Parent Support & Education
Parent Education
Our Parent Educators offers interactive courses and workshops on a regular basis and are available to all interested families.
- "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" is a six-week course based on Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish's best selling parenting book. It explores concrete skills for communicating with kids, engaging their willing cooperation, disciplining without hurting, and fostering love and respect in families.
- "Baby Basics" is a two-hour workshop discussing what kids are learning as toddlers and twos. It includes "Ten Tips to Weather the Storm," and "The Three T's - tantrums, toilet training and talking."
Free on-site child care is available with advance reservation. Class size is limited for some offereings and enrollment is expected three weeks prior to the class or workshop. All fees include materials. A sliding fee scale and scholarships are available. For more information e-mail FCWCDADS@yahoo.com or call (802) 262-3292, ext. 115.
current parenting workshops/classes
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Playgroups
Playgroups are free, community-based, professionally facilitated open play times for children newborn to age five and their grown-ups. Each week playgroup facilitators transform community areas into play spaces for young children and parents, providing developmentally appropriate activities and an opportunity for children and parents to interact, explore, socialize and have fun!
Playgroups are attended on a "drop-in" basis; no enrollment or referral is necessary. Families are welcome to attend as many or as few playgroups as desired. Adults accompanying children are responsible for supervising their children. For more information e-mail familycenter@fcwcvt.org or call (802) 828-8765 or (802) 262-3292 ext. 113.
current playgroup schedule
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Craft Group
The Family Center Craft Group gives adults with young children the opportunity to get together with other adults. Fridays 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Montpelier site with free child care available! Bring a project to work on, or just bring yourself and get ideas from other crafters. Craft groups are sponsored in part by a grant from the Turrell Fund.
Mom's Mail
Mom's Mail is a support group held twice a week at Dale Women's Correctional Facility in Waterbury and facilitated by our Family Center Outreach Specialist. This program has become quite popular with the women and gives them the opportunity to create, express themselves and share their creations with their children and the greater community. It is a way for them to remain connected to their children, maintaining a bond throughout their time served. Through the use of recycled materials, participants create projects that make them very proud. One such project is a cardboard quilt (below) that was on display at the Exner Gallery in Bellows Falls February 6 - 28, 2006 and is currently on display at the Family Center in Montpelier.
In addition to facilitating the onsite support group, our Family Center Outreach Specialist also works with the women as they transition back into their communities. Connections are made to the local Parent Child Center and other community supports.
For more information e-mail: familycenter@fcwcvt.org or call (802) 262-3292 ext. 505.
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The Family Center's DCF Parent Educator provides intensive support to families for whom the Department of Children and Families Protective Services has opened a case or whose children are in state custody because of confirmed abuse or neglect. The parent educator provides
- Home visiting for individualized parent education and supportSupport to families' activities in the community and at DCF-sponsored sessions
- Support to meet program goals of reuniting the family and preventing removal of children from their homes
Participants work with the Parent Educator to identify and pursue specific goals regarding parenting and personal development that will support their capacity for healthy parenting.
The Parent Educator provides support through
- Home visitsAccessing community services
- Accompanying parents to educational, medical, attorney and other meetings and appointments as requested by the family
Our Parent Educator is an active participant in team meetings addressing families' case plans and progress toward goals. The DCF Child Protection Unit Supervisor makes program referrals. There is no charge to the family. For more information call (802) 262-3292, ext. 128.
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Supervised Visit Facilitator
Our Visit Facilitator supervises visits involving families whose children are in state custody and living in foster care.
The Visit Facilitator
- Works with parents to plan successful visitsSupports positive parenting during visitsWorks with DCF social workersTakes part in family team meetings
- Provides related individualized planning, parent education and support
Visits are held at DCF, the Family Center, or in community locations. Referrals are made through the Vermont Department of Children and Families, Barre District. For more information call (802) 262-3292, ext. 108.
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