Eden Prairie Schools Community Education
Family Resources Program Newsletter - March 2017
Greetings & Happy Spring!

Thank you to those of you who provided feedback on our first e-newsletter! We hope you find this month's edition helpful as well. The purpose of this communication is to build greater awareness and connection to local resources. It's a particularly busy time of year, and there are many exciting events we also want you all to be aware of. If you have suggestions, content you would like included in the future, or if you do not want to receive this e-newsletter, please contact me directly. Thank you for the work you do to support our families! 
Molly Patil
Family Resources Specialist
Eden Prairie Schools - Community Education
952.975.6942
BEYOND THE DIPLOMA: TONIGHT! 3.22.17
The Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools (FEPS) is launching their new "Beyond the Diploma" Alumni Speaker Series tonight, Wednesday, March 22nd at 7 pm with an inspirational presentation by U of MN Marching Band Director Betsy McCann, who is a 1999 EPHS grad and the first woman to lead a Big Ten Marching Band. For more information and to purchase tickets, which are still available online and at the door as well, click: HERE. In addition, their online silent auction is open until 10 pm tomorrow, March 23rd. Click HERE to browse items up for bid.
MEET YOUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS OPEN HOUSE: 3.25.17
Take a tour, talk to a Muslim, ask your questions, and build bridges of understanding from 11 am - 5 pm Saturday, March 25th, at Masjid Al-Tawba, 6871 Flying Cloud Drive in Eden Prairie. Refreshments will be served. For more information call 952.946.6061 or email iccc.masjidaltawba@gmail.com. 
DESIGNING PATHWAYS PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS: 3.28.17 & 4.13.17
Eden Prairie Schools is implementing a multi-phase, academic and facilities planning process referred to as Designing Pathways. The community is invited to attend public input sessions on Tuesday, March 28th or Thursday, April 13th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at Eden Prairie High School to learn more about the Phase 2 facilities recommendations and provide input. The presentation from the last round of input sessions is available on the Designing Pathways website, where you can also find more information about this process.
PARKS & RECREATION JOB OPEN HOUSE: 3.30.17
Eden Prairie's Parks and Recreation Department is looking for individuals with skills such as strong customer focus, initiative, teamwork, flexibility, results orientation and public stewardship. If you are a high performer who has a passion to serve your community, you are a perfect fit! Learn about their part-time and upcoming seasonal job opportunities Thursday, March 30th from 5 - 7 pm at the Community Center. Click HERE  for more information.
IMMIGRATION FORUM: 3.30.17
ResourceWest will be hosting an Immigration Forum on Thursday, March 30th at the Eisenhower Community Center from 6 - 8:30 pm. The presentation will address the myths and realities of Trump’s Immigration Orders. The information session, which will be delivered in Spanish and English, may be particularly helpful for Hispanic families, but anybody is welcome to attend. Bring your questions and concerns.
DENTAL CLINIC: 3.31.17  
myHealth for Teens & Young Adults in Hopkins is hosting a low-cost dental clinic for children, teens, young adults, and pregnant women on Friday, March 31st from 9 am - 4 pm. Though Children's Dental Services accepts all forms of insurance, an income-based sliding fee scale will be used to determine costs. View the flyer HERE.
REFUGEE 101 TRAINING: 4.10.17
PROP is hosting a free training from 4 - 5:30 pm on Monday, April 10th presented by Patricia Fenrick from the Department of Human Services covering the basics of the refugee journey from the refugee camp through the extensive security vetting process to U.S. arrival. Facts about who is currently in Minnesota with refugee status and how the recent Presidential Executive orders affect refugees in general and the state of Minnesota specifically will give clarity to the current changes in refugee Federal policy. For more information, click HERE.
FRIDAY FUN DAY & VEHICLE FAIR: 4.21.17
Join us Friday, April 21st from 5 - 7 pm for a free night of family fun at Little Eagles Preschool featuring a vehicle fair, games, open gym and playground access, face painting, a food truck, and more! All are welcome. Registration is NOT required. 
