B AC K TO S CH O OL “Someone may need to talk, but it’s not an emergency. They are simply needing support or education.” Since PAL began 15 years ago, the team has answered almost 15,000 calls, but the idea has continued to evolve as technology has. Eventually, a website was added to the mix, allowing anyone to search the website for information. Last year, PAL added a subscription text service thanks to a partnership with Bright By Text and grand funds from the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Department of Human Resources.
Everyone Needs a PAL
The text platform, which is available in both English and Spanish, allows for PAL to provide information to a parent or caregivers specifically related to their child’s age. It also allows PAL to share information related to events going on in the recipient’s community that they may want to know about. “We usually send out two or three texts a week,” Kendrick says. “We try not to bombard parents with too much information.” Content may be developmentally appropriate information about what their child may be experiencing, ideas for activities they could engage in, or it could be something related to a free event coming up.”
A bonus for parents or caregivers utilizing the text platform is that they will not only receive helpful information they may not see otherwise, but it’s being screened by knowledgeable childhood advocates. “The inforThe Parenting Assistance Line is here to help mation you get through this service is evidence based and from people who are reputable and known in the early childhood field for being By Paige Townley advocates,” Kendrick says. “Anyone can get overwhelmed when searching for something online and trying to sort through the hundreds of thousands of hits, and it’s hard to know what to trust. Besides working with a trusted If there’s anything that all parents would agree on, it’s that parenting is organization, we have degreed specialists working on this on our end. We hard. It doesn’t come with a handbook, though most would say it would strive to be a place that families can turn to and trust, not just for crisis but be incredibly helpful. in seeking to improve their parenting.” The stress of the school year doesn’t help. And whether you have a An element of the platform that Kendrick particularly appreciates is that new job, have lost a job, your child is starting a new school, new activity, they can personalize the message based on the recipient’s area. Texts can or maybe even your family structure has changed, stress has its way of be personalized to the point that messages can be sent as specific as by slipping in. county or region, which can help connect parents to their local community Growing Independence through various events. “It’s important to us to connect families to their There are many, however, that are doing what they can to help ease the communities, and one way to do that is making Behavioral Services sure they know what is difficulty where possible, in particular the Child Development Resources going on in their local community,” she says. CLINIC LOCATIONS at the University of Alabama’s College of Human Environmental Sciences. Birmingham • Anniston • Montgomery • Mobile Knowing that all parents need some sort of help or guidance at some point Parents can simply sign up for the text service, which is a free subscripor another, they established the Parenting Assistance Line (PAL). tion (other than charges that may be incurred through their cellular provider for receiving texts and using data). “We’re really excited about this offering Founded in March 2007, PAL is a free, confidential statewide phone and how it can help us help parents and caregivers by providing them with line that parents can call, whether it be when trying to manage a difficult information that is sound,” Kendrick says. “It’s another way that we are problem or simply to find some resources on a particular topic. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) assessment working to be an all-around resource that families canforturn to.”and school-aged and treatment preschool “The concept behind it was to simply provide an outlet that parents could utilize for assistance, such as access information about children’s development, to talk with someone about any concerns they may have regarding their child, or to get resources and referral information for things that may be available to them in their community,” explains April Kendrick, Ph.D., ECMH-E child development resources director. “There’s a wide range of things we try to provide for parents.” The help, however, is available to well beyond just parents. It’s for grandparents, relatives, friends, neighbors, and other caregivers as well – anyone who may need a few more tools and resources to be more confident and successful caregivers. “We know parenting is tough, and we could all use some support,” Kendrick says. “This is a way we try to provide information to families that they might be looking for.” Information ranges from calls looking for some guidance on typical parenting issues such as potty training, sleeping, or feeding issues, or it could be more serious such as help on the topics like bullying and behavioral disorders. “That’s the purpose of a warm line like PAL,” Kendrick adds. 24 | Birmingham Parent | July-August 2022
children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
• Licensed Behavior Analysts Paige Townley is a Birmingham freelance writer.
• Private pay patients accepted and many health insurance plans.
Growing Independence Growing Independence Behavioral Services
growingindependence@learning-tree.org
Behavioral Services
CLINIC LOCATIONS
, Inc.
(334) 252-0025 CLINIC LOCATIONS Birmingham • Anniston • Montgomery • Mobile www.learning-tree.org
Birmingham • Anniston • Montgomery • Mobile
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) assessment and treatment for preschool and school-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ABA) (ASD). assessment Applied Behavior Analysis
• Licensed Behavior Analysts and treatment for preschool and school-aged
