| 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
709 University Avenue, Suite 234
Saint Paul, MN 55104
651-523-0099
pbennett@pcamn.org
Our Regional Coordinators:
Metro Office
Alice Lynch
Metro Program Coordinator
709 University Avenue, Suite 234
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 | |
Joan Johnson, Northeast Program Coordinator
The Circle of ParentsŪ chapter in Princeton opened on June 29, 2010 and has been going strong ever since. They have attracted 16 parents to the group who have brought 19 children. They are meeting weekly on Tuesdays from 6:15 pm until 8:00 pm at Rum River Health Services in Princeton. There is a cozy meeting room for the parents and a fully equipped childcare facility that includes outdoor space for the children.
Their journey began last April when Mica Zimmer, who is an employee of Rum River Health, came to the annual prevention conference in St. Cloud. She came for the day of training for Facilitation Skills Training which was offered the day prior to the conference. With the support of her employer, coworkers, and the regional coordinator for Circle of Parents, we were able to move along quickly to get the pieces in place so the group could charter. ( read more here) |
| FACILITATOR TIP | |
 Sue Thomes, Southwest Program CoordinatorOutreach with Facebook
Let's face it: whether you love or hate technology, a growing number of people and organizations are using various technological forums to reach out to others. It is in that realization that we have come to suggest the possibilities that lie in social networking, specifically Facebook pages, to advertise your Circle of ParentsŪ group.
Using Facebook for outreach is much like creating a virtual poster. In creating the page, you choose the bullet for organization from the official page options, give your page a name (the name of your group or Chapter), then check the box saying you are an official representative of this group and have permission to create the page. You should have a facilitator, parent leader, or advisory team member as the host/creator. (read more here) |
| CHILDREN'S PROGRAM TIP | |
 Mary Weaver, Western Program Coordinator There's a new "look" in child abuse prevention: pinwheels. This fun, carefree image is the new nationwide public awareness symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention.
The pinwheel represents efforts to change the way our nation thinks about prevention, focusing on activities that help increase awareness and prevention before abuse and neglect ever happens in the first place. The pinwheel campaign is a symbol which can rally people around the idea of ensuring our nation's children are raised in healthy, stable, and nurturing environments. Pinwheel downloads are available at the Pinwheels for Prevention website: www.pinwheelsforprevention.org/. Ideas for implementing a Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign include:
- Increase awareness by planting "pinwheel gardens"
- Line walkways with pinwheels
- Have coloring contests with displays at grocery stores
- Make child abuse prevention month bulletin boards and use pinwheels
- Work with local schools to establish displays and sell pinwheels to faculty and parents.
- Work with local businesses to sell pinwheels to their employees, vendors, partners, customers and/or clients so they can plant pinwheel gardens on their premises during Child Abuse Prevention Month.
- Ask corporate offices to plant pinwheel gardens in highly visible locations.
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| TV SHOW OF THE MONTH | |
Barb Sorum, Director of Family Support Services
Parenthood (NBC, Tuesdays 9:00-10:00pm)
The blockbuster movie from the '80s comes to the small screen for the second time. This latest incarnation centers around the Braverman family's four grown siblings who are desperately trying to navigate through the trials and tribulations of parenthood, as well as their own personal issues.
The very large, very colorful, and imperfect northern California Braverman family definitely has its ups and downs experiencing anything from divorce to single parenting to having a child diagnosed with autism. Although each sibling and family has its own share of everyday challenges to grapple with, they still manage to be there for each other in their hours of need.
(read more here) |
| WEB LINKS OF THE MONTH | | |
Barb Sorum, Director of Family Support Services
Here are two websites that can give you valuable information on mandatory reporting for our state: Mandatory Reporting Laws |
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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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