THE GIVE GATHERING: 4.27.17
The first annual GIVE Gathering will be Thursday, April 27th from 6 - 8 pm at the Education Center. This event will serve as a volunteer fair by connecting community members to volunteer opportunities, as well as a free professional development opportunity for volunteer coordinators/managers. Register your organization and learn more at www.edenpr.org/GIVEgathering.  
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE: 5.4.17 - 5.6.17
The Friends of the Eden Prairie Library will be holding a book sale on May 4th, 5th, and 6th at the Eden Prairie Library. Books of all kinds, including many children's and family books, will be available for purchase at very minimal cost. All the money raised goes to the Eden Prairie Library to help the many programs and services they provide our community. Visit the Family Resource Program Calendar to view more details.
MN DRUG CARD
Families without insurance or those on high-deductible plans may benefit from a free prescription drug discount program that provides up to a 75% discount on prescription medications. Families can obtain a card from the Family Resources Program, school nurses, PROP, or by printing one off their website. The program is not limited to low-income families, but the MN Drug Card cannot be used to reduce your co-pay for those with insurance, but may be used in lieu of insurance, sometimes offering a more affordable out-of-pocket cost. The MN Drug Card is accepted at virtually all local pharmacies and is HIPPA compliant.
CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE'S PASSPORT TO FUN PROGRAM
The City of Eden Prairie offers financial assistance for a variety of programs to those who qualify through the Passport to Fun Program. The program offers free access to open swim, open skate, and open gym at the Eden Prairie Community Center and a 50% discount on Parks and Rec classes (up to $100 off per person, per year) to spend towards Parks and Rec classes). Learn more and download the application form by clicking HERE.
PROP SHOP EXPANDING FAMILY SERVICES HOURS
The PROP Shop is expanding the Family Services shopping hours by opening on Mondays from 10 am - 3 pm to better meet the needs of clients. Family Services, which provides free clothing, household goods, and furniture to families in need, maintains different hours than the resale store.  Starting Monday, April 3rd the Family Services hours will be as follows:
  • Mondays 10 am - 3 pm
  • Tuesdays 10 am - 6:30 pm
  • Wednesdays 10 am - 6:30 pm
  • Thursdays 10 am - 3 pm
  • Fridays 10 am - 3 pm
  • Saturdays 10 am - 3 pm
  • Closed Sundays 
FAMILY LITERACY CLASSES BEING OFFERED AT BRIARHILL
Metro South Adult Basic Education and Eden Prairie Community Education are offering a free Family Literacy class on Wednesdays from 1:15 - 3:15 pm at Briarhill Apartments. Parents looking for opportunities to improve their English, but are in need of childcare during the class, are encouraged to call Metro South at 612.247.6398 to learn more about this opportunity. This is an enriching time for parents and kids, as child care is provided by Eden Prairie Schools Early Childhood staff.
HELP NEEDED TO SURVEY EP COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STUDENTS, & FAMILIES
The Family Resources Program and Community Engagement Impact Council are hoping to survey as many people as possible over the next month as part of our broader needs assessment effort to better understand the needs of individual families, the gaps in services in Eden Prairie, and families’ perspectives on our community’s strengths.  If you are willing to help administer the survey by hosting a collection box at your site, sending out the link, or promoting the survey, please contact Molly Patil.
UPDATE YOUR ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS & SERVICES 
The Family Resources Program is still looking for help updating the local programs and services grid containing basic information about the types of resources provided to Eden Prairie families and by whom. Our hope is that community partners will share in the responsibility of maintaining the  living version of this document , which will serve as the initial building blocks for our shared resources database. If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to review your organization’s programs and services and edit where appropriate. If your organization is not currently listed, feel free to add it. At this point, we are not collecting additional information or notes, but simply looking to capture the direct services provided by each organization (as indicated by an X) or the specific expertise or connections to resources (indicated by a C) your organization provides.
Eden Prairie Schools | Community Education | 952.975.6940 |   ComEd@edenpr.org