TWM Gives Back: The Parenting Center

This month, Tanglewood Moms give back to The Parenting Center. Celebrating its 45^th year anniversary, the mission of The Parenting Center has remained the same, to provide family members and professionals with the tools, resources and services to build successful families. Without question, parenting is one of the most rewarding, yet challenging roles known to mankind. So challenging in fact, that it not only takes extreme effort, love, gentleness, and patience, but also access to a committed village to call upon when in need. For many in Tarrant County, The Parenting Center is part of their village.

Through the provision of wraparound services, The Parenting Center is able to create pathways that promote healthy in-home relationships and environments that give every child in Tarrant County the opportunity to experience the childhood they deserve. Every year, The Parenting Center engages nearly 15,000 families in family-centered services, while continuing to keep child abuse prevention and treatment at the heart of their mission.

In the state of Texas between March 1 and August 31, it is estimated that over 81 children have died from abuse and or neglect while another 33,488 cases of child abuse/neglect have been confirmed and 30,912 children (7 every hour) have been maltreated. In total, the lives of 64,481 children have been severely impacted by abuse, neglect, and maltreatment over the span of the last 184 days.

In 2019, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) reported a total of 5,536 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect in Tarrant County, accounting for 8.2% of total cases confirmed in the entire state. As the number of confirmed cases in the State of Texas continues to rise at an alarming rate, 15% since 2016, The Parenting Center has been extremely intentional in leading the effort to eradicate child abuse and neglect, as well as other adverse childhood experiences.

At The Parenting Center, children, parents/ caregivers, and the professionals that work with them are able to engage in comprehensive family and parenting support services such as parenting education courses, relationship workshops, in-home parent coaching, counseling and play therapy. These services are offered to all income levels and social backgrounds, however, a large number of our clients consist of at-risk parents and families.

The Parenting Center is able to provide these wraparound services to low-income and at-risk families only with the support of our community. With this financial support, The Parenting Center does not have to turn away families, instead, offers a sliding scale for services. Without the help of The Parenting Center, many of these families would not receive the assistance they need and potentially would repeat the cycle of abuse and trauma.

Would you and your family like to change a child’s life? Want to join The Parenting Center’s fight against child abuse? You are invited to join the mission with a donation. A donation changes the lives of families by providing the help they need to build successful families, despite their income, social background or prior trauma.

Without your support, the vulnerable population we serve will continue to be at great risk – your support is critical. With your pledge to be a child abuse advocate and volunteer, we can help these children. Visit theparentingcenter.org for more information on how you can help prevent child abuse.

Paul Gravley has served as the Executive Director of The Parenting Center for the past 4 years. Under his leadership, The Parenting Center has served more than 50,000 families in Tarrant County. When he’s not changing the lives of children through the work of The Parenting Center, you can find him coaching his kids’ baseball teams!

To learn more about The Parenting Center, visit theparentingcenter.org today.