Children's Health Council
Parent education class at CHC
Since last July, more than 500 attendees have taken advantage of CHC's free parent education classes like the one featured above. Parents receive valuable information on topics to help children with writing, anxiety, self-esteem and more. 
It Takes a Village: Partnering to Serve Our Community 
How CHC builds partnerships to provide education, services and more. 

They say "It takes a village to raise a child" and at CHC we believe it! We've seen first hand the benefits of partnering with local groups, businesses and organizations to help families raise resilient and happy children. From joint services to sharing expert resources, CHC works with more than 35 school districts, and more than 50 agencies and 100 pediatricians annually to serve Peninsula families.  

 

Much of our work involves supporting parents through educational classes. Between July 2012 and February 2013 more than 500 people attended parent education classes offered by CHC to local organizations like Google, Parents Helping Parents, The Nueva School, the San Francisco Archdiocese, California Pacific Medical Center and more. Attendees include parents, professionals, teachers and college and university students. CHC staff presented on multiple topics related to ADHD, LD, Auxiety & Depression and Autism. Our parent ed classes are made possible through the generosity of the TOSA Foundation, whose funding has supported and expanded the impact CHC's parent education efforts for the last 10+ years.

 

This month we highlight a few of the fantastic partnerships in our village that help us support the families we love.

Partnerships
CHC to Host Conference for Autism Research in April
On April 5th, CHC will host the third annual research conference for the Bay Area Autism Consortium (BAAC)Researchers and clinicians from around the Bay will gather at CHC to learn about the latest autism research and share their work. As a charter member of the consortium, CHC is part of a growing network of researchers and service providers dedicated to better understanding the causes of and best treatments for autism and related disorders.  CHC has hosted two previous BAAC conferences, and Dr. Glen R. Elliott, our chief psychiatrist & medical director, is on the Steering Committee. 

Mother's Symposium at Stanford: Helping Moms Find Self Compassion

 CHC was recently a co-sponsor of the  Mother's Symposium held at Stanford's School of Education on March 9. The topic was "Exploring Self-Compassion: A Morning for Mothers" and our Center Director, Dr. Ramsey Khasho, represented CHC at the event. This important event helped moms cultivate a kinder inner voice to help reduce stress and improve connections with other moms. The group has been conducting symposia since 1998 with the mission of providing inspiration and affirmation for mothers at all stages through stories, learning, companionship and reflection. 

 

A Summer Camp to Inspire Kid Champions
Champions Summer Camp kids play outside.

This summer Hillsborough Recreation and CHC are partnering to offer Inspiring Champions, a summer camp for higher functioning kids age 6-12 who face developmental challenges. The camp emphasizes fun sports, games and activities where kids can feel successful. 

 

Campers spend about 60% of their day with typically developing kids. The afternoon then features three classes specifically designed for Inspiring Champions participants: music therapy, art therapy and social emotional skills development, for example. We loved this video about the camp and think it will give you a good sense of what to expect.

 

Visit the Champion Summer Camp website to learn about Inspiring Champion rates, how to apply, and details about this great program.


Parent Education Classes:  April 2013
We love our parent ed classes and so do our attendees! About 97% of our participants would recommend CHC's classes to other parents. The data from a recent Parent Education Satisfaction Survey shows CHC's parent ed classes really are among the best resources on the Peninsula.  

 

More great workshops are coming up in our TOSA Foundation-supported parent education classes. Topics include:

See more April and May classes, as well as register online at http://www.chconline.org/help-for-parents/parent-education


Resources and Expert Tips
Children playing on yellow slide.
Child holds blocks spelling 'learn'.
Kids + Exercise = Stress Reduction
At CHC we believe that the combination of social emotional learning, academics, executive function and physical development are necessary for kids to be happy and healthy. A recent study involving about 250 8-year-old children suggests that physically active children are better able to cope with stress probably because the activity changes their hormonal responses. 
 
Bottom line: Kids need to remain active. Findings of the study were published in the New York Times on March 8.


IEPs: What Have We Learned? Tips from a Parent

The National Council for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) reports that although parents have learned a lot about Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) over the years meetings can still be a bit overwhelming. Check out NCLD parent blogger Sharon Madger's two-part series on top tips for working with your child's school to build a formal plan that will support your child's educational needs. 

 

A Parent's Top 10 Tips and Tricks for the IEP Process Part 1 and Part 2

 

Story Bracelets  Reading Technique Tells It Like It Is
Story bracelet of the three pigs. Check out this creative technique Sand Hill School teachers Nick Ratcliff and Jill Glover use to help their students remember the sequence of a story-story bracelets. As they listen to a story, kids string colored beads on a pipe cleaner to remind them of the storyline. For example, "Once upon a time there were three little pigs." Place three pink beads on the bracelet. "The first pig built a house of straw." Put a yellow bead on the bracelet. Once the story is finished, the child has a complete bracelet. Then when they are asked to retell the story, the bracelet helps the child remember. 
 
Great for practice at home, or make your own bracelet for a different story!   

More Good News Around CHC
Sand Hill School Success Through the Eyes of Our Families
Mom dropping children off at school (istock)

What makes Sand Hill School such a unique place? Small, multi-age classes paired with excellent teachers who closely collaborate with CHC experts are just a few reasons our independent school is so special. But if you really want to know what makes Sand Hill School exceptional just listen to our parents. Here's a summary of what one parent wrote to us recently: 

 

My son Jake started at Sand Hill School in late July 2012. His statement to the family at that time was, 'I will go for one day, but that's all.' Fast forward to February 2013 while driving to school.

 

Jake: I can't wait to get to school today!

Mom: (trying to contain that I'm excited that after four years of school he's finally uttering those words) What are you looking forward to?

Jake: My friends, my teachers, I just like school now. I didn't like school before.

Mom: What's different?

Jake: I like my teachers. I like my classmates. I like the schedule and the structure. At my other school there was no structure or not as much of a schedule. And I like this better.

Mom: Ahhhhhhh.

 

Take a tour of Sand Hill School and see why Jake likes it so much.  Register on our EventBrite page at sandhillschool.eventbrite.com.

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650 Clark Way, Palo Alto,CA
Phone: 650. 326.5530 | Espanol: 650.688.3650
Toll Free: 866. 242-6789
http://www.chconline.org/