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addicted newborns Podcast:
Born in Withdrawal
The Epidemic of Substance 
Exposed Newborns

 
Alumni Planning Committee
The Florida Center Holds 1st Board
Alumni Ambassadors Reception

Recently The Florida Center reached out to past Board members of The Florida Center to join them in a "family reunion" of sorts. Current and former Board members of The Florida Center, which includes past board members from the Child Development Center and the Family Counseling Center convened at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to learn about the latest happenings with The Florida Center.

speak up for kids
CEO & President of The Florida Center Serves as Keynote Speaker for Regional Conference 

In recognition of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, The Florida Center's President and CEO Kathryn Shea has been asked to serve as the keynote speaker for an upcoming regional conference titled: "Speak Up for Kids 2012".

Speaking on May 25 at the State College of Florida,  Kathryn's keynote address, along with other offered workshops, will be addressing local children's mental health issues for families, professionals, and concerned community members.


For a copy of the conference flyer, click here.

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Kathryn Shea

Dear Friends of The Florida Center,

 

Happy Spring!  We have been very busy here at The Florida Center.   Our exceptional staff are always hard at work to provide high quality services to our children and their families.  It is so heartwarming when I get to hear some of the stories of their extra-ordinary efforts, but never surprising.  We truly have the most passionate and dedicated professionals I have ever had the privilege of knowing or working with. One such remarkable person is Cindy, a mental health therapist in our fetal alcohol clinic.  Here is what one family had to say, "We are feeling like we hit the jackpot with Cindy. She is very tuned into the needs of Jacob and continues to teach us how we can manage his needs. She is an asset to our family unit!" 

 

Our staff are out there on the front lines every day; helping parents care for their infants in nurturing ways in our Healthy Families program, educating our little ones and preparing them for kindergarten in our classrooms, remediating developmental challenges in our developmental therapies program, and helping parents understand and manage difficult behaviors in our early childhood mental health department.   

 

At the end of a hard day, I hope they all go home knowing what a difference they have made and the power of the work of one.    

 

 
SunTrust
Provides Funding for Diagnostic Tools

 

The Florida Center for Early Childhood, Inc. recently received a $7,500 donation for assessment and diagnostic tool kits from SunTrust Bank through the J. Milton & Nellie E. Hoffa Memorial Foundation. The funding will enable trained therapists to interact with preschool education activities, school readiness assessments, and developmental therapies for children and their parents.

 

Parents Speak About  

"Incredible Years" Training 

IY Parents

Incredible Years is a 20 week Parenting Course offered currently at The Florida Center, North Port facility. Parents learn to see their child's behaviors differently, they learn to understand the child's perspective, they discuss best practices in parenting, and they share ideas through a "buddy" system. Listen to comments from these couples with seven weeks left to go in the program!

   

Vince & Norma, grandparents (pictured above) of a three year old spirited grandson, with behavior issues, said "We have seen him doing better with other kids, like sharing. The other day he had a ball and offered it to another boy ... before he would steal it away and keep it himself."    


As parents of a five year old daughter, Kim & Grant, (not shown) said the classes have helped them understand their daughter better. "We've learned to see situations from our child's point of view. The classes have shown us different 'avenues' to try, not only what we grew up with, but ten times more options to try."

 

They all agreed that the classes, connections, and acquaintances made with others are vitally important to them. They often talk outside of class, and wish there were ways to get the word out to more people. "It has helped us so much!," states another parent. For more information on the "Incredible Years Parenting Classes, click here.

 

Why Art Therapy?

   

 

Help children learn social skills through creative art activities. Therapists motivate a child's critical social skills in peer-group learning settings by using art therapy projects. Your $1,000 in support will help 40 children participate in art, music, and movement activities. Provide the needed materials, and you'll enable little ones to develop socially and be more ready for school.  

 

 

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The Florida Center for Early Childhood The Florida Center for Early Childhood
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