Taking Care...

Have you ever thought, “Here I am taking care of my home, my career, my family, but who is taking care of me?”  The answer is in fact the same person as all those other things, you.  It is just as important for you to take care of yourself so that you can be the absolute best parent you possibly can be.  The unfortunate truth is, that typically as mothers we put everything and everyone before ourselves that at the end of the day, there is just no time left to spare.  I challenge each of you as mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc. to find time each day, even if it’s just 10 minutes, to take care of the caregiver (that means you J).   If you need help coming up with some possible ways to do that, here are a few suggestions from the National Exchange Club Foundation website (http://www.preventchildabuse.com/documents/pt-selfcare.pdf):

Taking Care of Yourself

1.    Find time for yourself.

·         Nap when your baby is napping.

·         Take 10 minutes after your child falls asleep at night.

·         Teach your child your favorite hobby.

2.    Find time to laugh with your child.

·    Watch a funny movie together.

·         Tell silly jokes or stories.

3.    Talk with a friend on the phone.

4.    Read a chapter of your favorite book.

5.    Remember to exercise. Try it with your child!

6.    Squeeze in 10 minutes for a cup of tea.

7.    Allow yourself to go to bed 20 minutes early!

8.    Allow someone to watch your child when possible and get away!

If you’d like other suggestions of ways to take care of yourself or if you have any questions, feel free to call the Center at (706) 290-0764 or email me directly anytime april@exchangeclubfrc.org

Thoughts to Ponder as Parents:

We are never alone in this journey called “Parenthood”.  Not one single parent received an instruction manual with all of life’s answers when their child was born.  We are all in this together, learning from other parents, figuring out what works and what doesn’t.  Two of the most important things I’ve learned since becoming a parent are: 1) We have to be able to admit when our way of parenting just isn’t working; and 2) We have to keep an open mind and be willing to learning new and different ways of parenting.

Posted by April, Director of Family Services

Our Services

So, what exactly do we offer?

v  Parent Aide Services

o   Budgeting

o   Stress / Anger Management

o   Communication

o   Child Development

o   Behavior Management Techniques

o   Learning Appropriate Parent Roles

o   Goal Planning / Scheduling

o   Academic / Career Skills & Planning

o   Assistance in Forming Support Systems

o   Accessing Community Resources

o   Preventive Health Issues

o   Home & Personal Hygiene / Safety

o   Learning Difference Between Abusive / Non-abusive Techniques

v  Visitation Services

v  Supervised / Monitored Transfers

v  Parent Education through Community-based Parenting Classes

v  Divorcing Parents Seminars

v  In-School Education

v  Miscellaneous Services/Information and Referrals

Why a blog?

This is our opportunity to share what we do with you!  This blog will contain stories, parenting tips, information about child abuse and neglect, and general information about the Center.  We hope that you will enjoy reading our weekly posts.  Let's introduce you to our posters...

Executive Director:  Jenn

Director of Family Services:  April

Director of Administrative Services:  Kathy

Family Services Aide:  Kristi

Parent Aide:  Shemika

Parent Aide:  Audrey

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Who are we?

History

In the spring of 1979, the National Exchange Club adopted the prevention of child abuse as a national project.  Subsequently, the National Exchange Club Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse was established to implement an effective treatment modality based on the Volunteer Parent Aide approach.  Numerous Exchange-sponsored Child Abuse Prevention Centers were opened across the nation.  In 1988, The Exchange Club of Rome became interested in opening a Child Abuse Prevention Center, after learning of the impact of other Exchange-sponsored Parent Aide programs and that no resource of this nature existed in Floyd County.  In June of 1989, a task force headed by Katie Dempsey was formed to explore the possibility of opening a Child Abuse Prevention Center in Rome/Floyd County.  This task force held a series of three meetings with local community and social services agencies, law enforcement, legislators, judges, medical professionals, and interested community members.  Approximately 40 individuals representing these groups attended the meetings to study the national Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention program and to investigate the need for a Center in Floyd County.  The study group supported the National program and agreed to collaborate on the project.  In June of 1990, The Rome Exchange Club unanimously extended its support and voted to adopt the Child Abuse Prevention Center project.  The Exchange Club Family Resource Center was officially opened in November of 1991.

Mission

The mission of the Family Resource Center is to provide education and support services to families in Rome/Floyd County in order to strengthen the parenting and life skills of the parents and to prevent child abuse and neglect within these families.

Our Values

Safety:  Children should be protected from abuse and neglect and safely maintained in their homes.  The risk of harm to children is minimized by providing parenting skills education to the parents.

Permanency:  Children should have permanency & stability in their living situations.  The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved fro children, therefore avoiding foster care.

Child and Family Well-being:  Families should recognize the needs of their children, enhance their knowledge of those needs, and have sufficient support systems.