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A program of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota
   
March 2010 Chapter Flash
IN THIS ISSUE
FACILITATOR TIP
RESOURCES FOR DADS
OUTREACH TIP
BOOK OF THE MONTH
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM TIP
TESTIMONIAL
TRAINING AND EVENTS
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
Quick Links
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHT AND FACILITATOR TIP
fatherJoan Johnson, Northeast Program Coordinator Minnesota's statewide Fathers and Family Network has selected three communities to participate in the Greater Minnesota Fatherhood Leadership Circles throughout 2010. The communities of Brainerd, Fergus Falls, and Grand Rapids were selected due to their strong community-wide partnerships, their commitment to building healthy families, and their interest in strengthening the role that fathers can play in healthy child development. This training has direct implications for Circle of ParentsŪ groups around the state as we seek to involve BOTH parents, stepparents, Grandparents, foster parents, relatives and anyone in a parenting role. The weekly discussions at Circle of ParentsŪ are so much richer when there is input from many different perspectives. Is your Circle of ParentsŪ father friendly? Read more here.
MORE ONLINE RESOURCES FOR DADS
Dads Make A Difference: www.dadsmakeadifference.org
Founding Fathers: www.founding-fathers.org
Men Ending Rape: www.menendingrape.org
Minnesota Fathers & Families Network: www.fatherhood.org
Resource Center for Fathers: www.resourcesforfathers.org
The Dad Man: www.thedadman.com
The Daddy Book: www.mnfathers.org/08daddybook.pdf
OUTREACH TIP 
Mary Weaver, Western Minnesota Program Coordinator
As we all know, the best way to prevent child abuse is by helping parents develop the skills and identify the resources they need to understand and meet their children's needs. Strengthening families and preventing child abuse requires a shared commitment of individuals and organizations in every community. Getting the needed information to the parents starts with just one voice. And when one voice speaks with another, the sound cannot be ignored. Learn more here.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
bookSue Thomes, Southwest Program Coordinator  
101 Secrets A Good Dad Knows by Walter Browder and Sue Ellin Browder
In the effort to be a good dad (or mom), we sometimes get so hung up in the details and busyness of everyday life that we forget to just stop and have fun. This book has life lessons that also happen to be fun, allowing you to take time to relax with your children while raising self-esteem, fostering self reliance, and building character. Some of the lessons include: How to carve a whistle, how to make a curve ball curve, how to catch a frog, how to tie a necktie, how to change a spark plug, how to find the North Star, how to skip a rock, how to identify five icky things under a rock, how to whistle with a blade of grass, how to tell how tall a tree is, how to bait a hook, how to pitch a tent, etc. This is the perfect resource for dads, grandpas, uncles, and even moms, grandmas, and aunts. The memories made during these lessons will live on in your child's heart long after they've moved into the adult realm. How cool would it be in 20 years if your adult child can share these same lessons and proudly say, "My dad taught me this?"
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM TIP
Check out the pinwheel activity on pages 3 and 4 here.
PARENT SUPPORT GROUP PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIAL
My Circle of ParentsŪ support group is a huge asset to our local families and entire community. It has very much helped me to understand my son and daughter and develop much better parenting skills. The facilitator and other parents have been an asset to our family as well as an excellent support network. It has been great for us financially as well because we would never have been able to afford getting help with our parenting if it hadn't been offered at no cost. We started attending to fulfill a voluntary court obligation, but have developed such wonderful relationships and have learned so much that my husband and I will continue attending our Circle of ParentsŪ group as long as it's available. We're becoming better and stronger parents for our children, and they deserve us to be our best. We appreciate all the support, input, and information. We have learned so much. We also like sharing our parenting skills with the other participants and helping them to be better parents too. Thank you Circle of ParentsŪ.
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.