CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) - Chula Vista parents who once felt hopeless now feel empowered to care for their children with behavioral challenges.
Through the Parent Intervention Program (PIP), parents learn new strategies while their children develop their social-emotional skills and new ways of expressing themselves.
PIP is offered free to Chula Vista families through the Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD).
"We want to do what we can for our families and children when it comes to the whole child, not only cognitively but socially and emotionally," said Rita Palet, the Director of Early Childhood Education Programs for CVESD.
Palet says this is now a priority for the district, which is why they're offering the PIP program to families for free.
"Behaviors take a while to develop, so they do take a while to diminish," said Palet.
Through the program, parents meet others dealing with similar struggles.
"When you come here it makes you feel safe, I feel safe coming here, even when we had a rough morning getting here, they're so welcoming," said Mina Fagen, who brings her son to the program.
Fagen says her son started acting out after changes happened in the family; his sister went to kindergarten and they also had a new baby in the family.
"I felt overwhelmed, and still at times feel overwhelmed, but this program gives me a safe place to go to," said Fagen.
Parents ultimately give back to the program by volunteering their time later as a "payback parent." This means staff members have completed the program with their own child and can support others going through the program.
For more information contact Chelsea Gould, PIP's Program Specialist at (619) 425-9600 ext 6471
