Celebrating the Parent Empowerment Program

Since 2019, YWCA Lancaster has had the honor of partnering with Lancaster County's Children and Youth Services to provide court-mandated support to parents looking to reunite with their children. Through budget shortfalls, a global pandemic and the structural inequities it exacerbated and more, the dedicated professionals of the Parent Empowerment Program continued to go the extra mile for their clients: following the person-centered care that is vital to ensuring all families can thrive. Throughout its time here, the Parent Empowerment Program has supported more than 500 families in their journey towards remaining intact or being reunited. In the previous year alone, 73 families successfully completed the court-mandated program.Late last month, YWCA Lancaster learned that the contract for this program has been awarded to another agency moving forward. We are deeply saddened to lose these committed team members, and the decision is no reflection on the quality of work and care that they have provided through their time at YWCA Lancaster. We are working closely with the new agency to ensure that above all, the experience for clients remains uninterrupted and they experience as little uncertainty and confusion as possible.Mission forwardSince its founding in 1889, YWCA Lancaster has served women, children, and families across Lancaster County. Through generations of social change and progress, we have remained steadfast in responding to emergent community needs, from providing affordable, safe housing, to quality childcare, to the work of helping families stay intact. Our work will continue, as our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women is more important than ever. We are grateful for the community's trust in this work, for the Parent Empowerment Program team, and for your continued dedication to building a just future in Lancaster County and beyond.