The New Year is off to a running start - and it can be hard to keep up. The Family Tree's staff are busy advocating for important legislation, expanding our programs throughout Maryland, and planning for
family events, fundraisers, and public engagement campaigns. Whether it's to strengthen your family or those in need, we hope you can get involved!
|
Resolve to Improve Your Family Life
Each New Year is an opportunity to reflect on what's important. That's why so many of us make resolutions, striving to bring a change that will improve our life.
Why not make a resolution that can have a dramatic impact on your family too?
Here's inspiration from our staff and parents.
"To learn better ways of coping with my frustration and actively use the strategies." - Amber
"To spend more time with my son on his homework and more discussion time about how he spent his day at school!" - Charles
"To expose my children to diverse types of team sports/ activities (i.e., double dutch, soccer, dodge ball, etc.)." - Naketta
"To learn how to talk to my son when it comes to disciplining in the right manner." - Anthony
"Do more reading with my daughter." - Laverne
"Have more energy to play with my kids." - Reta
"To help my son better understand his handicap." - Brian
"Be able to comfort and handle the trauma my child has endured." - Amanda
"To get my daughter to sleep by herself." - Krystel
"To find additional activities that I can enjoy with my son." - Gabriel
"To establish healthy boundaries for my 5 year old. I tend to spoil him and he knows it!" - Veronica
"I want my children back so we can be a family again." - Alan
"To develop more patience." - Dionne
"To successfully potty train my son." - Ashley
"To be able to grieve the loss of our one son, and be a better mom to our other two children." - Amber
|
Parenting takes serious commitment - so does completing our Healthy Families America (HFA) program! We were thrilled to celebrate 5 graduates this month, all of whom enrolled while pregnant. For 3 years, they met monthly (or more) with The Family Tree's home visitor, learning
healthy parent-child interaction, child development, health and safety practices, goal setting, and more. We know these parents are well-prepared to give their children a bright future.
Join us in congratulating them!
|
Bonding with baby doesn't always come naturally to new parents. But for the baby, this relationship is their first and will affect all their future ones.
That's why The Family Tree offers the ABC (Attachment & Bio-Behavioral Catch-Up) program, designed to build strong parent-child relationships for parents and babies ages 6 to 18 months. This 10-week home visitation program helps parents provide a safe, stable and nurturing environment that enhances their child's growth. To learn more, email Natasha Peterson!
|
See What We've Accomplished Together!
19,000: That's how many people we reached this year in our efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect in Maryland.
Thank you to our donors, volunteers, supporters and parents for creating positive changes for generations to come.
|
|
Advocacy Corner
Legislation plays an important role in preventing child abuse and neglect, supporting healthy childhood development, and strengthening families. And the Maryland General Assembly is back in session. Here are bills we will be raising our voices in support of - and we hope you will too!
Maryland Healthy Working Families Act - In Maryland, workers without sick/ safe leave are forced to go to work sick, send an ill child to school/ daycare, or stay home and sacrifice much-needed income or risk job loss. This would require companies to allow workers to earn paid sick leave or take unpaid time with no penalty.
Reporting of Substance-Exposed Newborns - The birth of substance-exposed newborns is on a frightening rise in Maryland. Yet we know that many are going unreported.
This bill calls for the local department of social services to make assessments on all exposed newborns (whether to illegal or legal drugs), which will help families get earlier care.
Call or email your local Delegates and Senators to show your support!
|
Parenting for Success
O
ur 10-week research-based parenting class!
Cost: Free
*Fridays starting 2/3, 10am-12pm
(Location: 2108 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD
)
Parenting Partners
6-week
parenting and leadership skills-building class
Cost: Free
(
Location:
50 E. Bel Air Ave., Aberdeen, MD)
8-week parent-child relationship building class
Cost: Free
*Advance registration is required for all of the above classes. All classes are held at The Family Tree (2108 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21230) unless otherwise stated.
|
|
The Family Tree
| 2108 North Charles Street
|
|
|
|
