Spotlight on Laura Gamble, Our Executive Director

Laura Gamble is the Executive Director at Parents Assistance Center. She worked with The Education and Employment Ministry for 4 years before joining PAC. Before TEEM, she worked with Positive Tomorrows for nearly 3 years. There she met PAC’s former Executive Director, Char Carter.

Laura began a career as a special event coordinator in St. Louis and sold broadcast advertising. She felt “burnt out” after a while and did not want to do special events, but found helping people clicked with her. She began working with nonprofit organizations soon after this discovery.

In college, she wanted to be a veterinarian, but did not like the work. She attended Oklahoma State University before she began working. She later acquired a degree in Business Administration through online courses. She also went to an intense weeklong fundraising course at the University of Indiana’s School for Philanthropy.

Although it can be difficult sometimes, Laura likes her work. Helping people and using her administrative gifts are the most fun things about her work, she says. Every day at PAC presents a new challenge and a new opportunity to help others.

Parents Assistance Center (PAC) has been serving the Oklahoma City community since 1976 with educational and therapeutic services for families that need better parenting skills.  Our mission is to prevent child abuse, neglect and other family violence by strengthening the family.  The services offered by Parents Assistance Center are not offered anywhere else in the Metro.  Parents can change the future for themselves and their children by attending group workshops and obtaining other services at PAC.

For more information on Parents Assistance Center, please visit http://pacok.org/

Spotlight on Gayla Westbrook, Our Program Director

Gayla Westbrook is the Program Director at Parents Assistance Center. She has worked here since 2003. She began as a facilitator for our Parenting Skills Class before she eventually became a permanent employee. In 2006, she began working here full-time. She has served in her current position for about two and a half years.

Gayla describes herself as wearing “a lot of hats.” She oversees 18 Parenting Skills Classes and Compassion Workshops. She supervises the PCIT Program and Access and Visitation. She also coordinates quarterly in-services and reviews cases files. In addition, she performs some administrative duties, such as putting together quarterly and annual reports.

Gayla began her education at Oklahoma Baptist University pursuing a business degree. After a year, she realized that she wanted to pursue her life-long passion of helping families. She later pursued her Graduate degree at Oklahoma Christian University. She worked with Northcare from 1993-1998 and then worked with foster children with developmental disabilities from 1999-2000.

When asked about what she likes most about PAC, Gayla said she likes knowing she is making a difference to families. She loves it when a light bulb goes on in parents’ heads and they realize they have been better to their children. 

Parents Assistance Center (PAC) has been serving the Oklahoma City community since 1976 with educational and therapeutic services for families that need better parenting skills.  Our mission is to prevent child abuse, neglect and other family violence by strengthening the family.  The services offered by Parents Assistance Center are not offered anywhere else in the Metro.  Parents can change the future for themselves and their children by attending group workshops and obtaining other services at PAC.

For more information on Parents Assistance Center, please visit http://pacok.org/

Spotlight on Susan Stewart, Our Logan County Manager

Susan Stewart is the manager of Logan County at Parents Assistance Center. She coordinates DHS and the court system. In addition, she creates a sustainable client stream to our Logan County programs. She also builds and maintains relationships with different organizations, such as the DHS. She serves as the only certified domestic and sexual violence professional at PAC.

Susan received her Bachelor’s from the University of Oklahoma in Sociology and Journalism, a Master’s of Education Curriculum. For 15 years, she worked in public education. She worked in private industry for 13 years. After the Oklahoma City Murrah Bombing, she began to work with the victims of crimes. She worked at the YWCA as the Director of Volunteers and Outreach before joining PAC in 2007.

Parents Assistance Center (PAC) has been serving the Oklahoma City community since 1976 with educational and therapeutic services for families that need better parenting skills.  Our mission is to prevent child abuse, neglect and other family violence by strengthening the family.  The services offered by Parents Assistance Center are not offered anywhere else in the Metro.  Parents can change the future for themselves and their children by attending group workshops and obtaining other services at PAC.

For more information on Parents Assistance Center, please visit http://pacok.org/

How You Can Donate Without Spending Money

With the economy on everyone’s minds, charitable donations are a little more difficult to come by than before. Nearly 70 percent of Americans report they are now less likely to donate to charities. Despite the tough economy, you can still find ways to donate to Parents Assistance Center without spending money.

Redeem unused Credit Card Points

Both American Express and Citi Card have programs that will allow you to donate your unused credit card points to Parents Assistance Center. For every 1,000 points you redeem at American Express, 10 dollars will go to Parents Assistance Center. Citi Card will let you transfer points directly to PAC through their Thank You program.

Donate Airline and Hotel Miles

Although airlines and hotels do not have programs that allow you to donate your miles, you can use your frequent flyer miles to purchase gifts and office items for others. Even small items such as pens and paper would be a great help to Parents Assistance Center this year.

Use GoodDining at GoodSearch.com

Over 10,000 locations in the United States participate in the GoodDining program. Simply register your credit or debit card on the GoodDining website and eat at a participating location. Up to 6 percent of the money you spend will go to Parents Assistance Center at no additional cost.

Remember you can always help your community, even during tough economic times. Redeeming unused credit card points, donating airline miles and using GoodDining are all easy ways to help PAC without spending money. Every little donation you make will help families in the Metro.

Parents Assistance Center (PAC) has been serving the Oklahoma City community since 1976 with educational and therapeutic services for families that need better parenting skills. Our mission is to prevent child abuse, neglect and other family violence by strengthening the family. The services offered by Parents Assistance Center are not offered anywhere else in the Metro. Parents can change the future for themselves and their children by attending group workshops and obtaining other services at PAC.

For more information on Parents Assistance Center, please visit http://pacok.org/ 

Ways You Can Serve Your Community at Parents Assistance Center

At Parents Assistance Center, our mission is to prevent child abuse, neglect, and other family violence. We use parenting skills classes and compassion workshops to teach parents to be better parents. Our work is only possible, however, with help from volunteers like you. Here are some ways you can help us help the community.

Childcare Volunteer
Serve as a childcare volunteer, and take care of children whose parents are attending group sessions at Parents Assistance Center. You must be 18 or older to take care of children alone. We also prefer a 3-month commitment from volunteers in this position. 

Groundskeeper
Once a month parking lot clean up. We have leaves, mud and trash that creep into our parking lot. This is a much-needed volunteer position! Evening, weekend, and weekday hours are available.

Clerical Assistant
File paperwork, make copies of materials, answer phone calls, and assist the on duty clerical worker in other related work.

Fundraising and PR
Assist with fundraising and public relations activities. Write press releases, craft newsletters, create flyers and assist with special events.

Handyperson
Help replace light fixtures, ceiling tiles, fix broken hinges, or anything else that needs fixing.

For just a few hours out of your month, you can help Parents Assistance Center end domestic violence in families. Every contribution you make will help us operate more effectively, so we can help parents become better parents. 

Parents Assistance Center (PAC) has been serving the Oklahoma City community since 1976 with educational and therapeutic services for families that need better parenting skills.  Our mission is to prevent child abuse, neglect and other family violence by strengthening the family.  The services offered by Parents Assistance Center are not offered anywhere else in the Metro.  Parents can change the future for themselves and their children by attending group workshops and obtaining other services at PAC.

If you would like to volunteer, email our Volunteer Coordinator Jessa Olson at jolson@pacemail.org or call her at 405-232-8226

For more information on Parents Assistance Center, visit http://pacok.org/