The Prowers Journal welcomes SafeCare Colorado as new advertiser

The Prowers Journal is happy to welcome SafeCare Colorado as a new advertiser/sponsor for our paper.  SafeCare Colorado is a free, voluntary, in-home parenting program for families with at least one child age five or under.  The program provides weekly in-home support sessions with services provided to seven counties – Prowers, Baca, Bent, Crowley, Otero, Kiowa, and Cheyenne are all served from the southeast Colorado office based in Lamar and located at the High Plains Community Health Center campus.. Tyann Conley, SafeCare Colorado Supervisor for this area, said “We offer parent-specific programs which cover home safety, child health, and parent-child interaction. Parents can choose to participate in any or all of the topics. We are able to provide, free of charge, items such as outlet covers, baby gates, door alarms, cabinet locks, TV mounts, first aid kits, thermometers, hygiene products, over-the-counter medications, age-appropriate toys etc.  These are examples but are families are not limited to just these. Items are specific to the homes and the needs of the families”.

Funding for SafeCare is provided through grants.  The program is referral-based. Referrals can come from community partners, the Department of Human Services, doctors’ offices, WIC, or even by self-referral if families are interested in the services.  The program is not income-based but there are some criteria in order to participate. The stigma of families participating in a support program may be that of them not being good parents, but Conley wants to assure potential participating parents that is not the case. SafeCare aims to empower the families through education, support and by providing necessary safety equipment and printed material to make parenting easier.  “I would like to emphasis that we are working together alongside the parents to build on their skills that they already have as a parent” said Conley.

A SafeCare parent support provider will begin to work side-by-side with parents once a week, either in-home or at another location if the parent prefers.  In-home, the provider will help the parents identify potential safety hazards throughout the home, going room-to-room and can then provide childproofing items on an as-needed basis.  Other safety topics discussed can include car seat safety, water safety, animal safety, etc. based on existing knowledge each parent/family already has.  Child health topics covered during the program include how to prevent illnesses and injuries, how to determine when a child may need immediate medical care and which symptoms suggest in-home treatment. Printed information includes a flow chart for parents to determine, based on symptoms, what the treatment plan should be.  A health manual is provided, and the importance of keeping good health records on each child is discussed.  Nutrition, hygiene, and physical activity are also discussed.  Parent-child interaction sessions emphasize positive, age-appropriate bonding and activity exercises.  Specific issues parents may have can also be addressed. The entire program can span 4-6 months.

For more information about SafeCare Colorado, you can scan the QR code from their ad in the Prowers Journal to access their website or by calling 719-688-8846.  Referrals and applications can be done directly on the website.

By: Barbara Crimond