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Each month, PEI shares a variety of information for professionals, families, parents and children to support strong and thriving families.
For more information about PEI and its programs visit us online.
Laredo
SCAN held its annual April Child Abuse Prevention conference on April 4th!
“Eat, Play, Love: Increasing Children’s and Caregivers’ Emotional and Behavioral Regulations to Improve Children’s Behavior and Prevent Child Abuse” was a playful and interactive workshop with 103 attendees. The presenter, Dr. John Paul Abner, PCIT Global Trainer and professor at Milligan University discussed research on the power of family meals and the importance of play.
During the workshop, participants identified a few techniques, such as, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of instructions for children, self-regulation strategies for children and caregivers, and self-care strategies for themselves.
Participants from a variety of child- and family -serving organizations attended the conference, which was great success!
Weimar
On March 22nd, Stanzel Family Foundations' Parents as Teachers hosted their annual Easter Party Group Connection at Weimar Elementary, attracting over 150 people!
The children and their families enjoyed arts and crafts, an egg hunt, and other fun activities, including the photo booth, which was a favorite for the attendees in capturing memories of the party! There were also free eye exams provided by the Weimar Encore Lions Club. Lastly, a spaghetti dinner was served to families by Koopmann Catering.
Lubbock
Bryce Salina at beginner guitar lessons
Bryce Salina looks forward to participating in YWCA Lubbock’s CYD monthly Arts and Cultural Enrichment Program's beginner guitar lessons every other week. The lessons include information about the history of the instruments and uses in different cultures.
Bryce’s mother reached out to the CYD program staff to express her gratitude for the program and impact it has made in his life. The relationships and mentorships he has with CYD staff make a huge difference for him!
Each month, one of ten PEI Innovation Grant recipients will be spotlighted to share about their innovation and what they have learned along the way with the broader prevention community.
Family Service Center (FSC) of Galveston is May’s spotlight Innovation Grant recipient.
FSC is a FAYS provider that is innovating in the area of youth and parent mental health by making an effort to meet those they serve where they are at - literally. By making use of existing community groups, initiatives, and meetings, they are able to more effectively engage youth and parents in Galveston County, which has a diverse mix of urban and rural residents. An example of this effort can be seen in their hosting of a Black History Talent Show event where FSC collaborated with local businesses, entrepreneurs, and organizations to share information on local resources and celebrate the talent of the community with over 600 attendees.
One challenge FSC has encountered while implementing this innovation centered around outreach was capturing youth and parent voice, particularly through surveys such as the Primary Needs Assessment. They learned that both internal and external barriers were impacting survey results. To address this issue, FSC has used creative ways to gather input from parents and youth outside of formal surveys, such as informal conversations, hosting activities the families have mentioned are of interest, and creating an inclusive and open organizational culture where youth and parents are comfortable sharing their voice. Using these strategies, in addition to offering bilingual supports, helped elevate their efforts to gain meaningful feedback from parents and youth. FSC’s Phylicia French encourages those in the prevention community to “be open to redefining mental health and wellness initiatives to support your community and be intentional about getting to know people and building relationships.”
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Check back next month for the next Innovation Grant Spotlight!
The 2024 Calendars are now available for order. This free family resource is filled with helpful tips for parents and caregivers of children of all ages. It’s available in English and Spanish, and endorsed by The Texas Pediatric Society.
Calendars can be ordered in multiples of 100 with a maximum order of 500.
Governor Abbott Launched the “One Pill Kills” Statewide campaign to combat the growing national fentanyl crisis. We are sharing the attached information to help you spread the word in your local communities about fentanyl and provide you with resources. According to the latest information:
- Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18-45.
- More than 2,000 lives were lost to fentanyl in Texas last year.
- Texas has experienced a 500% increase in fentanyl-related deaths since 2019 (according to provisional data from the Texas Department of State Health Services).
- Under Operation Lone Star, Texas law enforcement alone has seized over 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl since 2021—enough to kill every man, woman, and child in America.
Share the QR Code above to spread awareness of Narcan locations in your community, and click the link below to access additional resources for the "One Pill Kills" campaign.
Register for the Promoting Family & Provider Mental Well-Being Webinar Series
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, making it the perfect month to kick off the Pediatric Brain Health Initiative’s upcoming webinar series: Promoting family & provider mental well-being.
The Texas Pediatric Brain Health Initiative is a multisector, multi-agency collaboration focused on the prenatal to three-year-old developmental window. The purpose of this initiative is to use the current science on pediatric brain development to help inform and support program that promote community resilience and optimal development in Texas' children.
2024 Pediatric brain health webinar series
Webinar 1:
Parenting Begins before Birth: The New Science of Prenatal Programming and Early Brain-Behavior Development
May 9, 2024, 12:00-1:30 PM CDT
Webinar 2:
Challenges and Opportunities in Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Families in the Perinatal Period
May 22, 2024, 12:00-1:30 PM CDT
This year’s web series is funded by The Department of Family & Protective Services through Prevention and Early Intervention.
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As parents we want the best for our kids. GetParentingTips.com is here to support you with tips from infants to teens.
Create a Flower Garden
April Showers Bring May Flowers!
Try this fun and colorful craft with your children using objects that can be found at home.
Materials
- Sheet A4 white paper
- Colored craft / popsicle sticks
- Colored cupcake liners
- Thin double-sided sticky tape (DSST) or glue
- Green paper
- Bright buttons
- Other embellishments e.g. cotton wool, paper or foam shapes, stickers, sequins, small patty pans, material flowers or shapes, glitter glue, glitter etc...
- Craft Glue
Instructions
- Cut out leaf shapes with short stems from the green paper.
- Lay a strip of double-sided sticky tape along the back of 3 craft sticks (these will be the flower stems).
- Remove the backing from the double-sided sticky tape and stick the stems of two green paper leaves onto each craft stick - the leaves will stick out from behind the stems.
- Stick the stems down onto the A4 white paper - position them along the bottom & fairly evenly spaced.
- Place a small piece of double-sided sticky tape (or use glue) onto the back of 3 cupcake liners and stick them down positioned at the top of each of the flower stems.
- Embellish your flowers - use the pictures provided for inspiration and let your imagination run wild!
HINT: Use double-sided sticky tape to adhere your embellishments where possible, as this reduces mess and doesn't need time to dry.
- Use double-sided sticky tape to stick a button in the center of each flower.
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Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers and in 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be commemorated on the last Monday of May.
Below are fun activities for you and your children to do throughout this month!
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Make a Poppy Craft - Poppies are a traditional symbol for Memorial Day and can be a fun craft to use as a decoration or wear using a safety pin.
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Star Suncatcher Patriotic - This craft is perfect for Memorial Day and 4th of July festivities!
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11 Memorial Day Activities for Kids - Look no further! Here are 11 activities of fun for the 3-day weekend. Starting on Saturday with a special breakfast and ending with hosting a small party on Memorial Day. These activities will keep you and your whole family busy.
What is Your Parenting Style?
When a parent thinks of style, they may think of their fashion style, work style, or even play style. Many do not realize that there is also a parenting style! A parenting style is the way you interact with your children. There are four styles that parents may use to assist in raising their children. So, understanding how to use each style and how it may change depending on the situation is important. This can make a big difference in their development and confidence all the way to adulthood.
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