PC Care: Parent-Child Care
“Parenting is one of the hardest and most important jobs out there. Yet most of us step into it with little training or guidance.”
What is it?
PC CARE (Parent-Child Care), developed at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, is a short-term, evidence-based program designed to give parents and their child (ages 2-10) practical tools for navigating big feelings and challenging behaviors.
It’s also a great option for parents who simply want to move beyond traditional discipline and learn more nurturing, effective ways to connect with their kids. Compared to PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Training), PC CARE offers more than a dozen extra tools—but in a shorter and more flexible format, making it easier to fit into busy family life.
It’s all about strengthening the bond between parents and children while building skills that make daily life feel calmer, more connected, and more manageable. Working with our Certified PC Care therapist, Sarah Moyer, you will soon find yourself feeling more confident, capable, and supported as a parent.
How does it help?
Being a parent is one of the most rewarding roles—and also one of the hardest, especially when big feelings and daily struggles start to feel overwhelming.
With guided, hands-on, coaching Sarah helps families build closer, more positive relationships by creating more playful and loving moments between caregivers and children.
As kids learn to manage big feelings with their caregiver’s support, challenging behaviors begin to ease, and everyday life feels calmer. Caregivers also gain simple, effective tools that boost confidence, reduce stress, and make parenting feel more enjoyable and rewarding.
Is it right for my family?
The quick answer? Absolutely.
You don’t need a diagnosis to participate, all families are welcome. Whether you’re facing a specific concern or simply want to strengthen your relationship with your child, PC CARE can give you tools and support that make a difference.
Watch this brief video from UC Davis Medical Center to learn more.
How does it work?
Each week, you and your child will come together for a one-hour session over seven weeks. The first session is a quick check-in and observation, followed by six weeks of hands-on coaching and activities. During each session, Sarah will check in with you about how things have been going, review your child’s behaviors from the past week, and introduce a new skill in a short, easy-to-follow lesson.
The best part is the live coaching—Sarah will guide you for about 30 minutes while you practice the new skills with your child during playtime. At the end of each session, you’ll get a small “Daily CARE” assignment: just five minutes a day of fun, focused play with your child using the skills you learned, helping you build stronger connections every day.
Want even more information about how it works and the research that supports it?
Follow this link.
What kind of change can families expect with PC Care?
Meaningful progress can happen quickly with PC Care. Families who participate in PC CARE commonly experience:
Fewer behavior struggles: On average, children’s behavior problems decrease by about 30–40%
Lower parent stress: Caregivers report stress dropping by around 35–40%
More positive communication: Parents often double their use of encouraging, nurturing skills like praise, reflection, and active listening
Stronger connection and cooperation: Kids and parents feel more supported, understood, and able to work together
Better outcomes in foster care: Children show improved self-regulation, fewer trauma symptoms, and greater placement stability
Compared to longer programs, families in PC CARE were also about 2.5 times more likely to complete treatment, making it both effective and easier to fit into real life.
