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A program of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota
   
August 2009 Chapter Flash
In This Issue
WALK STIMULUS PACKAGE !!
FACILITATOR TIP
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM TIP
BOOK REVIEW
PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS
Upcoming Events 
Annual Retreat for all Circle of ParentsŪ Families in Minnesota
August 29 & 30 at beautiful Bay Lake Camp near Garrison, Minnesota
Contact: Joan Johnson at (218) 821-6429 or jjohnson@pcamn.org
 
Walk for Children & Family Fun Day
September 12 at the St. Paul Saints Midway Stadium. Visit this link for more information. 
Upcoming Training 
Facilitation Skills on Saturday, August 15 in Mankato
Contact Priscilla at pbennett@pcamn.org to register.
List of Groups 
Click here for a current list of groups in Minnesota.
Contact Us
Please send feedback and suggestions for
future issues to:
 
 
Circle of ParentsŪ Statewide Office
Priscilla Bennett
Communications Coordinator
1821 University Avenue, Suite 202-S
Saint Paul, MN 55104
651-523-0099 ext. 111
pbennett@pcamn.org
 
Our Regional Coordinators:
 
Metro Office
Alice Lynch
Metro Program Coordinator
1821 University Avenue, Suite 202-S
Saint Paul, MN 55104
651-523-0099
alynch@pcamn.org
 
Northeast Regional Office
Joan Johnson
Northeast Program Coordinator
9057 Sunset Strip
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
218-821-6429
jjohnson@pcamn.org  
 
Southeast Regional Office
Barb Sorum
Interim Director of Family Support Services
606 East 5th Street
Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-377-7665
bsorum@pcamn.org
 
Southwest Regional Office
Susan Thomes
Southwest Program Coordinator
PO Box 202
Silver Lake, MN  55381
218-308-1311
 
Western Regional Office
Mary Weaver
Western Program Coordinator
32662 Birchwood Shore Drive
Underwood, MN 56586
218-770-1385
mweaver@pcamn.org
Quick Links
PCAMN
WALK FOR CHILDREN STIMULUS PACKAGE! 
Raise Money for Your Chapter 
MuddonnaBecause you care as much as we do about empowering parents to create healthy and loving families, we want to remind you about an opportunity that benefits your chapter and Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota.
 
The 9th Annual Walk for Children and Family Fun Day will be held September 12, 2009 at Midway Stadium in Saint Paul. Your participation helps ensure positive momentum - for your chapter and PCAMN - by:

  • Furthering our mission to prevent child abuse and neglect
  • Promoting positive parenting skills through the Circle of ParentsŪ Program
  • Enabling Circle chapters to add to their budgets!

(read more)

FACILITATOR TIP
Circle ArtAlice O. Lynch
Metro Program Coordinator
Ceremonies: Moving Us to Deeper Places 
Ceremonies provide one of the basic elements of Circles to further frame the process. Our lives include all sorts of rituals - meaningful patterns of behavior that move us to an inward place which reflects how we want to be together. A hug is a ritual that affirms caring and closeness in a relationship. It's a common opening and closing ceremony that friends use to create a warm space of being together. Spending time with family or animal companions when we first come home helps us shift from the outside world of work, traffic, and schedules to the inside world of relaxation, nurturing, and intimacy.
 
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM LEADER TIP 
Sue ThomesCube Outline
Southwest Program Coordinator  
All About You!
Here are a couple ways to celebrate the uniqueness of each child in your group: You-Cube! Copy cube patterns onto card stock (a template can be found here).
 
Each child places photos, drawings, magazine clippings, or even written words on each square to define themselves: family, pets, favorite activity, etc. Child can share about the assembled cube. A variation You-Cube: write questions on a cube (favorite activity, number of siblings, etc), then children roll the cube and answer the question that is facing up.

All About Me books and posters can be created, with children sharing information about their life, their family, their favorites, etc. There is a great example at www.kidprintables.com/allaboutme.
BOOK REVIEW
August Book CoverPower Source Parenting: Growing Up Strong and Raising Healthy Kids by Bethany Casarjian

This book is a practical, accessible, and innovative book/curriculum written for an-risk teen and young adult parents and the professionals who support them. Topics include:

  • Creating a healthy attachment to one's child 
  • Coping with the stress of parenting
  • Implementing positive discipline practices
  • Managing three generational living
  • Establishing healthy relationships with partners
  • Breaking cycles of domestic violence
  • Bringing greater awareness to patterns of high-risk behavior and its effects on one's children

(read more)

PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS 
A Parent Leader 
"The real important thing is that with a group you learn, in more than one way, that you're not alone. You realize you're having the same problem as someone else. The same problems and issues affect everyone all over the country."
Our Mission 
The mission of Minnesota's Circle of Parents is to empower parents to create healthy and loving families through positive parenting and mutual self help.