CARA House

CARA House programs provide families with the resources and guidance necessary to develop and enhance strong, healthy families that are equipped to raise children into confident and productive adults.

The CARA House, founded in 1997, is a community-based, collaborative, therapeutic parenting education center in Ward 7 of the District of Columbia. CARA House programs help families avoid unnecessary involvement in the child welfare system by promoting family permanency and child safety. The staff provides concrete resources and raises community standards for parenting. The KinNet and Nurturing Parent Program support relatives and neighbors in assisting vulnerable families at risk of being separated from their children.

Program Components:

• The Resource Exchange Program (REP) assists families with emergency needs including clothing, food, household items, cribs, strollers, formula, baby food, and school supplies. All goods and in-kind donations come from the community.
• Community Parent Advocates and Mentors are trained to promote effective parenting behaviors. These community volunteers also disseminate appropriate and culturally-relevant parenting and family service information, verbally and through literature, to adults and children.
• The DCPS Parent Resource Center (PRC) provides workshops, training, and other learning opportunities for parents so that they can become strong advocates for their children and support them in their educational journey.
• The Men-In-Motion Male Support Group helps fathers explore the importance of emotional support and learn to role model responsible adult behavior for their children.
• The KinNet Program is a support group for great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives who are raising children. Throughout the year, group members go on outings and enjoy presentations from guest speakers.
• The Nurturing Parent Program provides both individual and group parenting education. A Parent Educator facilitates a 9-week parenting education class to reinforce parental strengths, provide information on effective approaches to supporting and disciplining children, create peer supports and opportunities, and identify threats and assaults on healthy child development.