The Parenting Cottage
of Lubbock

In early 1982, several parents began discussing the need for an organization to help them with issues concerning their children. The Parenting Cottage was founded to address this concern. The Parenting Cottage is committed to devoting its services to developing the strengths of children and their parents.

The family oriented concept was embedded into this non-profit  organization from the beginning. The Parenting Cottage is a unique and one of a kind facility with kitchens, library, parent room, and a wonderful children's playroom that provides a warm, home like environment. A dedicated Board of Directors and an outstanding Advisory Board believe that the family is the most powerful influence in a child's life.

The Parenting Cottage gives parents of all children a safe place to come and an environment for staff to focus on helping families strengthen their parenting skills. We are proud to have served families in the South Plains with focus on Lubbock County for the past 24 years. The Cottage programs are four fold. They consist of: Texas Families
Together and Safe, Sunny Beginnings program, Family Neighborhood Mentors program, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders program, and Safe Riders car seat dispersal program.  All programs focus on the parent as the child's primary nurturer.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to strengthen families by promoting supportive environments that optimize child growth and development through:

We believe that a supportive environment offers the most powerful influence in a child's life.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO:

***All programs are voluntary and free of charge.***

Programs:

FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS

The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) program is the first of its kind in the state of Texas. This unique program addresses the permanent developmental disability caused by the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol causes neurological damage that is more permanent  to an unborn child than cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamines.

Prevention of FASD is addressed by presenting the information to various community agencies and area high schools. Diagnostic needs are met through the Lubbock area FAS Diagnostic Team. Other components of the program include a resource guide developed for parents and a statewide FASD Conference. 

SUNNY BEGINNINGS

Sunny Beginnings is a parent education and family support program utilizing Parents as Teachers curriculum, serving families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten, usually age 5. Parents are supported by PAT-certified parent educators trained to translate scientific information on early brain development into specific when, what, how, and why advice for families. By understanding what to expect during each stage of development, parents can easily capture the teachable moments in everyday life to enhance their child's language development, intellectual growth, social development and motor skill.

Sunny Beginnings families receive:

FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD MENTOR PROGRAM

The Family Neighborhood Mentor Program was the Success By Six initiative and recently became one of our services. We help pregnant at-risk women within the 79404 zip code to find and utilize resources and referrals. A "Meet the Mom" meeting is held monthly to introduce all the moms that had babies the previous month and to give the families an opportunity to enroll in the Sunny Beginnings Program.

SAFE RIDERS
Safe Riders is a car safety seat dispersal program. This program provides qualifying families a one hour class on the use of car seats. After completing a class session, a family can then be issued a car seat. The emphasis is on education, the utilization and proper use of a safety seat.