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View our videos on YouTubeLike us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter                         January 2014
In This Issue
Girls Circle
Family Success Center
Coordinated School Health
Safe Communities YOUth Coalition
Safe Night
Adolescent Enrichment Conference
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FSC Quick Links

 

Girls Circle Training for Professionals

EmPoWER Somerset is partnering with Friends of Somerset County Youth and the Somerset County Office of Youth Services to bring an exciting professional development opportunity to Somerset County. This training is made possible through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Office of Faith Based Initiatives. 

 

The Girls Circle 2-day training, open to all, will provide youth service professionals with 13 CEU hours approved for LCSW's, LPS's and others, an excellent value for the $350 cost of registration. Participants will get acquainted with the Girls Circle Program and learn skills needed to effectively deliver the program. Girls Circle is an engaging, evidence-based prevention program for girls, demonstrated to effectively increase self-efficacy, attachment to school, and social support and decrease self-harming behavior and rates of alcohol use among girls who have completed the program. Girls Circle includes curriculums centered on several different  themes such as; "Wise & Well," "My Family, My Self," and "Friendship."  Each curriculum includes 8 sessions consisting of structured lesson plans and activities.

 

Thursday, May 1st - Friday, May 2nd

8:00 to 8:30 am - Registration

8:30 to 4:30 pm - Training

Somerset County Human Services Building

27 Warren Street, Somerville, NJ 08876

13 CEU's provided upon completion

 

Click here for Flyer and Registration Information

 

 

Family Success Center

Our mission is to provide an environment to strengthen and empower individuals and families and to build connections among families and the community.
 

   

Little Scientist Family Fun Night 

REGISTER TODAY - Space is limited:  

Thursday, February 20th  6:00-8:00 pm  

Raritan Valley Community College Cafeteria 

118 Lamington Road, Branchburg 

 

Register online: HERE  

 

The EmPoWER Family Success Center continues to deliver quality FAMILY FUN nights since opening in March of 2012.  Parents and kids of all ages look forward to coming out to these FREE monthly gatherings that bring families together in a positive and fun environment!

 

  Check out the links below for more 

Family Success Center happenings:

View our February calendar  and event descriptions !

 

Congratulations 
Joetta Clark Diggs   

 

We are very excited to congratulate our partner Joetta Clark Diggs on her 2013 induction into the 
New Jersey Hall of Fame!

Joetta Clark Diggs is an Olympic track athlete who has made an indelible impact in sports and within the community. In her legendary 24-year career, the record-setting daughter of Jetta Clark and noted educator Dr. Joe Clark, the subject of the movie, Lean on Me, is an 11-time USA National Champion in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter categories.

As a high-school athlete, the Columbia High School graduate never lost an 800-meter race in high school and is the only athlete in New Jersey to win the all-groups title for four straight years; she still holds the state's 800-meter outdoor record.

 

Clark Diggs was a nine-time NCAA champion and All-American at the University of Tennessee. She represented the U.S. at the 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic games. From 1979 until her retirement in 2000, Clark Diggs competed in 20 USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships and five Olympic Trials. During her career, Clark Diggs ranked among the top 10 Americans for more than 21 years. From 1991 until 1998, she was ranked among the top 10 in the world; she ranked fourth in the world in 1998.

 

She was victorious in five of her last eight Trials she raced in and was in the national championship race in 18 of the last 19 years she competed. In addition, she has set World and American records, captured World Championship medals and served as the Captain of the Women's USA Team in 2000.

 

Clark Diggs retired from competition in 2000 and established a career as a motivational speaker, businesswoman, author and television personality. As an advocate for children's health and wellness, she established the Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation in 2002 to promote involvement with physical activities for girls and boys in grades K-12. The Foundation is committed to teaching good health and a positive work ethic, focusing on the correlation between achievement in academics and athletics. The Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation has served more than 50,000 children in New Jersey.

 

In 2009, she authored her first book Joetta's "P" Principles For Success: Life Lessons Learned From Track & Field.  The acclaimed book has been considered a tremendous resource to both corporate executives and for children. He awards include induction into the USA Track & Field and the University of Tennessee halls of fame, and being named Star-Ledger Women's Athlete of the Century. In addition, she is a Board Member of Raritan Valley Community College. Clark Diggs is married to Ronald Diggs; they have one child.

Video Highlights from the January 14th 



Somerset County Safe Communities  

YOUth Coalition

  

    

The Safe Communities YOUth Coalition, coordinated by EmPoWER Somerset, had their first official meeting on January 23rd. Middle School students from schools throughout the county were very eager and excited to meet for the first time since their leadership training in November. This meeting was focused on ice breakers for the students to get to know each other on a more personal level. One activity had students line up, in order, according to their birth date. There was one catch: they weren't allowed to speak. The students were innovative and used hand gestures as a guide to line up in chronological order. Our last activity asked students to describe their passion and anti-drug - an important way for students to realize that they have creative, safe, and healthy outlets during times of stress and insecurity. The Safe Communities YOUth Coalition members received t-shirts with a space, or a "canvas" for students to be creative and draw images or use words to describe what inspires them. The students enjoyed designing and sharing their shirts and inspiring one another.  

