WE CAN (mentoring program) training tonight!

Ashley has a WE CAN training scheduled for tonight, with I think, possibly 6 mentors to be trained. We hope to have a report on that tomorrow or soon. WE CAN mentors are deliberately trained and prepared for their important role of mentoring.

Preparation for Council of Accreditation site visit

A good part of today was spent with George, Vanessa, and Christy from the administrative office(quality assurance unit) with various staff preparing us for the upcoming Council of Accreditation site visit in the month of May. Lots of staff were involved in the general overall of what COA looks for in an agency, and what to expect from the site visit.

Welcome to a New Employee at the Site

We welcome Christina Griffin to employment here at CHS-Parkersburg this week. Christina will be working in the Right From the Start Lead Agency as a clerk. She is particularly going to help out during Brooke's maternity leave (in the short run!) Please make her welcome and "show her the ropes!"

Tomorrow Patty, Missy and I venture to Tygart Lake for a VISTA meeting

Tomorrow, Patty, Missy and I venture over to Tygart Lake State Park for a statewide WV Promise VISTA meeting. These quarterly meetings are an opportunity to share news among the WV Promise VISTA projects, and go over reports and updates. Pam Dugan always puts on a very hospitable meeting and it helps create a bond across the state with these great WV Promise projects.

On-going fund raisers related to the Americana Music Tribute Series

We have just finished another very successful fund raiser; the Cajun Cook Off and Hank Williams Tribute. There are several ways to help support our "musical" fundraising efforts throughout the year. We have t-shirts ($10 each, all sizes) for sale, which support the Tribute Series, and gave a visual way to show your support when you wear them proudly throughout the year. It is fun to see past year's shirts on staff around the offices on "casual" days! They become a good conversation piece, when someone standing behind you in line can ask about the Americana series!
There are also raffle tickets for a fantastic trip to Nashville Tennessee in September to attend the Americana Music Festival. These $20 tickets give you a chance to win a prize package worth over $1000- three nights lodging in downtown Nashville, within walking distance of the Ryman Auditorium (site of the awards ceremony) and many other live music venues, which you will have access to attend live shows over three nights, with many of the biggest names in Americana music. There is also some spending cash in the bargain.
Sponsorships of upcoming events are also a way to support the Series as well as the CHS-Parkersburg site in general, as well as getting your business name out in support of children and families services. We could use some sponsors for our first Outdoor Festival (The Shindig) in June; sponsors would help with expenses of putting the event on, such as sound, promotion, etc. Your name would be prominent in the advance material and at the event itself. Prizes is another great way to support the Americana series. At each event, the audience enjoys lots of fun along with the entertainment either through contests, or just the luck of winning a door prize. Over the years of the Series, many people have fun memories of winning a prize, or winning a contest!

Wrapping Up Child Abuse Prevention Month

We feel we've contributed the best we can to promoting National Child Abuse Prevention Month here at CHS-Parkersburg. We were so pleased right at the beginning of the month, to have area Methodist churches include our pinwheels in an Easter Egg Hunt. This led to the churches setting up pinwheel gardens throughout the month to raise awareness of child abuse prevention, and encourage people they could make a difference. We had several events with our students in our after school program, including hanging up the banner made last year by the art class at Jackson Middle School on our sign in front of our offices. We had our community forum on "What the community can do to Support Families and Prevent Child Abuse," and another forum on the DHHR's efforts to provide family supports through private agencies providers. We participated in the Children's Memorial Flag Day ceremony down at Government Square, where, despite the somber reality of commemorating child deaths, we reminded the community that everyone can make a difference and contribute to strengthening families and reducing the risks of child abuse. We continue to feel our greatest contribution to preventing child abuse is the daily work of all our staff at supporting and nurturing and strengthening families by our help and advocacy and service.

First Book Meeting

We are having an informational meeting about the First Book program this Friday at 1 pm at our offices on St. Mary's Ave. This national program works with local groups to distribute books to families that otherwise might not have access to books for their children. It stresses the value and importance of reading and books to the development of children. Any one is invited to attend this informational meeting to help us get a project going here in Parkersburg.