionals working together to provide services and information to families that include children with special needs and developmental delays.

Success by Six Coalition of Douglas County - Developing a public awareness campaign that educates the Douglas County community about the importance of the early years to future success in school and in life.

Educational Resources

Developmental Screenings: Developmental screenings done by the Lawrence School District to give parents information on their children's developmental progress between the ages of 3 and 5.

Early Childhood education programs:

• Parents as Teachers

Upward Bound Math and Science Program: Focused on helping qualified high school students to complete high school and obtain a college education.

Mentoring Programs

Big Brothers and Big Sisters: Matching trained volunteers with children to develop a mentoring relationship.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department has the Teen Independence Project, a program for Mentoring Expectant Teens. This program helps pregnant teens to:

• set goals for the future
• plan how to reach goals
• get community services needed to help reach goals
• obtain prenatal care
• be a successful parent
• finish high school, GED, or higher education
• become financially self-supporting

Child and Family Mental Health

Bert Nash Child and Family Services: Provides a variety of services for youth and their families including individual, family, group and family therapy, parent support groups, in-home family services and medications.

WRAP Program: Working to Recognize Alternative Possibilities (WRAP) places mental health professionals from the Bert Nash Center on-site in targeted schools in Baldwin City, Eudora and Lawrence school districts to help youth have successful school experiences.

Parenting Resources

Become a Love and Logic Parent - Helping parents and educators create responsible kids. Contact Headquarters for local classes.

Child care resources - Where to obtain child care/day care information.

Mother to Mother of Douglas County - Mother to Mother provides opportunities to women of different religious, racial, and economic backgrounds to gather in friendship and mutual support. Call Headquarters for more information.

Keepkidshealthy.com - A Pediatrician's guide to keeping children healthy and safe.

Miscellaneous Social Service Programs

Phone A Friend: Headquarters confidential helpline for children in Douglas County. Children can call for any reason—even if they are just bored and want someone to talk to. Staffed by volunteers trained to deal with a variety of issues.

Van-Go Mobile Arts, Inc is an arts-based social service agency that provides after-school and summer programs to high needs and under-served youth, ages 14-21. Children get paid for working at Van-Go!

Our volunteers also have access to information on a variety of support groups involving parenting, children and community activities for families.

We Listen

In addition to providing resources, our volunteers are also available to listen. At times, caring for a child can be overwhelming and you may just need someone to talk with. The Parent Info Line can be reached by calling Headquarters at 841-2345 or, from Baldwin City, 888-899-2345. All of our services are free of charge and confidential.