Why Quality Parenting Centers Matter: Supporting Families Through Connection and Care

When a child is removed from their home due to safety concerns, it marks a difficult chapter in that family’s story. It’s a time of uncertainty, emotional upheaval, and, often, deep grief. But it can also be a time of hope, growth, and healing—especially when the right supports are in place.

That’s where Quality Parenting Centers (QPCs) come in.

QPCs are designed for families with children—primarily from birth through age 12 and their older siblings—who are involved in the child welfare system and are referred though the Department of Children and Families (DCF). These centers provide a safe, supportive, and home-like setting for family time to occur under close supervision. Whether the long-term plan is reunification, guardianship, or adoption, the goal is the same: to preserve and strengthen the bond between parent and child during a difficult time

A Different Kind of Family Time

Unlike traditional visitation settings, which can feel sterile or stressful, QPCs are intentionally welcoming. They offer parents a chance to do the everyday things that build connection: playing, reading together, cooking a meal, helping with homework. These seemingly small moments are the foundation of trust and attachment—and that matters more than ever when families are apart.

Importantly, QPCs aren’t just about providing space. They provide structure, support, and coaching to help parents build their skills and confidence. Staff are present not only to ensure safety, but to offer encouragement and observe progress.

The Positive Ripple Effect

The benefits of Quality Parenting Centers extend far beyond the visit itself. Research has shown that when parents participate in structured parenting programs like these, children often experience:

• Better behavior, including more empathy and fewer outbursts
• Stronger emotional development and better self-regulation
• Improved language and cognitive skills
• A deeper sense of security and belonging
• Even gains in school performance thanks to greater consistency and support

Parents, too, experience powerful shifts. With guidance and access to resources, they often report feeling more confident in their parenting, less overwhelmed by stress, and more hopeful about their family’s future. For many, the QPC becomes a lifeline—a place not just to visit their children, but to actively rebuild their relationship with them.

 A Win for Families and Communities

Quality Parenting Centers don’t just serve individual families—they strengthen the entire child welfare system. By promoting safe, meaningful family contact and supporting the path to permanency, these programs can help reduce the time children spend in foster care and improve long-term outcomes. When families are empowered to heal and grow together, entire communities benefit.

Waterford Country School’s QPC Program

Every child deserves connection. Every parent deserves a chance to show up, learn, and grow. And every family navigating the child welfare system deserves support that’s rooted in dignity, empathy, and hope.

WCS’s  Quality Parenting Centers in our two locations in Connecticut (Quaker Hill and North Windham) do exactly that. They remind us that even in the toughest moments, relationships can be mended—and families can move forward, together.

Want to help? WCS’s QPC program has a wish-list on Amazon. Please check it out at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2HYNX53JISVPZ?type=wishlist.