A study mentioned in a newsletter I read recently noted the higher the stress of a parent, the lower the quality of life. No surprise there. But significantly, the study found that in the presence of effective program services the effects of parenting stress on the parent-child relationship dissolved. The negative affect of parenting stress dissipates as appropriate supportive services or resources are offered. This reduces the potential for child abuse and neglect.
Good services provide hope: a pathway and the emotional energy to go forward. Hope is not just a feel good concept. Hope is a combination of a mental strategy or pathway to reach important goals, and the motivation or mental energy to persevere to reach those goals, especially when there are barriers or impediments in the way. If you can envision a way forward and you have the mental energy to achieve something that is important to you, that is hope.
Hope is what what we are able to provide when we receive inquiries from parents at our Parent Information Resource Center, and other programs at The Information Center. We connect parents with emergency food, job training programs, support for adult children taking care of their elderly parents, and literally hundreds of other kinds of problem solving alternatives.
The call to The Information Center is free: (734) 282-7171.
