| TRAINING |
Children's Program Training on December 19th in Saint Paul.
Facilitation Skills and Children's Program Training on January 11th in Morris.
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| 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
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
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 | |
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| CHAPTER HIGHLIGHT |
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Alice O. Lynch, Metro Program Coordinator
Eastside Neighborhood Services, located in Northeast Minneapolis, has ventured into a new and exciting program. "Wisdom of Age" Circle of ParentsŪ group will be facilitated by seniors who are a part of their specialized senior program. In November and December, we trained over 20 seniors to be Parent Facilitators. The seniors are a diverse group with representatives from the African American, Hmong, Somali, Native American, and mainstream communities.
Many of these Circles will be held at other senior programs for grandparents who are assisting in the raising of their grandchildren or who are raising their grandchildren completely on their own. Other groups will be sponsoring discussion groups that will be opened to the community and will be focusing on family issues. They have decided that they want to partner with 12 other organizations, and to date they have 11 organizations that have signed on.
This is an exciting undertaking, with the anticipation that some of the organizations will continue to utilize the services of the seniors after the project ends. Many of the seniors are learning new skills and are viewed as an asset to all the groups. |
| FACILITATOR TIP |
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Joan Johnson, Northeast Program Coordinator
Parent Disclosure Procedures
In order to honor parents, Child Protection workers, and court requests for information about parents who participate in Circle of ParentsŪ groups and to comply with the terms of our insurance liability and confidentiality of Circle of ParentsŪ, the procedures for disclosing information about parents participating in groups is as follows:
Provided there is written consent from the parent, facilitators may write a general statement about the parent's participation in a group that includes the dates of participation in the parent group and/or the dates of participation of the parent's children in the Children's Program. No other information about the parent or parent's children can be written or verbalized.
Anything not adhering to the above outlined guidelines is not sanctioned by Circle of ParentsŪ Minnesota or National.
A copy of the Verification of Attendance form can be found here. If you have any questions, you may contact your regional coordinator. |
| CHILDREN'S PROGRAM LEADER TIP |
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Joan Johnson, Northeast Program Coordinator
All the snow and January cold makes me think of children who aren't getting outside as much as we would like. We all need opportunities for exercise, so when you have a group of children gathered, make sure you aren't expecting them to sit still for very long. Every Children's Program should have some physical activity and this activity can vary depending on your space. Here are some thoughts:
1. Just plain stretching exercises
2. Simon Says
3. Follow The Leader
4. Relay races
5. Ball game with a sponge ball
6. Play some dance music and let them dance!!!!
7. Ask the kids for ideas
8. When it is time to calm down, sitting in a circle to hear a story is easy enough. I am recommending The Little Red Hen. It is available in many home libraries and public libraries, and it prompts great discussion about cooperation, community, sharing, and helping others.
Stay warm! |
| OUTREACH TIP |
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Sue Thomes, Southwestern Program Coordinator
It's winter in Minnesota, which means many families are stuck inside for long periods of time. Both children and parents are itching for some relief from the dreaded Cabin Fever. The perfect medicine is a family fun event offering boredom buster activities; perhaps including hints of summer to come (indoor picnics complete with beach balls, picnic fare, etc.). This is also a chance for parents to socialize with other parents, giving them the needed adult interaction that helps them release stress. It is a perfect time to introduce them to what Circle of ParentsŪ offers on a regular basis. There are a couple of ways to participate:
(1) Your group could host such an event, in addition to or in place of, one of its weekly meetings. Besides fun activities, you may want to include some ideas on stress relief and pampering, as well as having a display with your group materials and participant testimonials.
(2) Look around at what your community already offers for winter fun nights (ECFE, Community Ed, YMCA, churches, etc. often plan these in winter), then offer to host one of the activity booths in exchange for being able to offer information on your group. |
| BOOK OF THE MONTH |
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Mary Weaver, Western Program Coordinator
The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson
 One of our family traditions during the holidays is to get the children hard-covered books. With a variety of ages in our house (17 down to 3), it can be a challenge to ensure the books will not only entice and entertain the little ones, but also be interesting enough for the older kids to want to read to their siblings.
This year, we stumbled across "The House in the Night" written by Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes. The poetic and rhythmic writing style allows the reader to take part in the mysteries that unfold in this tale of a young girl given a golden key to a house. The intricate black and white etched drawings tinged with gold make the world of the book an enchanted place.
The 2009 Minnesota Book Awards winner for children's literature, "The House in the Night" allows the story to go from a small intimate tale to an exciting flight around the world, and then back to bed where the little girl curls up cozily and falls asleep. Our family - of all ages - has fallen in love with this wonderful book.
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| ONLINE RESOURCE OF THE MONTH |
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Healthy Children
As the premier Web site for child health information, www.HealthyChildren.org provides support, resources and a host of features to enable parents to quickly find the critical, relevant information they're looking for. |
| PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS |
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| A Parent Support Group Participant's Story
"The Circle of Parents group is a wonderful thing. I get so much out of it and have learned many things that I can use not only for my younger kids, but also my teenagers! It's definitely beneficial for raising children and always good to be reminded how to do things and learn new skills. I hope this program continues as all of us who attend enjoy it tremendously! I hate to miss even one week. It is a great help." | |
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. | |
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