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Are you interested in sharing your families story in the "One Family's Story" section of the Early Childhood CARES newsletter?
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text4baby
is an app that is designed for parents who are pregnant or have a baby up to age one. Sign up to receive free weekly text messages on developmental and health related topics. Text4baby is supported by the American Pediatric Association and health departments across the country. It is available in English and Spanish. Visit text4baby.org to get signed up today!
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 | | University of Oregon College of Education |
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Positive Behavior Support
| Have you ever wondered what else you can do to help your child(ren) get along with his/her siblings or other children? If so, you're not alone and may be interested in trying a strategy currently being used in preschool classrooms. Using a set of pictures know as the solution kit, children are taught how to solve problems by making positive choices. Choices include: Ignore, play together, share, ask nicely, say, "please," etc. Prior to a problem or conflict occurring, parents introduce the cards to their child(ren) as a tool to use to solve problems. Parents then continue to use the cards throughout the day during conversations, activities, story time, mealtime, etc., to provide practice when the child is calm and interested. The key to the effectiveness of the cards is that they are used often during calm times when children can think without emotions clouding their thinking. Then when a conflict arises, your child will have a familiar and effective problem solving strategy available to use. If you are interested in trying the solution kit, contact your Early Childhood CARES service coordinator. You can visit the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning for more information , resources and strategies.
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NEW Mom-2-Mom Program
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Starting this February, 2015 - Early Childhood CARES moms can get together for fun, fitness and friendship. Every Saturday at 3:30 moms are invited to meet at Bounce Gymnastics for an hour of exercise: Zumba, Pi-Yo (a Pilates Yoga based program), Running, Walking. Every month we'll have a different fitness experience. Zumba and Pi-Yo classes are taught by licensed instructors who are also moms of Early Childhood CARES kids, with a cost of $3.00 per class. Running and Walking groups will be free! February is PiYo month, March is walking/running month, April is Zumba month. These classes are not sponsored by Early Childhood CARES. This is a way for moms to get to know each other in a parent-focussed setting with an emphasis on self-care. There is no childcare available. Please contact Sue Desmond for sign-up or more information: [email protected]
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One Family's Story
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Ben's Story
B enjamin was born in November of 2010, four weeks earlier than we expected. Thankfully, because he had to be in the NICU, the doctors monitoring him on a daily basis were  specialists in neonatal development and we were able to detect his very rare chromosome deletion much earlier than we would have under normal circumstances. In January of 2011, Benjamin had his first real "test" at only two months old, when we had our first evaluation with Early Childhood CARES of Lane County to see if we qualified for Early Intervention services. I cannot think of another time when I have ever wished to have my child fail. This is not something I would have ever thought I would want to qualify for. I didn't want to believe he needed the help; I just wanted him to be normal.
However, over the last four years of our son's life, his early intervention team has been the foundation of our family's support system and has had a positive and profound impact on his development. He finally has a way to communicate with us thanks to the training Early Childhood CARES provided my husband and me to learn picture communication techniques. According to the few statistics we do have regarding his condition, he has continued to meet developmental milestones about six months earlier than most of the other children with his condition.
 I credit his success to his determination and to the determination of so many who have worked with our family to make sure that we have all the tools we need to ensure that he has every opportunity to succeed, and my family and I are so thankful for all the support and guidance we have received.
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Imagination Library Now in Eugene
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Dolly Parton started her Imagination Library in 1996 as a way to cultivate in all children a love of reading. Dolly knows that reading opens doors to children's imaginations and dreams so her vision was to give the gift of reading by providing free books to as many children as possible. Research shows that daily reading to young children has many positive outcomes including increased social and literacy skills. The Imagination Library is now in Eugene thanks to a partnership with the Eugene Public Library. If your child lives in the city of Eugene, you are eligible to sign up for the Imagination Library and receive one free book each month that is yours to keep. Visit the Eugene Public Library to sign up today!
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Employment Opportunity at Early Childhood CARES
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Early Childhood CARES has a part time Parent Outreach Coordinator position available. The position plans, organizes and hosts parent events and trainings. Flexible schedule with some evening work. The application deadline is Feb. 23. For complete position announcement, qualifications and application instructions, see Administrative Program Assistant at the University of Oregon Human Resources website.
