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PTI Nebraska (Parent Training Institute) in Omaha provides training and information to families whose children receive or need special education services. Contact the Center at (402) 346-0525 or visit their website at www.pti-nebraska.org.

For a listing of Licensed Child Care Providers in Platte County, stop by the Columbus Nebraska Health & Human Services Office at 2365 39^th Avenue or call 564-1113.

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• The following organizations provide parenting classes or workshops in Columbus.

  The Youth for Christ, Teen Moms program provides outreach to teenage mothers. Adults mentors are matched with each teen and help them to walk from social service dependency to self-sufficiency.  The mentors strive to be a positive influence in the teen mothers' lives and help them develop good parenting and relationship skills.  The Young Dads program believes every young father needs to know that he was created with value and worth, and that God wants his life to count.  The guys meet twice a month to shoot pool, play ping-pong, enjoy snacks or pizza and just talk about:  Life; Responsibilities; School & Jobs; Healthy Relationships & Priorities.  You can contact either of these programs at 564-3700.

   

  Central Nebraska Community Services (CNCS) provides the following programs to families who qualify for their services.

  • Early Head Start promotes family strengths by recognizing individual values and helps parents to better understand their child's stages of development.  A family resource program to support parents in educating and nurturing their children is also provided. Contact the program at 564-1124.
  • Head Start promotes children's physical, social emotional and cognitive development while assisting the entire family in their efforts to reach economic self-sufficiency. It also promotes family strengths by recognizing individual values, encouraging teamwork and creating links in the communities.  Contact the program at 564-1124.
  • Even Start program is a combined effort of CNCS, Platte Valley Literacy and Columbus Public Schools to offer child, adult and parenting education as well as health and social service delivery to families with children ages birth to 8.  Families will receive quality services from the four categories:  Adult Education, Child Education, Parent and Child Together Time and Home Visiting Services. Contact the program at 564-1124.

   

  Columbus Collaborative Team (CCT) offers "Family Nights" for anyone who wants to learn more about parenting. They are sponsored by CCT's Children & Families committee and are monthly events during the school year that offer families a free meal as well as a parenting workshop.  Free childcare is also offered during the workshop.  The Committee partners with local churches and organizations to host the events.  For a current calendar of Family Nights, go to the "Calendar" page on this website.

   

  The University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension sponsors education and supports parents in divorce situations and their children with Parents Forever and Kids Talk About Divorce (KTAD).  Parents Forever is an educational workshop for parents who are divorced, who are in the process of divorce, or who are interested in custody modification.  The program will help parents understand the impact of the divorce on their children and provide concrete actions that parents can take to help their children succeed through a divorce.  Depending on the location, the fee for the six-hour workshop is $30 or $35.

  Kid Talk About Divorce (KTAD) is an educational program for children ages 6-18 experiencing divorce.  It is offered at the same time as Parents Forever and is free of charge.

  Columbus does not currently have Parents Forever/KTAD program operating, but other local communities do provide it.  The contact information for those locations is:

  • Seward:  Call Cooperative Extension office at (402) 643-2981
  • Norfolk:  Call Myrna Dubois at (402) 439-2231 or email mdubois1@unl.edu
  • Fremont: Call Cooperative Extension at (402) 727-2775 or email dodge-county@unl.edu 

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The Arc of Platte County sponsors the Parents for Parents program which provides one on one support to families of children with developmental disabilities by sharing information on disability and community resources.  Contact the Arc at 563-1699.

Compassionate Friends provides support for anyone who has lost a child.  For more information, call 564-4337.

The Parent to Parent Network is a non-profit parent-run organization that serves families in 22 Nebraska counties. This group of parents are raising children with developmental disabilities including behavioral, emotional or mental health challenges.  They work to strengthen families by providing access to resources, support, advocacy and education.  Local chapters of the Network meet monthly.  For more information, call toll-free at 877-379-9926.