 

A special thanks to the partners who have helped to create the Somerset County Safe Communities YOUth Coalition: Somerset County Department of Human Services, GCADA / Municipal Alliances, and Safe Communities Coalition of Somerset County!   The energy was great for our first official meeting and we are excited to see what the YOUth coalition will accomplish during this new year!

Save the Date:

 

Safe Communities YOUth Coalition Meeting

Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 10 - 11:30 am

at the EmPoWER Family Success Center

34 W. Main St., Suite 201
Somerville, NJ 08876

Breakfast will be served!

 

 

Safe Night Save the Date

Saturday, April 5, 2014 from 6 - 10 pm

4-H Center of Somerset County

310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater

  

Safe Night is a drug-free party planned by the Somerset Youth Council and adults, with free food, games, workshops, dancing, and prizes!

Participants are encouraged to dress in black and white for this year's theme. EmPoWER Somerset is proud to once again be a partner in this annual event, along with the newly formed Safe Communities YOUth Coalition and Somerset County 4-H Senior Council.  
 
For more information about Safe Night, contact 
Sarah Murchison at [email protected]
 
 

Adolescent Enrichment Conference Offered

 

New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P) is offering an Adolescent Enrichment Conference and Resource Fair 

 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

10:00 am to 2:30 pm at the 

Raritan Valley Community College Conference Center

 

 

This event is open to youth ages 14 to 21 from Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties who are or have been involved in the CP&P (formerly DYFS) system.  EmPoWER Somerset and the EmPoWER Family Success Center, along with several other community agencies, will provide information and resources at the Resource Fair portion of the event. In addition, in partnership with the Safe Communities Coalition of Hunterdon / Somerset County, two substance abuse prevention workshops will be provided: "In A Split Second" covering underage drinking and prescription drug abuse prevention and New Jersey's 911 Lifeline Legislation, and "From Pills to Heroin" covering prescription drug abuse prevention, proper disposal of medications, and New Jersey's Overdose Prevention Act. Both workshops will feature interactive audience response system "clickers" and original documentaries produced by the Safe Communities Coalition.  

 

The documentaries "In A Split Second" and "From Pills to Heroin" can also be viewed on-line at www.safecoalition.org

 
 
"Citizenship Preparation Class"

Mondays  (10:00am -12:00 noon) or Wednesdays (6:00 to 9:00 pm) 

except 2/10 & 2/17 

Location : EmPoWER Family Success Center   

Free Citizenship classes are available to prepare for the Citizenship test. There is a one-time registration fee of $25.00. Books will be provided free of charge. For more information or assistance please call: (732) 777- 1940 ext. 1153. 

 

"Talent Development Group"

Facilitator: Haiyan Chen, SPHR

Mondays (2:00 pm - 4:00 pm) except 2/17 

Location : EmPoWER Family Success Center

Talent Development Group is a working group formed by job seekers. We support each other's job search through giving peer reviews on mock interviewing, resumes, and marketing plans. We also learn job skills together through presentations and discussions. Some job skills we have discussed include conflict management, leadership, etc.

 

"English as a Second Language (ESL)" 

Mondays &Tuesdays (7:00pm - 9:00pm)  

except 2/17 

Location: EmPoWER Family Success Center

For more information, contact Fran Leddy at 908-237-5000 or

[email protected] 

 

"Walking Club"

Every Tuesday & Thursday 2/27 (12:15pm - 12:45pm)

Location :  Meet in front of EmPoWER Family Success Center 

Join EmPoWER Family Success Center for a 30 minute walk around downtown Somerville to improve your health, reduce stress and have an opportunity to meet other members in our community

 

"Women's Wellness Support Group"

Facilitator:  Mariann Bruno

Thursdays (9:30am - 10:30am)

Location: EmPoWER Family Success Center

(Light Refreshments Provided)

Connect with other new moms, share your concerns, challenges and experiences.  We will discuss your adjustment to motherhood and practical concerns of parenting.

 

"Girls Youth Partnership"

Facilitator:Liz Hicks and Karl Craft, Youth Coaches

Friday, February 7 - (5:30pm -7:30pm)

Location : EmPoWER Family Success Center

(Dinner Provided)

Our Mission is to provide social, recreational, empowerment, leadership and community service opportunities in a diverse and supportive environment for our youth. FSO's Youth Partnership is for youth 13 - 21 years of age with emotional, behavioral or mental health challenges. This group will serve as an opportunity for girls with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges to discuss and share their experiences with other girls battling the same issues.

 

"Proactive Parenting"
Wednesday, February 12 (7:00pm-9:00pm)
Location: EmPoWER Family Success Center
If you're a parent/caregiver of a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs, please join us to gain knowledge of positive, proactive strategies of handling your child's challenging
behavior. Tell your story. Listen to the experiences of others.
Gain a network of support in your community.

 
 

Our Mission:  EmPoWER Somerset assists individuals and families in making positive lifestyle choices and fosters healthy, drug free communities through education, collaboration, and linkages to resources.