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Research Opportunities
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The Oregon Parent Project
Families are now being accepted to participate in the Oregon Parent Project, offered through the University of Oregon's Child and Family Center with funding from the National Institutes of Health. The study enrolls parents/caregivers with toddlers and preschool-age children aged 28-45 months and will follow them during early childhood and school transition. The program is free of charge and families will have the opportunity to participate in 6 assessments over a period of 1-1/2 to 2 years and earn $50 ̶ $150 per assessment. Some parents will be invited to participate in a parent education class designed to promote child and family well-being. For more information, please contact Angie Relling at 541.346.2632 or [email protected]. Progress Monitoring Study
The University of Oregon Early Intervention Program is looking for families in the Eugene/Springfield area with children ages 1 month to 36 months who are receiving Early Intervention Services or who have an identified delay or disability to participate in it's progress monitoring in young children study. Families will receive a $25 gift certificate in return for completing 2-3 questionnaires together with a researcher. To learn more or to participate, please contact Kimberly at 541.346.2580 or [email protected]. |
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Resources and Information
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LANEKIDS
Visit LaneKids, Lane County's "Parenting Education Hub," for great information on community activities, community resources and parenting support. Check out LaneKids monthly activity calendar for February activities in our area.
THE ARC LANE/FAMILIES CONNECTED
Emerald Family Down Syndrome Network Parent Toddler Playgroup - Sat. Feb. 14, 10 am - noon at Norkenzie Christian Church located at 2530 Crescent Ave, Eugene. Email Heather ( [email protected]) for more information.
JumpStart Saturday Respite- Feb. 7th and 21st
10 am - 4 pm., at 4181 E St, Springfield. JumpStart is a respite program for children ages birth to 18 with developmental disabilities and their siblings. Families must use K-Plan support funds to pay for JumpStart Saturday. Email Becca Hope or call 541-654-7649 for more information and to reserve a spot.
Out N About at Bounce - Tuesdays 5 - 6 pm., 329 W 3rd Ave, Eugene. Families Connected hosts Out N About at Bounce every Tuesday for children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their siblings. Parents must remain on site, but are free to sit back and connect with one another while the volunteers play with your kiddos.The cost is $3 per person.
Family Fun Day - Feb. 28, 4:00 am. - 6:00 pm., at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics located at 1205 Oak Patch Rd., Eugene. Families must RSVP by emailing Laura Dahill or calling 541-343-5256.
Families Connected Dinner Night - Feb. 26, 6 - 8 pm. Free dinner and childcare are provided, but families must RSVP by emailing Laura Dahill or calling 541-343-5256. The guest speaker will be Anne Beem a family counselor who has experience working with children who have special needs. Anne will share how parents can set boundaries with children for long term behavioral success. Sibshops - Every Tuesday, Feb. 10-Mar. 17, 4:30 - 6:00 pm., at the U of O Clinical Services Building, 901 E. 18th Ave., Eugene. Sibshops is a workshop for siblings of children with special needs who are ages 8-13. The program allows kids to meet other kids and talk about their unique experiences. Co- Sponsored by the Child Development and Rehab Center. To register contact Susan Schulz at 541-346-1286.
ONLINE TRAININGS
FACTOregon offers several online training opportunities for parents. Check out their Great Start! Parent Empowerment Training Series: An interactive four part training kit intended for families with children receiving early intervention/early childhood special education.FREE SCREENING FOR SIBLINGS
Parents of children receiving services from Early Childhood CARES may request a free developmental screening for younger siblings. Simply call 541-346-2578. Spanish speaking families can call 541-346-0742.
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About Us
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Early Childhood CARES provides early intervention and early childhood special education to infants, toddlers and preschool age children in Lane County. Services are individually designed to address the needs of the young child with developmental delays or disabilities. All services are free of charge to eligible children.
Early Childhood CARES
541-346-2578 800-925-8694 299 E 18th Ave Eugene OR 97401
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