Parent Newsletter
April 1, 2010 
quick links
 
Coffee Series
TEEN SUICIDE
with
Mary Lynn Thieneman, LCSW; LMFT
and Katina Wallace of
The Brook Hospitals
 
Thursday, April 22
10 a.m. - Noon
 at
Ormsby 3 Building 
10200 Forest Green Blvd.
Louisville, KY  40223

  See Below for Futher Info
 

Sales Team Positions Available

Interested in helping parents everywhere while making money at the same time???  Join our Sales Force by selling our Parent Handbook nationwide.  For more info, call us at 245-7154 or


GOT FACEBOOK YET???!

 
C'mon Parents...it's time to get connected with our kids' world!
 
Create your own Facebook Page by clicking below.
 
  Then become a Fan of the Operation: Parent Page and you'll be connected to a great parenting resource, as well as "IN" with the kids...
 
Click here to go to Facebook

(...We dare you!)



 
 
Tell Us What You Think
 
We never forget that we are a "Parent-Driven" organization.  We welcome any and all feedback so please don't ever hesitate to share your thoughts, questions or concerns with us.
Just give us a call at
(502) 245-7154
 

We are sorry we had to cancel our fundraiser featuring Bill Oliver!  We are pleased to report that Bill is in good health and we hope to reschedule this event for the fall.  You'll be the first to know as soon as a date is set!

Parents:  Happy April Fools Day!  Take time today to have some lighthearted fun with your pre-teens and teens!
We're on a roll with our mission to "Educate, Encourage, Equip, and Engage Parents of Pre-teens and Teens!"  

Congratulations to our Facilitators who are just finishing up their Parenting 101 Classes this month...

 

FACILITATOR                      LOCATION

Lee Ann Zwiebel                    St. Patrick

Laurie Schmidt & Beth Klem   Holy Trinity

Alice Gob & Fran DuRivage     Epiphany               

Danny Roach                          North Oldham Fire Station

Monique Schmitt                    Oldham Co. Middle School

Marti Swift & Cathy Nagy        Christian Academy of Lou.

Laura Lichtefeld                     St. Albert the Great

 

We reached 72 new families this month...WOW!  Great job everyone and thank you so much!!!  Just think of all the families we've made stronger!

 
In addition to that, we have Parenting 101 Classes beginning in April at the following locations:
 
Spencer County Middle and High Schools
St. Mary Academy
St. Agnes/St. Francis of Assisi
Sacred Heart Model School
Operation: PARENT Headquarters in Middletown
 
If you would like to have Operation: PARENT Classes started at your school, church, or organization, please give us at call at 245-7154.  We're here for you!
Announcing the Grand Opening of our New National Headquarters...
 
The Operation: PARENT Headquarters Grand Opening last month was a wonderful event!  Guest speakers U.S. Senator Ernie Harris and Oldham Co. Schools' Superintendant Paul Upchurch congratulated Founder Jean Schumm on her "Incredible" accomplishment.  Many thanks to our supporters who came out that day!
 
 
 
Wake up and Smell The Coffee
Speaker Events
Coffee Series 
 
Next Speaker Event:  TEEN SUICIDE
Thursday, April 22
10 to Noon
Ormsby 3 Building
 
The statistics regarding teen suicide
are heartbreaking:
 
  • A youth suicide (aged 15-24) occurs every 100 minutes.
  • In Kentucky, 61 teens attempt suicide daily.
  • Nationally, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death amongst
           teenagers age 15 to 24.  In Kentucky it is the second.
 
It is a topic most parents don't want to discuss with their children but current trends show that suicide is a "Silent Epidemic". Awareness and education are the first steps to prevention. Come learn the latest information regarding this issue and how we, as parents and teens, can recognize the warning signs of suicide.
 
Presented by:  Katina Wallace, Community Relations Representative from The Brook Hospitals (formerly Ten Broeck) and Mary Lynn Thieneman, LCSW, LMFT are passionate about raising awareness when it comes to teen suicide.  They will provide the latest information regarding this "silent epidemic" that is spreading locally and nationally.  Come raise your awareness regarding trends, misconceptions, and new resources (for teens and parents) so together we can learn how and when to intervene before another life ends prematurely.  Awareness and education will reduce the risk of suicide attempts, deaths and suicide contagion.  Louisville has lost too many teens already...it's time to become proactive!


 
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New Headquarters
REMINDER...Our new address is:
13029 Middletown Industrial Boulevard
Suite 100
Louisville KY 40223

Our new phone number is:
(502) 245-7154

 
 
 Please
Help Us Make it Home

Now that we've had a chance to settle into our new Headquarters, we are excited to make it an inviting space for all parents of teens! 
 
Facility Update

Our new facility is awesome!  We want to start using every square foot so we thought we would share our wish list with you because you all have such great connections and generous hearts.  Special thanks to two of our families (Rick and Kathy Ueltschy and Laura and Dave Brewer) who donated 10 brand new tables for our 2nd floor training room where all speaker events will be held!  They are beautiful and we are truly grateful.  Here are some more items we are in desperate need of:

 

Wish List: 

-Windows Server w/5 User License ($829)

-Chairs for 2nd floor training room (we need 45 chairs!)  Each one costs $25, so if you'd like to purchase one for the facility, please let us know!

-Overhead Projector/Dropdown Screen/Sound System for 1st floor training room ($5000)

-Overhead Projector/Drop down Screen/Sound System for 2nd floor training room ($5000)

-DVD Player
-Speaker System
-Professional Coffee Maker
-Small Ceiling Mounted Flatscreen TV
-File Cabinet (4 drawer)
-Copy Paper
-Computer
-Large Dry Erase Board
-Six matching upholstered chairs for conference room
-40 to 45" Flat Screen TV
-65" Flat Screen TV
 

Please keep us in mind if you have any connections to office furniture outlets.

 

Our careful planning has been done with the vision of creating a warm, welcoming, hi-tech atmosphere.  I think it is very important that we, as parents of teens, embrace technology. We have plans to equip our facility with state-of-the-art flatscreen TVs for training purposes. We also hope to have a "computer lab" so parents can take on-going classes about Facebook, internet filters and whatever else comes down the pike.

THIS WEEK'S PARENTING TIP:

It's hard to believe...spring break is just around the corner!  If your kids are getting ready to spend the break with another family, please be sure to have a "heart to heart" with your teen and the parents who will be supervising them.  It's perfectly fine to ask the parents if the kids will have access to drugs or alcohol or unsupervised time playing games on the internet.  Trust your alarm bell...if you're having second thoughts, it's not too late to change plans.  Make sure your son or daughter is comfortable calling you if they have any concerns.  If your family is spending the week together...enjoy it!  Make it memorable by doing some things you never have time to do as a family.  Play some goofy golf...try some new restaurants...rent a good movie (the message in "Blindside" was inspiring).  Don't forget you can always find out more about music and movies by going to "Plugged In" on www.focusonthefamily.org.

Keep on parenting, stay strong, you're not alone!

Jean Schumm & Staff
Operation: PARENT
Supportive Parents Involved
in Raising Incredible Teenagers