PAT is an internationally recognized early childhood parent education and family support program. It is a voluntary program for parents with children from birth though age 5. PAT promotes parent involvement in learning from the very beginning of a child’s life and fosters optimal development of the young child. This free program covers child development; suggests activities that encourage language development, intellectual growth, and social and motor skills; and strengthens the parent-child relationship.

A number of independent studies show that children who participate in PAT are significantly advanced over their peers and that these early gains continue after the children enter elementary school.

For more information on the CPCS PAT program, contact Nancy Ferguson or Deanna Durland at (308) 872-6176.

Central Plains Community Services is not currently co-located with other agencies.

In August 1998 Central Plains was fortunate to be awarded the Preparation for Adult Living Services (PALS) contract from the Nebraska Health and Human Services System (NHHSS). This statewide contract allows staff the opportunity to work one-on-one with youth as they transition from foster care to independence. At any given time 340 youth across Nebraska receive this valuable service from 14 specially trained PALS Specialists.

This program provides services to help youth 16 and older who are in the State’s custody and living in foster care prepare for independence. A PALS Specialist works one-on-one with the youth to assess their strengths and abilities, as well as assist the youth in identifying their personal vision for their future. PALS is a way for youth, with help from those involved in their lives, to take the lead in setting the course of their future.

Eligible youth are referred by the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, are 16 years old, are in the State's custody and currently live in regular foster care, with a relative or are already living independently.

Funded through a grant from the Nebraska SPRING, this PAT program focuses on increasing parents' knowledge of and confidence in child rearing activities, such as teaching and nurturing their young children. Using a trained Certified Parent Educator, this program provides parents of children age birth to 3 with information on what to expect at each stage of their child's development. In addition, the Certified Parent Educator provides the parents with practical and timely learning opportunities that encourage their children's language and intellectual growth, and guidance in improving their children’s physical and social skills.

The goal of our "Early Intervention" workshops is to reduce the recidivism for the first and second time offender. These workshops offer participants the opportunity to develop better decision-making choices through a series of steps. This includes exploring values, behavior, personal responsibility, consequences of behavior, as well as drug and alcohol education. The program currently offers classes for offenders of alcohol, drugs, shoplifting/theft, curfew, and assault.

Since 1995 these classes have been offered monthly in Kearney, North Platte, Lexington, and Broken Bow. We currently have the following rehabilitation programs available:

Our belief is that parenting is one of the most difficult and rewarding jobs many people will ever have. Because of that belief Central Plains offers a variety of parenting classes. This "on the job" training provides parents the opportunity to increase their awareness, their skills and their support system. Classes include Active Parenting of 2 to 12 year olds; Active Parenting of Teens; Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (S.T.E.P.), SOS Help for Parents, Balancing Your Life; and Valuing Your Family.

This individualized program has as one of its major goals the desire to bring children out of poverty by helping their parents increase their opportunities for self-sufficiency and independence. By building on their strengths, participants assess their education, training, employment and support needs necessary to reach their goals.

Since 1995 Central Plains has contracted with Northeast Community College to provide job support services (now Employment First services) to O’Neill and Ainsworth customers of the NHHSS.

Staff from Central Plains are currently contracted with the Nebraska Health and Human Services System to train foster parents. This 21-hour preservice is mandatory for all licensed foster parents in Nebraska.