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News & Updates Week of September 6, 2010
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WELCOME to the new format for the East Arlington Family Support Center's Weekly Updates. Do you have any information you would like to see included in this newsletter? Send your information to familysupport@achservices.org to see it included in the next newsletter!
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Calendar...
 THE CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER IS NOW AVAILABLE. Click here to download a copy.
Do you know any children being raised by grandparents, relatives, or friends? The East Arlington Family Support Center is reaching out to all kinship families that are interested in coming together to support each other. We will offer a safe and comfortable environment, food, childcare, speakers, classes, and many other resources. Please contact 817-277-3050 or email familysupport@achservices.org to express your interest or refer a family.
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Community Events and Resources...
Ecofest Arlington is offering a free, four-class series designed to help individuals "grow, find, choose, and prepare" healthy food for a more healthy lifestyle. The classes take place on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at Arlington City Hall Council Chambers, 101 W. Abram St. For more information on the classes and how to register, go to www.ecofestarlington.com.
The City of Arlington is giving out free toilets to help Arlington residents use water more efficiently. A total of 500 toilets will be provided to pre-qualified Arlington residents that still have an older, high water use toilet and a good standing account with Arlington Water Utilities. For more information, go to www.savearlingtonwater.com.
Our Community, Our Kids is hosting their Kick-Off Breakfast on September 30, 2010 from 8am-10am. The keynote speaker will be Oscar "Ossco" Bolton, a former gang leader. The Breakfast will take place at the Mac Bernd Professional Development Center at 1111 W. Arbook Blvd., Arlington, TX 76015. For more information or to register, call Arlington Parks & Recreation at 817-459-5488.
Make your reservation for the Second Annual Community Prayer Breakfast, sponsored by the YMCA of Arlington. The breakfast will be held on Wednesday, September 15 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Central Branch YMCA, 2200 S. Davis Dr., Arlington. The cost is $10.00. Please RSVP to Shawanna Brooks, shawannab@ymca-arlington.org, or 817-299-9629 ext. 10., by September 3. The guest speaker will be the Reverend Carlos Francis, Youth Minister, Bethlehem Baptist Church. Rev. Francis, who was orphaned as a child and was adopted by a Christian family, was an All-American at Texas Tech, and played for the Oakland Raiders Football Team. He will speak on, "Our Kids, Our Future."
Pit bull owners have until Sept. 10 to register their dogs for a free spay and neuter clinic sponsored by Respect A Bull Inc. The Sept. 16 clinic, which includes a city license, rabies vaccine and microchip, is free to the first 50 pit bulls registered. Participants must show proof of Arlington residency and attend a mandatory Responsible Pit Bull Ownership class at 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at Cliff Nelson Recreation Center, 4600 W. Bardin Road. To register, call 817-487-2226 or visit www.respectabull.com. |
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Family/Youth Opportunities...
Texas Arlington Memorial Hospital invites you to a Candlelight Ceremony in honor of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss. In our Tarrant County community, we have one of the highest infant mortality rates throughout the state. The loss of a child is considered one of the deepest pains, regardless of a child's age. This Ceremony takes place on October 15, 2010 from 6:45pm to 8:00pm at the North Lawn of Alan Saxe Garden. Click here for more information.
The Fabulous Female Expo invites all girls in 6th-12th grades to this free event. The event takes place on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 9:30am to 3:00pm at the Martin Boys and Girls Club, 3123 Ave G, Fort Worth, 76105. Parents are encouraged to attend, and a light breakfast and lunch will be served. Includes Youth Workshops, Parent/Adult Workshops, Community Vendors, Performances, and a Fashion Show. For a registration form email fabulousexpo@gmail.com or call 469.733.3480. Click here to see the flyer.
The YMCA has put out their Fall Program Guide. Many fun fall programs are available. To download a copy, click here.
Stop by The Friend's of the Arlington Public Library Fall Book Sale to find a bargain and support your library too. The sale is expected to have over 60,000 items. Also, don't forget to stop by the Collector's Corner, you might find a real treasure. The Friends of the Arlington Public Library fall book sale will be held at the Meadowbrook Recreation Center, 1400 Dugan St. at Meadowbrook Park - September 22-26, 2010. |
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Educational Opportunities...
The AISD Insider Program is offering once-a-month classes for parents interested in how to use the district's website to track their children's classwork, trips to the school nurse, and much more. September 10 is the deadline to apply for the free course, which is open to any district resident. Applications and other information can be found at www.aisd.net.
The Elementary Gifted and Talented Open House will be Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mac Bernd Professional Development Center. The come-and-go event will feature informational displays of the identification process and the enrichment opportunities provided for gifted and talented students.
The Learning Zone, a homework center for grades 1-3, is registering students on September 20 and September 22 from 4pm-7pm. To register, parents need to bring a copy of their child's most recent report card and a reduced or free lunch letter. For more information, call Arlington Reads at 817-275-3321.
Arlington Reads is offering a Junior High Reading Tutoring and Writing Club. The club meets from October 5 to December 9 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30pm-5:50pm at the East Arlington Branch Library. For more information, call Arlington Reads at 817-275-3321 and ask to speak with a coordinator. Click here for more information.
H.O.P.E. Tutoring Registration is scheduled for Sept. 14th & 16th. Registration for H.O.P.E. tutoring in the 2010-2011 school year, will be held from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 2020 South Collins Street. Tutoring begins on September 23rd at the church, with tutoring from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To register, parents must fill out an application at the church and have the student's last report card with them. |
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Job/Training Opportunities...
The Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is a Texas-based, non-profit organization promoting social and economic equality for low to moderate income Texans through community and electoral organizing. TOP has open positions for canvassers. Click here for more information.
For information on job opportunities throughout Tarrant County, please go to: http://tinycc.urbanscene.com. |
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Provider Opportunities...
You are invited to a free workshop to help Tarrant County Department of Human Services celebrate 50 years of services to the Tarrant County community. The workshop will be held on Friday, October 8, 2010 from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Resource Connection Conference Center, 2300 Circle Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76119. The topic will be "Advocating For Those In Need With Respect And Solid Ethical Conduct." Four Social Work Continuing Units (three in ethics) are available to attendees at no cost. To register, email malmendarez@tarrantcounty.com. For information call (817) 531-5620.
The Fall 2010 Transition and Disability Resource Expo is on October 16, 2010 from 11 AM - 2 PM at the Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletics Complex, 9200 Mid-Cities Blvd., North Richland Hills, TX. Click here to see the brochure.
Helping Restore Ability invites you to a free Lunch and Learn on September 15, 12:00pm to 1:00pm. RSVP to Jennifer at 817-469-1977 or email her at jwatelski@hratexas.org.
Register for "Intervention Between Two Homes: Working with Families in Transition." This six-hour seminar for mental health professionals offers tools for working with families raising children between two homes due to separation, divorce, or other family circumstances. The next class is scheduled for Friday, September 24 from 9am until 4pm in Grand Prairie. For more details, click here.
Early Connections for Children's Mental Health, Tarrant County Chapter of TAIMH, invites you to "Exercise Your Brain," an interactive workshop. Presenters include Mary Altom, MT-BC--Music Matters! Incorporating Simple Music Strategies into Everyday Interactions with Young Children, and Susan Afflerbach--Yoga for Young Children. September 25, 2010 from 8:00-12:00 at Catholic Charities, 249 W. Thornhill, Ft. Worth, 76105. For more information please contact Jamie Souders 817-569-5728.
Remember to register for the Migrant Resource Summit on Friday, September 10, 2010 from 8:30 am - 11:30 am. A light breakfast will be provided. Learn more about the migrant population; barriers, health concerns, gaps in services. Meet your counterparts across county lines. Brainstorm on how we can put our resources together. Click here for more information. Space is limited.
Sign up for the Compassion Resource Network's bimonthly newsletter to learn about other community resources available throughout Tarrant County. Click here to join the mailing list. |
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Volunteer Opportunities...
Family Pathfinders of Tarrant County Inc., a non-profit that serves people making the transition from poverty to self-sufficiency, is launching a program that matches volunteer mentors with workers striving to develop skills and advance in their careers. Volunteer mentors from local businesses, churches and civic organizations are trained to partner with mentees in their journey to become self sufficient. This program is based on the belief, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for today; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Volunteers are needed to walk with clients to financial stability. You will make a huge difference in someone's life by committing a small amount of your time. If you belong to a group that might be interested in this great new opportunity, contact Chantyl Parris at chantyl.parris@familypathfinders.org or 817-879-5162 for more information and to set up a group presentation.
HOPE Tutoring helps students in the 3rd through 8th grades with school work. Last year, 145 students participated in the program and 95% showed improvement in their report cards. One of the challenges that the program has faced in recent years is a large backlog of students who need help with homework, but must wait until tutors become available. Participation as a tutor in the program requires one hour of time each week. Volunteers may tutor Tuesday or Thursday from 6:30PM-7:30PM. New volunteers attend an orientation session at Good Shepherd UMC, 2020 S Collins on Tuesday, September 7th, 6:00 - 8:30PM. If you cannot make a full time commitment, please consider being a substitute tutor. If you wish to have more information on this important community ministry, please contact HOPE Tutoring (817-860-7757).
Keeping students in school is integral to their lifelong success as well as the continued prosperity of the Arlington community. For this reason, the Arlington ISD will host an Operation Graduation Walk Saturday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to noon. The walk is a collaborative effort that requires the support of the community with the goal of increasing the graduation rate of Arlington high school students. We ask that you support the Operation Graduation Walk by volunteering your time. Participants in this event will walk or drive to the homes of students who were enrolled in school in spring 2010 but do not return to school in the fall. Volunteers will encourage students to come back to school, and all Arlington high schools will be open that day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to re-enroll students. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the AISD dropout prevention department at 682-867-7373. |
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| In the News...
In New York, a growing number of hospitals are adopting practices intended to improve care for an increasingly diverse population. Read more about it here.
The Arlington Citizen-Journal is back! This paper, which started in the 1930's, ceased publication in the 1990's. Arlington once again has a hometown paper. Read more here.
President Barack Obama's back-to-school speech to children will be Sept. 14, White House officials said Wednesday. This year, Arlington will show it live at all schools, though logistics still need to be worked out, district spokeswoman Amy Casas said. Read more here.
People who ignore city court warrants and dread that routine traffic stop now have something else to worry about. The city has joined a statewide database service that will identify motorists with outstanding misdemeanor warrants when they try to renew their driver's licenses. They will have to square up with the municipal court first. Read more. |
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About Us...
The East Arlington Family Support Center is a community collaboration whose goal is to ensure the healthy development and growth of young children by supporting their families and the communities in which they live. The East Arlington Family Support Center is administered
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