Impact Report #3: Empowering Parents and Caregivers Through Parent Cafés
In the third of our Impact Reports, generated by research consultant Lija Greenseid, we reflect on the impact of Alcohol and Drug Services of Guilford, which received a two-year grant to implement and pilot the Be Strong Families – Parent Café Program. Partnering with Operation Xcel, which provided staffing for the kids’ room, and High Point Children’s Library, which donated guest passes for families, ADS launched and hosted nine Cafés serving 36 families in its first year.
The Parent Café Model is founded on the ‘Strengthening Families Protective Factors’ framework developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy. Focused on achieving racial, economic, and social justice, the Center works to ensure all children and families thrive through evidence-based policies and community support. The Parent Café model is designed to be a “solution-oriented, strength-based parent-to-parent approach,” teaching parents and caregivers tools that they can use to facilitate transformation and resilience within their families and to build a network of social and community relationships.
At Parent Cafés, certified parent facilitators lead table discussions about five protective factors: Parental Resilience; Social Connections; Concrete Support in Times of Need; Parenting and Child Development; and Social and Emotional Competence of Children. Collectively, the five factors speak to the capacity of parents and other caregivers to overcome difficulties through supportive communities, like the Parent Café.
Between October 2024 and June 2025, nine Cafés were hosted by ADS staff and community members. By the end of the first year, 36 families participated in one or more Cafés with 28 to 32 participants per session during the Cafés held in the Spring of 2025.
Feedback collected from Café participants was overwhelmingly positive, with over 80% of parents reporting that they felt that their parenting strategies and understanding of developmental milestones had improved and 86% stating that their stress levels decreased since joining the program. Sage Chioma, ADS Prevention Project Coordinator, highlights the importance and benefits of coming together with others in a distraction-free environment. The connections they develop with other parents who are going through similar parenting help relieve parental stress. As staff shared, even just getting out of their houses, not having to plan, cook, and clean up a meal, and spending time with other adults while their children are engaged in fun and educational programs is a stress relief.
Click here to learn more about the impact ADS is having, as well as other Stories of Impact from current and previous grantees.