Build Resilience to Prevent Child Abuse -...
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Parenting can be a joyful experience, but no one said it was easy. Sadly, Alaska has one of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in the nation. We can work to turn this around by building strong families. thread is partnering with Alaska Children’s Trust, Best Beginnings, All Alaska Pediatric Partnership, and the Office of Children’s Services to raise awareness of child maltreatment and take steps to prevent it in April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. Research shows strong families have several “protective factors” in common. One factor is parental resilience. Resilience is the ability to cope with stress and bounce back from challenges. Parents who are resilient look for ways to solve problems, build trusting relationships with their children, and know when to ask for help. Resilience is a skill that can be developed both by children and adults. Parents can model for their children how to manage stress and make wise decisions in tough times. You can build resilience in yourself, in your children, and in other parents with these tips: • Use humor to de- stress a challenging situation. • Talk together with friends and family about tough situations. It helps to know you are not alone. • Remind yourself and others of the positive times you’ve shared with the children in your life. • Take a break to recharge your energy and patience. • Get plenty of rest, eat healthy food, and exercise regularly to make it easier to manage stress. • Offer to babysit for another parent who needs a breather. For more information, call thread at 1-800-278-3723 for free child development information, guidance suggestions or other supports, or get free parenting resources at www.threadalaska.org. the connection Spring 2015 Build Resilience to Prevent Child Abuse Suspect child abuse or neglect? Report it to the Office of Children’s Services: Anchorage: 1-800-478-4444 Southcentral: 1-855-352-8934 Northern Alaska: 1-800-353-2650 Southeast: 1-888-622-1650 Western Region: 1-800-557-3141 HAVE A SENSE OF humor It helps to When it comes to kids, sometimes you just gotta laugh. A sense of humor can help in tough times – and bring your family closer together. During National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, learn remember the positive plan together take a break
Transcript of Build Resilience to Prevent Child Abuse -...
Parenting can be a joyful experience, but no one said it was easy. Sadly, Alaska has one of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in the nation. We can work to turn this around by building strong families.
thread is partnering with Alaska Children’s Trust, Best Beginnings, All Alaska Pediatric Partnership, and the Office of Children’s Services to raise awareness of child maltreatment and take steps to prevent it in April, Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Research shows strong families have several “protective factors” in common. One factor is parental resilience.
Resilience is the ability to cope with stress and bounce back from challenges. Parents who are resilient look for ways to solve problems, build trusting relationships with their children, and know when to ask for help.
Resilience is a skill that can be developed both by children and adults. Parents can model for their children how to manage
stress and make wise decisions in tough times. You can build resilience in yourself, in your children, and in other parents with these tips:
• Use humor to de-stress a challenging situation.
• Talk together with friends and family about tough situations. It helps to know you are not alone.
• Remind yourself and others of the positive times you’ve shared with the children in your life.
• Take a break to recharge your energy and patience.
• Get plenty of rest, eat healthy food, and exercise regularly to make it easier to manage stress.
• Offer to babysit for another parent who needs a breather.
For more information, call thread at 1-800-278-3723 for free child development information, guidance suggestions or other supports, or get free parenting resources at www.threadalaska.org.
the connectionSpring 2015
Build Resilience to Prevent Child Abuse
Suspect child abuse or neglect? Report it to the Office of Children’s Services:
Anchorage: 1-800-478-4444Southcentral: 1-855-352-8934Northern Alaska: 1-800-353-2650Southeast: 1-888-622-1650Western Region: 1-800-557-3141
Have a Se nSe of humorIt helps to
When it comes to kids, sometimes you just gotta laugh. a sense of humor can help in tough times – and bring your family closer together.
During National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, learn other ways to build resiliency, strengthen families and raise great kids! Visit alaskachildrenstrust.org to learn more.
Free Support - AlASkA pArent line - CAll 2-1-1 • AlASkAChildrenStruSt.org
remember the positive
plan together
take a break
2 the thread connection
We’re Ready to Help You Find
Quality Care
thread Launches Awards to Recognize Excellence in Early Childhoodthread launched its first professional excellence award program this year to celebrate the achievements and share the best practices of the top performers in early care and education.
The first of these new thread awards is the Cindy Harrington Heart & Mind Award. This annual award is given to an individual who is currently working in early care and education in the state of Alaska. Cindy Harrington was one of the founding mothers of early childhood work in Alaska as well as a member of thread’s board of directors
until her passing in May of 2014. We honor Cindy’s passion, strength, and professionalism by awarding an individual in early childhood who exemplifies these characteristics. Read more about Cindy online at www.threadalaska-awards.org.
The first recipient of the 2015 Cindy Harrington Heart & Mind Award is
Jennifer Clark. Jen was selected for this award because she displays the same “heart & mind” style leadership that Cindy defined. She has over sixteen years of experience working directly with Alaskan children and families of diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and seven years of experience leading teachers, caregivers, support staff, and para-professionals in both residential and traditional child care and early learning settings. She is currently the Director at Bright Horizons, where she has been providing outstanding leadership since 2008.
Jennifer Clark
Celebrate Young Children This SpringThe National Association for the Education of Young Children has dedicated an entire week to celebrate young children and the importance of quality early education. The National Week of the Young Child is April 12-18. This year, each week day has a different theme:
Music Monday: Children develop math, language, and literacy skills through music. Have fun making up your own songs and dance moves with your children.
Taco Tuesday: Families encourage healthy nutrition and fitness habits when they involve children. Have your children help you make tacos, or check out threadalaska.org for more healthy, kid-friendly recipes.
