Kids On the Block Presentations
Deborah Smith, Community Educator with
MEOC Children’s Services, has completed four child sexual abuse
prevention/education presentations in Lee, Scott, and Wise counties. Large child
puppets are used to present material to participants, especially children in a
non-threatening manner. Deborah is available to conduct the presentations to
groups of parents and children. You may contact Deborah at MEOC, 276-523-4202.
Picnics with KinCare Families
Summer
vacation means lots of things to different people, but for KinCare grandparent
groups it means a time to attend summer picnics and have fun. Instead of the
traditional meeting during the rest of the year, summer offers an opportunity
for grandparents to get the kids outside and enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch.
Three picnics were held in the area and included sandwiches, snacks, and fun
activities for the families. For information about grandparent groups please
contact Deborah Smith at MEOC, 276-523-4202.
Children's
Services staff at Kid's Day at the Fair event, distributing information about
Healthy Families, KinCare, Children's Advocacy Center and child abuse
prevention. In addition to the information booth, the group also provided a free
game for kids and prizes.
Pictured are Children’s Services Director Janie Dockery and Family
Resource Specialist/Support Worker Phyllis Buchanan.
MEOC Staff Attend Brookdale Conference
MEOC Family Service and Children’s
Services staff members attended the annual Brookdale Conference, provided by the
Brookdale Foundation, which was held in Denver, Colorado in June. Julia Dillion,
MEOC Director of Family Support Services; Karen Gusler, KinCare Director; Janie
Dockery, Director of Children’s Services; and Deborah Smith, Children’s
Services Community Educator attended the national conference. The opening
plenary session was entitled “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Relatives As
Parents” conducted by the author LeAnn Thieman. The weekend conference was
jam-packed with wonderful workshops and networking opportunities, not to mention
all the helpful information available and ideas shared. Workshops included
topics covering facilitating support groups, educating caregivers about their
legal options, getting health and mental health services, resources on the web,
providing caregiver respite, successful collaborations, and much more. There
were opportunities to have books signed by the opening speaker, author, LeAnn
Thieman and also by Linda Silvas, author of “Mama Bear, Baby Bear”, a
kinship caregiver’s story. The conference is a wonderful opportunity to learn
from others and to share experiences gained through Relatives As Parents
Programs.
Healthy Families Workshop
Healthy Families held its Parent Workshop
at MEOC on July 11th. Deborah
Smith (Children’s Services), and Maggie Christian (Healthy Families)
facilitated the workshop. The topic for the workshop was “Changing Chaos To
Calm” with information provided to assist parents in creating and maintaining
a home environment that creates calm. By utilizing time and space, parents
learned that they could keep their home safe and comfortable and avoid some
chaotic situations. Parents also learned how to create a book with their child
using stencils and colored paper (provided). Lunch was provided to parents and
children as a wrap-up of the workshop.
Healthy Parents Phone Book
The new Healthy Parents Phone Book is
available for distribution. The phone books are filled with helpful numbers for
new parents and others. The Regional Adult Education Program sponsored this
year’s printing. Each year sponsors are sought from community agencies to
cover the cost of printing. The back page ad features the sponsor for the year.
Copies of the phone book are provided through the Healthy Families for Southwest
Virginia program and are also given to many agencies for distribution to
families they serve. For information about the phone books, please contact Janie
Dockery at MEOC, 276-523-4202.
NCA net Videoconferences
The Southwest Virginia Children’s
Advocacy Center has received a grant from the Southern Regional Children’s
Advocacy Center to continue to participate in monthly videoconferences. The
focus for the center this year is forensic interview peer review. The
videoconferences link the CAC with other CAC’s across the nation. Each month a
different CAC presents a case for discussion. The Southwest Virginia CAC
provided the case presentation for June. This offers the interviewer and the
center staff feedback from other CAC staff across the nation.
In addition to the peer review calls, education calls are offered
periodically. The education calls include national experts in the child abuse
field and offer local agency providers with an opportunity to participate in
live training via videoconference. Notices will be sent to local agency
providers and for information regarding NCA net training please call Janie
Dockery @ 276-5823-4202.
Upgrade to CAC Equipment
Interview equipment used to record
forensic interviews at the Children’s Advocacy Center has been upgraded as a
result of receiving a National Children’s Alliance Equipment Grant.
The upgrade includes a new computer with extended storage capability; DVD
recorder; new in-room camera with additional zoom and pan capabilities through
remote control; and video software. The wireless microphone and receiver for the
new system were purchased through a grant from the Episcopal Diocese of
Southwestern Virginia Outreach Fund. The new equipment provides for better
quality recordings available on DVD and replaces older equipment that generated
VHS tapes.
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