What does it take for a nonprofit agency to stay in business for 40 years?

First, it must meet an ongoing community need.

Then it takes the dedication and commitment of employees and volunteers, and, of course, it also takes money.

PARENTS Inc. will celebrate 40 years of helping to strengthen families and stopping child abuse and neglect with a birthday bash on Thursday.

There is no job more challenging than raising a child to become a healthy, happy, contributing member of society. Some parents need support and education to help them do so.

PARENTS Inc. was started in 1975 as Parents Anonymous of Hawaii by volunteer social workers, five years after the national Parents Anonymous support group was founded by a 29-year-old single mother struggling with raising her two children, and her social worker.

They realized that they, like many parents, needed help and support because they were afraid they might abuse their children.

A $4,000 grant from the national organization in 1982 enabled the hiring of an executive director, and by 1992, our Hawaii group had statewide programs, thanks to donations and additional grants.

When Kauai was devastated by Hurricane Iniki in 1993, for example, the agency helped get 13,000 toys donated and distributed to that island’s children so they could have a Christmas.

In 1995, the agency ended its affiliation with the national Parents Anonymous organization and changed its name to PARENTS, Inc., an acronym for Providing Awareness, Referrals, Education, Nurturing, Therapy and Support.

Over the years, locations and programs have changed because of changing community needs and funding, but one thing has remained constant: the agency has always partnered with parents to provide them with support and education to enhance parenting knowledge and skills so that their children may flourish and their families can thrive.

The state of Hawaii receives more than 2,000 reports of child abuse and neglect each year, and more than 36 percent are confirmed.

Last year, 3,401 parents and children benefited from PARENTS programs on Oahu and Hawaii island. Many of these families were involved with state Child Welfare Services for child abuse or neglect issues.

Does this program make a difference in people’s lives?

Here’s what Jamie Rodrigues, who completed our 16-week parenting education program, has to say:

“PARENTS, Inc. has been really supportive to me. It helped me to know that my children weren’t just a responsibility, that they were gifts, and it was a gift to be a parent.

“I realize that it was a blessing to be able to contribute to someone else’s life other than my own. I walked away from PARENTS, Inc. knowing that with this information and this newfound perspective that I had been given, through their curriculum, that we had a chance; my children had a chance, of being somebody one day.

“Had I not been a part of PARENTS, Inc., I would have never known that there were other choices.”

PARENTS Inc.’s 40th birthday bash will be held Thursday at Dole Cannery Square; for more information about the event or group, see hawaiiparents.org.