April 14, 2010
Three Cabell, Wayne Child Care Centers Honored by Cabell County Family Resource Network
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Huntington, WV (HNN) - In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Week of the Young Child (April 11-17), the Cabell County Family Resource Network recognizes three Cabell and Wayne County child care centers that have served as West Virginia’s pilot sites in an innovative child abuse prevention effort.
“Strengthening Families” is a national research-based program that recognizes the important role that early care and education programs play in preventing child maltreatment, by helping build resiliency, parenting skills, social connections and resources for every family. The Playmates Child Development Centers in Huntington, Kenova and Lavalette have spent more than two years as Strengthening Families pilot sites conducting self-assessments and building new activities and practices into their programs.
The results have been satisfying—and surprising, according to the center directors, staff and family representatives. All agreed that it has been the simple things that have helped teachers, staff and families form a supportive community.
According to all the site directors, one of their most successful changes was a seemingly small thing—a pot of hot coffee, made available in a specially-designed area for families dropping off or picking up their children. Instead of the usual drive-through on the way to work, parents and grandparents discovered free coffee-to-go, plus a valuable moment to connect each day with teachers and other families at their child’s center.
Other low-cost to no-cost changes were gradually added into each center’s regular routine, including free internet access for parents, a children’s clothing exchange, and special activities for dads and grandparents. Soon the remaining Playmates sites got in on the act, as the centers began sharing and building upon their Strengthening Families brainstorms.
“I love being able to have that connection and build those relationships with our families,” said Amanda Perdue of Kenova Playmates. “Everybody relies on each other and depends on each other, and the families feel like they’re a part of something, and we need them. Kandie Harrison had a box of children’s outgrown shoes in her family area (at the Bison Playmates Center) that said, ‘free to a good home.’ Families really get into helping each other, and feeling like if we do have a child with special needs or certain situations, they want to help. Once you have that relationship and connection and that community sense there, then they trust us and feel like we can handle those types of situations.”
Through the Strengthening Families approach, the Cabell/Wayne pilot sites were able to make the most of resources available through their partnership in the United Way of the River Cities’ Success by 6® Brain Under Construction ZoneSM program. This has helped the sites further increase awareness of the impact of the first years of a child’s life in every area of development, and information for raising a healthy child. The United Way Success by 6® program seeks to ensure that all children in the River Cities will be ready physically, mentally, developmentally, emotionally and socially to begin kindergarten.
Research shows that these types of activities reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect by providing parents with what they need to parent effectively, even under stress. By building relationships with families, early care programs can recognize signs of stress and provide families with timely, effective help before a crisis occurs.
In the coming weeks, the pilot site staff will share insights, tips and lessons learned with other early care and education programs, through free Strengthening Families learning opportunities, according to project coordinator Debra Harris-Bowyer of the Cabell County Family Resource Network.
The Strengthening Families project is funded through an innovation grant of Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia, a chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America and a project of TEAM for West Virginia Children, a Huntington-based nonprofit organization and recognized leader in local child abuse prevention programs. Funding is provided through the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, and the WV Children’s Trust Fund.
For more information, call 304-697-0255.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
Three Cabell, Wayne Child Care Centers Honored by Cabell County Family Resource Network
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Huntington, WV (HNN) - In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Week of the Young Child (April 11-17), the Cabell County Family Resource Network recognizes three Cabell and Wayne County child care centers that have served as West Virginia’s pilot sites in an innovative child abuse prevention effort.
“Strengthening Families” is a national research-based program that recognizes the important role that early care and education programs play in preventing child maltreatment, by helping build resiliency, parenting skills, social connections and resources for every family. The Playmates Child Development Centers in Huntington, Kenova and Lavalette have spent more than two years as Strengthening Families pilot sites conducting self-assessments and building new activities and practices into their programs.
The results have been satisfying—and surprising, according to the center directors, staff and family representatives. All agreed that it has been the simple things that have helped teachers, staff and families form a supportive community.
According to all the site directors, one of their most successful changes was a seemingly small thing—a pot of hot coffee, made available in a specially-designed area for families dropping off or picking up their children. Instead of the usual drive-through on the way to work, parents and grandparents discovered free coffee-to-go, plus a valuable moment to connect each day with teachers and other families at their child’s center.
Other low-cost to no-cost changes were gradually added into each center’s regular routine, including free internet access for parents, a children’s clothing exchange, and special activities for dads and grandparents. Soon the remaining Playmates sites got in on the act, as the centers began sharing and building upon their Strengthening Families brainstorms.
“I love being able to have that connection and build those relationships with our families,” said Amanda Perdue of Kenova Playmates. “Everybody relies on each other and depends on each other, and the families feel like they’re a part of something, and we need them. Kandie Harrison had a box of children’s outgrown shoes in her family area (at the Bison Playmates Center) that said, ‘free to a good home.’ Families really get into helping each other, and feeling like if we do have a child with special needs or certain situations, they want to help. Once you have that relationship and connection and that community sense there, then they trust us and feel like we can handle those types of situations.”
Through the Strengthening Families approach, the Cabell/Wayne pilot sites were able to make the most of resources available through their partnership in the United Way of the River Cities’ Success by 6® Brain Under Construction ZoneSM program. This has helped the sites further increase awareness of the impact of the first years of a child’s life in every area of development, and information for raising a healthy child. The United Way Success by 6® program seeks to ensure that all children in the River Cities will be ready physically, mentally, developmentally, emotionally and socially to begin kindergarten.
Research shows that these types of activities reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect by providing parents with what they need to parent effectively, even under stress. By building relationships with families, early care programs can recognize signs of stress and provide families with timely, effective help before a crisis occurs.
In the coming weeks, the pilot site staff will share insights, tips and lessons learned with other early care and education programs, through free Strengthening Families learning opportunities, according to project coordinator Debra Harris-Bowyer of the Cabell County Family Resource Network.
The Strengthening Families project is funded through an innovation grant of Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia, a chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America and a project of TEAM for West Virginia Children, a Huntington-based nonprofit organization and recognized leader in local child abuse prevention programs. Funding is provided through the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, and the WV Children’s Trust Fund.
For more information, call 304-697-0255.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
