Help Us Provide Thanksgiving to Ulster County Families

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The Family Education Program of Family Services provides home and group-based parent education to families in Ulster County. We have many traditions that we share with families and one tradition that is very important to us is to make a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner for the families we work with. The entire staff of our program cooks traditional Thanksgiving dishes as well as some of our own secret family recipes. It is our way of acknowledging the day to day struggles our clients face and providing them with a nurturing experience that they may not have the resources to create for themselves.

This year we do not have the funds in our budget to purchase the items we need for this event. We are asking our neighbors, friends, local business owners, and corporations to donate a little something for our dinner. The items we need are as follows:

Turkeys
Hams
Green beans (canned or frozen)
Stove Top Stuffing Mix
Canned yams
Fresh potatoes
Apples
Pie Crust
Butter
Onions
Carrots

Gift cards to grocery stores are also welcome to help us purchase spices, appetizers and condiments. Please consider making a donation this year so that we can continue this fun and nurturing Family Education tradition. For more information or to make a donation please contact Denise Parent at 845-331-5641 x221.

It’s Your Turn to Make a Difference

Don't forget...April is Child Abuse Prevention month!

Amy Cole, Supervisor of the Family Education Program

There are so many things we can all do for the kids and families in our lives. Try this: make special time for children, really listen to what they have to say, support other parents who are struggling, acknowledge that parenting is tough work, and spend time with families in you neighborhood. You can even plant a Pinwheel Garden!  Pinwheels are a sign of happy, carefree childhoods and represent Child Abuse Prevention month.  Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we all participate in some way to strengthen our communities for the sake of our children, our future.  Raising happy, healthy children is a community effort that will pay off in amazing ways.  Let’s do it right the first time instead of trying to fix it later on!

To learn more, or to get some support as a parent, here are a few resources:  Family Services Family Education Program – Amy Cole 331-5641 x223;  The Parent Helpline – 1-800-CHILDREN (244-5373) every day from 9am to 10pm, a confidential line available in English and Spanish. 

Visit www.familyservicesny.org or www.preventchildabuseny.org

The Family Education Program of Family Services Inc.
Presents
The Nurturing Parenting®Program 

The Nurturing Program® is a twelve week workshop for parents based on four core values:

• Love of Life
• Respect for All Living Things
• Structure and Discipline
• Laughter, Humor and Play

12 Weeks, beginning March 2, 2011
Wednesdays 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Topics include:

• The Philosophy and Practices of Nurturing Parenting
• Ages and Stages of Growth for Infants and Toddlers
• Ways to Enhance Positive Brain Development in Children and Teens
• Communicating with Respect
• Building Self-Worth in Children
• Understanding Feelings
• Understanding and Developing Family Morals, Values and Rules
• Praising Children and their Behavior
• Alternatives to Spanking
• Learning Positive Ways to Deal with Stress and Anger

Groups will be held at 85 Grand St., Kingston  
Transportation will be provided (Kingston area only)

Please call 845-331-5641 for further information.

                                       Funding provided by NYSPEP