Work Together Wednesday: Work together to build something today. While doing so, you’ll be helping your child explore math and science concepts and develop social skills.
Artsy Thursday: Children develop creativity and social skills when
they use their imaginations to create open-ended art projects.
Family Friday: Today is all about celebrating a child’s first and most important teachers.
There are also many events around the state throughout April, such as the Getting Ready for Kindergarten Early Learning Fair in Juneau where families can participate in health screenings and fun learning stations, receive a book for each preschooler, or register their child for Kindergarten.
Check out a list of other upcoming events around the state on page 4.
Choosing a child care program is an important decision. Studies show that participation in quality early care and learning programs have long-term gains for all children.
But, what does quality really mean when it comes to child care?
thread is ready to help families identify the basics of quality care and consider the time it takes to find it. Go to www.threadalaska.org to download our quality care card, a quick reference for what to ask, and learn what these icons mean:
Are you ready?
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PARENTING Safe Sleep for Baby
LEGISLATIVE CORNER
Join thread in recognizing the important work of early care and education professionals on May 8, National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day. Sign our on-line Thank You card by visiting www.threadalaska.org and leave a special message for your child’s teacher, or just say thanks to all the early educators who tirelessly care for our state’s most precious assets — and for one of the lowest wages in Alaska.
You can also make your child’s caregivers, teachers, school-age program staff, child care center directors and staff, and all those who work with children feel appreciated with cards, flowers, hand-made crafts or even a gift certificate for professional development training at thread.
Say Thanks May 8
thread celebrated the work of the Alaska Children’s Trust at its annual fundraiser held at the Governor’s Mansion in February. Above, thread CEO Stephanie Berglund (left) and COO Melinda Myers visit with Gov-ernor Bill Walker.
President Obama has included landmark investments in early childhood programs in his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2016.
The need for affordable, quality child care is an economic priority for the nation, the President said in his State of the Union Address this year. His budget plan includes:
• Tripling the maximum child care tax credit.
• Investing in the Child Care and Development Fund to help more families afford quality care.
• Funding to help states design programs that better serve families facing unique challenges.
Send a message to Congress sharing your support of the President’s budget. Go to our Action Center at www.threadalaska.org.
President Calls for Investments in Early Learning
Infants die every year in Alaska from preventable deaths, many from unintentional suffocation while sleeping.
The Office of Children’s Services has recently seen an increased number of infant deaths involving unsafe sleep practices and caregivers using drugs or alcohol.
Keep your baby safe while sleeping by following these tips:
• Always place babies on their back for sleeping, even for naps
• Use a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress & fitted sheet
• Keep the crib clear of stuffed toys, bumpers, pillows & fluffy bedding
• Use sleep clothing like a one-piece sleeper instead of a blanket
• Keep baby’s head and face uncovered
• Keep baby in a tobacco-free environment
Southcentral Alaska Anchorage - Lead Office3350 Commercial Drive, Ste. 203Anchorage, AK 995019am - 5pm, Monday - FridayPhone 907.265.3100 Toll Free 800.278.3723Fax 907.265.3191 Toll Free Fax [email protected]
WasillaWestside CenterDPA Building, 877 W. Commercial Drive Wasilla, AK 996549am - 5pm, Monday - FridayPhone 907.373.5024Toll Free 800.278.3723 Fax 907.373.5067
Kenai601 Frontage Road, Suite 204Kenai, Alaska 996118:30am - 5:00pm, Monday - FridayPhone 907.398.1750 Toll Free 800.278.3723 Fax 907.265.3191 or 877.563.1959
Southeast Alaska Juneau3100 Channel Drive, Ste. 215Juneau, AK 998018:30am - 5pm, Monday - FridayPhone 907.789.1235 Toll Free 888.785.1235Fax [email protected]
Interior/Northern AlaskaFairbanks - Resource and Referrals
1908 Old Pioneer WayFairbanks, AK 997098am - 5pm, Monday - FridayResource Phone 907.479.2214 Referral Phone 907.479.2204Toll Free 866.878.2273Fax [email protected]
Fairbanks - Child Care Assistance1949 Gillam Way, Suite G,Fairbanks, AK 997018am - 5pm, Monday - FridayPhone 907.479.2212Fax 907.479.2295
thread Network www.threadalaska.org3350 Commercial Drive, Suite 203Anchorage, AK 99501
• Donate online at www.threadalaska.org.• Sign up for Fred Meyer Community Rewards # 82074 - at www.
fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.• Log in at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of
eligible purchases to thread.• Designate thread as the recipient for Bagoy’s Helping Hands
every time you buy flowers or gifts.• United Way Workplace campaigns and Alaska CFC #36880• Workplace - Find out if your company will match your gift • Early Education Fund for Alaska’s Children at Alaska
Community Foundation
MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNG CHILDREN – DONATE TO THREAD
Upcoming Events
Warm Your
April 10 Wear Blue to raise awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month; Family Night at Dimond Park Field House, Juneau
April 11Annual Baby & Children’s Fair at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, Palmer
April 11Kodiak Children’s Fair at Kodiak Baptist Mission Heritage Center, Kodiak
April 14Early Learning Fair for Ages 3–5 at Riverbend Elementary School, Juneau
April 18 Alaska’s Baby & Toddler Expo presented by thread at the Egan Center, Anchorage
May 8National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day
It’s not too late! Add a donation to thread through August 31.
