Children’s Support Services serves children and their families in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Our commitment is to provide empathetic, knowledgeable care to at-risk children. We have the educational requirements to meet these needs, but more importantly, we possess the character and nurturing personal qualities that make the difference in reaching a young person at a critical time in their development.
What can make a difference for such children is the intense focus of a caring adult who will listen to them and given them the practical advice and attention that can really help. Focused, undivided Attention is the key word here.
Mentoring has proven its effectiveness in keeping at-risk children at home in the community, while avoiding institutional placements. This, of course, saves on the cost of social services, but more importantly, it saves these children from a much less desirable outcome in their lives.
It’s very important to support the parents/caregivers, offering positive feedback aimed at reinforcing them and empowering them, giving them new skills to deal with desired behavior changes. Oftentimes, all a parent/caregiver needs is someone to share their parenting problems with and to add some new tools to their caregiving skills that can turn a situation around. These caregivers need to know that they’re not alone, We know a lot more about the behavior modification tools that really work with children and adolescents than the traditional models that are all most people still have to resort to. Many frustrated parents only need some fresh strategies to exert the influence their children need.
The traditional notions of discipline are all that most caregivers still have in their arsenals. Illuminating a parent on concepts of simple, consistent ‘consequences’ can make a huge difference. Tempers don’t need to escalate, corporal punishment needn’t escalate. Simply ‘unplugging’ a teen or tween (restricting telephone or television privileges) can prove much more effective, with much less negative consequences. We are here to give caregivers the information and support they need to acquire these skills.