Lincoln Parents' Center
Building Strong Families in Logan County

What is the Lincoln Parents' Center?
Since 1997 Lincoln Parents’ Center (LPC) has provided year-round early education services for Lincoln and the surrounding communities. LPC was established to support parents of very young children because parents are the first and most influential teachers of their children. Research has shown that in their first few years children learn more and at a much faster pace than at any other time in life. Because these crucial early years lay the foundation for children’s success in school and life, it is important that parents have access to timely information on child development, an opportunity to talk with other parents and resources that will help sustain their family. LPC offers parents these supports as they encounter the joys and challenges of rearing their children.

Program Information
Lincoln Parents’ Center programs are available to all families who have children ages birth through five residing in the Lincoln community area. There are no fees to participate in the programs. For more information about enrolling in the programs, call the Lincoln Parents’ Center at (217) 735-4192. A certified parent educator will contact you.

What we provide:

Personal Visits
Personalized home visits by certified parent educators, trained in child development, help parents understand what to expect in each stage of their child’s development. During these visits, parent educators share age-appropriate child development information with parents, help them learn to observe their own child, address their parenting concerns, and engage the family in activities that provide meaningful parent-child interaction.

Familiy Activities and Support
Stop-n-Play: LPC provides a playgroup that meets 2-3 times each month for children birth to age five (pre-kindergarten). Age-appropriate activities, snack, and group time are offered during Stop-n-Play.

Group Meetings: Parent group meetings provide opportunities to share information about parenting issues and child development. Parents gain new insights, share experiences, and discuss topics of interest to parents with young children.

Parent-child group meetings give parents the opportunity to meet other parents in the community and have fun playing with their family. Parents learn from and support each other, observe their children interacting with other children, and practice parenting skills.

Teen Parent Support Group: The Lincoln Parents’ Center provides prenatal and parental support to teen parents at the local high school. A trained parent educator collaborates with the school nurse to provide a monthly support group at the school. The teen parents receive information about local resources in the community, parent education, and child development information. Teen parents have the opportunity to receive personal visits from a certified parent educator.

Families with Special Needs Children: A trained parent educator serves families that have a child in Early childhood Special Education and have a younger child still at home. A parent educator helps these families focus not just on the special needs child, but also on the younger sibling’s development. They also offer support as the parents navigate the special education system and find the community resources families need.

Developmental Screenings
Trained parent educators conduct periodic screenings of the child’s overall development. Using the Ages and Stages screening tool, the goal is to provide early detection of potential problems to prevent difficulties later in school.

Resource Network

Connections to Local Agencies
Parent educators work closely with various local agencies to ensure that families get the services they need beyond the scope of the Lincoln Parents’ Center. Lincoln Parents’ Center uses a mutual referral system with various local agencies to help families access community services.

Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois http://www.ciedc.org/

Community Child Care Connection, Inc. http://www.cccconnect.org/Parents/AffordableChildCare.asp

Healthy Communities Partnership http://www.healthycommunitiespartnership.org

Lincoln Area YMCA http://www.lincolnymca.org

Logan County Health Department http://www.logancountyhealth.org

Lincoln Public Library http://www.lincolnpubliclibrary.org


Resources for Parents


A Consumer's Guide for Selecting Suitable Toys

Family Play and Learn

HealthyToys.Org

Preschool Express

Tips for Effective Parenting Newsletter (Center for the Improvement of Child Caring)

ToyInfo.Org

Toy Safety Resources - American Acadmeny of Pediatrics

Toy Safety Shopping Tips

Winter Coats and Car Seats - Check for Safety

Resource Library
The Lincoln Parents’ Center has developed a parent resource library that contains books and parenting information on topics such as discipline, child care, potty training, and the importance of reading to your child. The resources are made available to parents through our Center.

Download LPC's Resource Library List (PDF)

Lincoln Parents' Center
305 N. Kickapoo Street
Lincoln, IL 62656
(217) 735-4192

 
 

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