The annual Parent Education In-Service was held on January 22nd & 23rd, 2007 in Ithaca, New York. The in-service included a review of the Discipline is Not a Dirty Word curriculum; a panel session on fostering literacy in your community; advice on the role of media for young children (based on a Kaiser Family Foundation Report); introduced the Raising Responsible Children program; and described the PREVENT Child Maltreatment Institute: Enhancing Leadership project.
The following sessions were presented, and materials are posted where available:
1. Discipline is Not a Dirty Word: Nancy Olsen-Harbich, Denyse Variano, Bonnie Jo Westendorf, Anna Steinkraus and Isabelle Jensen. This session reviewed the DINADW curriculum and introduced new relevant research, activities, and role plays. Educators from counties around the state presented each principle with their unique techniques as well as facilitated a discussion geared toward identifying a standardized DINADW curriculum.
2. How Can Cooperative Extension Support Family Literacy within Our Communities?
Ruth Katz, Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES, Even Start Project Coordinator, Even Start. To download the slides from this presentation, click here .pdf.
Shari Hoffman, Schenectady County Cooperative Extension: "The Role of Home-Based Family Literacy Programs for Elementary School Children and Their Families." The Family Literacy Program is the only home-based program that serves children in kindergarten through grade three and their families in the Schenectady City School District, at no cost to the participants. The program started in January, 2004 with two schools in the district and now serves fives schools. Weekly visits focus on improving literacy and pre-literacy skills in all of the children in the family, strengthening parenting skills, and increasing participation in everyday Family Literacy activities. To download the slides from this presentation, click here .pdf.
Carol West, Jefferson County Cooperative Extension, Families and Communities Together with Schools.
Brigid Hubberman, Executive Director, Family Reading Partnership. The Family Reading Partnership, located in Ithaca, New York, is a coalition of organizations, individuals, schools, libraries and businesses that is working to create a "culture of literacy" by promoting family reading practices in the community and beyond. Their programs include: Books to Grow On, The Bright Red Bookshelf, Traveling Books, Kids Book Fest, and more.
3. Media and the Child Presenter: Tim Jahn, Suffolk County. This session discussed results from the recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey on Media and Infants and Toddlers. In addition, the session provided guidelines and suggestions for advising parents on the role of media in the day-to-day lives of children.
Slides: Children and the Media (.pdf)
Handouts: Core Concepts of Media Literacy (.pdf); Kids and the Media at the New Millenium (.pdf) ; Media Literacy is Important for Children (.pdf); and The Media Family 2006 (.pdf)
4. Raising Responsible Children Presenter: Nancy Olsen-Harbich, Suffolk County. We all want our children to grow into responsible, contributing members of our families and, ultimately, of society. How do we help parents guide their children to acquire the necessary skills and motivation? This overview of a workshop for parents of 3 to 10 year-olds explored parenting practices that teach children responsibility for themselves, for their schoolwork, for their home, and for their relationships. Handouts: Raising Responsible Children Tip Sheet (.pdf) and Raising Responsible Children Presentation Notes (.pdf).
5. UNC PREVENT Child Maltreatment Institute. Presenters: Chris Deyss, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse NY, Judy Richards, Program Director, Children and Family Trust Fund, and Susan Perkins, nYS Office of Children and Families. New York is one of eight states selected to join the PREVENT Child Maltreatment Institute: Enhancing Leadership project. This intensive 8-month project is designed to: enhance leadership for child maltreatment prevention and social change; plan, implement, evaluate and sustain evidence-based prevention efforts; communicate effectively with policy makers, media and other stakeholders; and develop partnerships and extend networks. Prevent Child Abuse NY (PCANY) has taken the lead in creating a partnership with the State Office of Children and Family Services, Departments of Health and Education, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, and the Council on Children and Families (the Council).