Support Resources for Parents and Caregivers

Parents and caregivers of young children are tasked with ensuring that their children’s needs are met. The following resources are available for parenting help and support those individuals as they also work to take care of themselves.

Support Resources

For Parenting Help and Support

Jerimiah’s Place

Jerimiah’s Place provides families in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas with emergency child care for children ages zero to six completely free of charge. Children can stay at Jerimiah’s Place for a few hours or a few days based on the needs of each family. Because Jerimiah’s Place does not operate as a drop-in center, families must register for an intake appointment. For more information, visit the Jerimiah’s Place website or call 412.924.0726.

PA 211

If you need to connect with resources in your community but don’t know where to look, PA 211 is a great place to start. At the PA 211 website, you can get connected with services such as family/parent support groups, marriage counseling, education programs, and other assistance.

Allegheny County Family Centers

All 27 Allegheny County Family Centers offer activities kids, parents, and caregivers of all ages can take part in. Activities and various support services are free to parents and their children. Stay up-to-date with your local family center by visiting the Allegheny County Family Center website.

Single Mom Defined

Single Mom Defined is a safe space for single mothers to seek advice and support, share stories and resources, and build new friendships. This group is open to all current and former single moms, no matter their race, religion, or location. Women-leading organizations serving single mothers and families can connect moms to resources and information to help them thrive.

Single Mom Defined’s babysitting cooperative is open to mothers in Clairton, East Hills, Homewood (including Lincoln, Larimer, and Lemington), and the Hilltop (including Arlington, Beltzhoover, and Knoxville). 

Learn more at the Single Mom Defined website.

For Adoptive Parents

PA’s Statewide Adoption & Permanency Network (SWAN) 

The Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) is a partnership among the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange, public and private adoption agencies, organizations, advocates, judges, the legal community, and foster and adoptive parents. SWAN provides post-adoption services like case advocacy to help families access services, support groups, and planned breaks through respite care. Families self-refer to SWAN Post-Permanency Services by calling the SWAN Helpline at 1-800-585-7926. Learn more on the SWAN website.

For Kinship Caregivers

KinConnector

PA KinConnector provides guidance, advice, and support for grandparents raising grandchildren and other relative and non-relative Kinship Caregivers. Learn more on the KinConnector website or by calling 1-866-546-2111.

For Multigenerational Caregivers (Taking Care of Parents and Children)

Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program

The Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program, provided through the DHS Area Agency on Aging,  provides resources and assistance to individuals who assume the primary responsibility for the provision of care to encourage a healthy, ongoing relationship with their care receiver. The program aims to alleviate the stresses associated with caregiving by focusing on the well-being of the caregiver. Services include providing access to respite care, addressing the need for formal and informal support, and providing financial reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs associated with caregiving-related services and supplies. Learn more on the Allegheny County DHS website.