WILKES COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

Family support - includes parent education and support, early literacy programs designed to enpower families to have necessary skills to raise healthy children, and community outreach and education. Circle of parents program provided parenting support and education using the circle of parents group model for families with a child or children between the ages of birth to five not yet enrolled in kindergarten. 30 group sessions conducted with 37 parents attended a support group meeting impacting 49 children. Circle of security parenting program gave caregivers theability to discuss their parenting styles so they can better understand their child's emotional needs in oreder to respond sensitvely to their child's cues in order to create a secure base for their child, which will enhance their child's self-esteem, resiliency and emotional regulation. 14 sessions held with 13 parents/guardians participating impacting 22 children. Literacy programs conducted included raising a reader, dolly parton imagination library, and play to learn. 17 childcare facilities with 30 classrooms participating in raising a reader involving 370 children; 24,206 books mailed to 2,460 children enriolled in the dolly parton imagination library program; 94 group play sessions with 63 parents/guardians participating in the play to learn program. Parents as teachers educated parents on positive parenting practices through home visits, support groups, child screenings, family assessment, and access to referral network. 15 families with 21 parents/guardians participated, 17 children participated; 92 personal visits with 12 families referred for community services. Community outreach and education programs goal is to increase the awareness within the community of the organizations programs. Publications were developed to highliht the services offered and early childhood issues. 26 community presentations conducted; 1475 participants in community presentations; 19 outreach events; 4654 face book followers; 230 face book posts; 30 e-newletters sent to 3,079 individuals.