For Parents Overview

Raising a juvenile can be challenging. Support is available. Below are some organizations who provide emotional support, education, and/or information though various other options are available in DuPage County. 

Informal support can be offered by extended family, friends, churches, and other community-based groups.  It is normal to feel overwhelmed and stressed when in a caregiver role. It is important for caregivers to care for themselves. Asking for help is often an important step. Support is available. You do not have to do it alone.   

Boys Town National Helpline (800-448-3000) 

Crisis hotline available 24/7. Trained counselors offers guidance and expertise to help you understand your child's behavioral issues and offer you ways to address them. Counselors are available to talk when you are feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or out of options. 

https://www.boystown.org/hotline/Pages/hotline-for-parents.aspx

Parent guides are also available and contain a range ​of useful ​materials, including tips, articles, Q&As and videos. Guides are targeted for developmental stages (toddler, grade school, tween, teen).

https://www.boystown.org/parenting/guides/Pages/default.aspx

A FREE ​email series is available to help you with parenting challenges related to common topics. Each series consists of weekly ​emails that run 4-6 weeks, discuss a specific parenting issue, include a teaching activity and​ a ​relevant ​social skill.

https://www.boystown.org/parenting/track/Pages/default.aspx

Charts and contracts can be an effective way to maintain family harmony and monitor family responsibilities. These parenting tools help ensure consequences and rewards are contingent on specific behaviors or social skills you want to ​see ​from your kids.

https://www.boystown.org/parenting/Pages/parenting-tools.aspx

National Parent Helpline (855-427-2736) 

Offers emotional support from a trained advocate 8am - 5pm CST.    

http://www.nationalparenthelpline.org/     

Project HOPE - Birth to 3 Program - West Chicago School District 33 (630-473-0778)

Offers services to qualifying families with children ages birth to 3 years old. This is an early education intervention program that focuses on parent-child Interactions, developmental-centered parenting, and family well-being and connections to resources. Families expecting a baby or with children under age 3 are screened for the program using our needs matrix.  Contact Project HOPE for a screening to determine eligibility.

Birth-to-Three / About Our Program (wego33.org)      

KidsMatter

Naperville-based organization that works collaboratively with organizations and resources throughout the community to source information that is relevant, educational, and supportive. KidsMatter is a prevention-based organizations focused on overall social, emotional, and academic wellness of kids. Browse their resources for helpful articles. 

https://kidsmatter2us.org/resources/

Stopbullying.gov 

Offers a variety of resources and information about bullying. Bullying is defined and sections specific to parents and youth are available. Warning signs a youth may be experiencing bullying are outlined in the link below.

https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/warning-signs/index.html

On Balance 

Naperville-based organization that supports parents and caregivers by sharing current  parenting and educational resources, news, strategies, and inspiration from leading voices in a variety of fields.  

https://www.onbalanceparenting.org/

MUTUAL GROUND (630-897-0080 OR 630-897-8383)

Community-based organization in Aurora focused on building strong family foundations.   

The Nurturing Families Program uses an 8 week curriculum focused on parents first nurturing themselves in order to become more nurturing to children. This program is for diverse families with children of all ages and the goal is to encourage/support attitude and behavioral change.

https://mutualground.org/nurturing-families

WAYS (Wayne/Winfield Area Youth/Family Services) 

Community-based organization assisting local residents develop supports and skills. Services Include STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting), which (teaches parents to understand their child's behavior, communication, setting limits, and applying consequences. 

https://www.ways4change.org/parenting-classes

Glenbard Parent Series: Navigating Healthy Families 

FREE, community-based lectures and presentations by local and national experts in a variety of fields dealing with youth. Topics cover many issues facing today's youth. Some programs are presented in Spanish and a specialized series is also available - FUSE: Families United in Support of Equality and Excellence for African-American Students (Co-Sponsored by the DuPage Branch of the NAACP).                                                      

 Upcoming Speakers - Glenbard 

https://www.glenbardgps.org/upcoming-speakers/

2023-24 GPS Series

https://www.glenbardgps.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GPS-Brochure-23-24-PDF-single-page-format.pdf

      *Advanced registration is not required.*     

Take Five 

      Five minute videos for teens and parents showcasing recent GPS speakers and programs.      

            https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF1AAoi1QqaBblGUeFmX3YqGYNWaMIlRr 

   
PARENTS AS TEACHERS 

Supports children from the prenatal period through preschool as well as their parents. This early childhood intervention program offers routine parent education, discusses stages of healthy child development, offers developmental screening, and is FREE to parents residing in select DuPage School Districts.  We partner with the following school districts in DuPage County: Addison SD 4, Bensenville SD 2, Community Consolidated SD 93, Fenton SD 100, Keeneyville SD 20, Marquart SD 15, Queen Bee SD 16, Roselle SD 12, Villa Park SD 45, Wood Dale SD 7, Woodridge SD 68 

Contact Vicki Trotter (vtrotter@dupageroe.org), Director - Parents as Teachers Program

and/or view these links for additional information:

Early Childhood Education – DuPage Regional Office of Education (dupageroe.org) 

DuPage Regional Office of Education Parents as Teachers - Referral Form (google.com) 

Project HOPE (Birth to 3 Program)  - West Chicago School District 33 (630-473-0778) 

Offers services to qualifying families with children ages birth to 3 years old. This is an early education intervention program that focuses on parent-child Interactions, developmental-centered parenting, and family well-being and connections to resources. 

Families expecting a baby or with children under age 3 are screened for the program using our needs matrix.  Contact Project HOPE for a screening to determine eligibility.

https://www.wego33.org/Page/962

DuPage Prevention Leadership Team (PLT)

Visit the For Parents page for educational information about substance use, including strategies for starting conversations with your children about substance use.

https://www.dupageplt.org/160/For-Parents