July signifies the official commencement of summer, bringing along a plethora of enjoyable activities. Think cookouts, swimming pools, vacations or staycations, and summer camp! However, amidst all the excitement, it's essential to prioritize safety during this season. Keep reading for some valuable tips on how to have the safest and most enjoyable summer experience!

When hosting a BBQ or cookout and serving cold food, it's crucial to keep it chilled on ice or promptly return it to a cold storage area after serving. The scorching summer sun can cause food to spoil rapidly, potentially leading to foodborne illnesses. For more information, click here or the BBQ below!

Whether you're spending a brief or extended period outdoors, it's imperative to use sunscreen. The harmful UV rays emitted by the sun can result in painful sunburns and even increase the risk of skin cancer. Applying sunscreen provides protection against these harmful rays, ensuring the health of your skin and body. For more information, click here or the beach image below.

FCE Program Updates

PARENTING

“There’s nothing quite like enjoying the great outdoors with a roaring fire, gooey s’mores and a night sky full of stars. But that wonderful campfire is also a big responsibility.” Smokey the bear has a list of important campfire rules to follow this summer to keep safe. There is also information on additional campfire safety here.

Toddler swimming safety tips!

We all know children love the water however, it can be unsafe if they are not supervised or even have the proper swimming gear on. Click here for swimming safety when it comes to our little toddlers!

Summer is all about grilling. But have you tried grilling your desserts? You should! Here is a list of 15 grilled desserts recipes to get you and your family started.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

Summertime is when FCE partners with the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board Summer Youth Employment Program.

Staff will provide the agencies involved with the Financial Literacy for Youth program FLY:101. The FLY program has been designed to provide financial literacy education to youth aged 13-18, as a means to enhance their financial well-being into adulthood.

In addition to information for youth, The FCE program offers a free workshop for seniors:

Money Smart for Older Adults Program raises awareness among older adults and their caregivers on how to prevent elder financial exploitation and encourages advance planning and informed financial decision-making. This was developed jointly by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

Please contact Heather at 845-677-8223 ext. 156 for more information or events.

FISH ADVISORY

Fishing Maps by County

These maps highlight public access fishing waters and provide anglers and fish consumers a visual guide to the different types of consumption advice. There may be other waters in your county with public access that are not highlighted in these maps.

The maps show advisory locations to the best of our knowledge. Please contact the Hudson River Fish advisory:

HRFA@health.ny.gov if you are aware of any additional natural or man-made barriers preventing fish passage (that should or should not be included on these maps). We appreciate all feedback. These detailed maps are the first in a series that will be available over time. Click here for access to the map!

Please contact Maureen at 845-677-8223 ext. 122 for more information or events.

RAPP Report

Early June the families in RAPP came together at Bowdoin Park for our annual picnic Pizza Party.

Staff really pulled out all the stops for this event which included cookie decorating, field games, prize wheel, arts and crafts, and dance party!

Relatives as Parents Program is a free community-based program that works with families throughout Dutchess County providing educational workshops, peer support groups, respite events, inter-generational activities, referrals and resources for non-parent caregivers raising children. RAPP staff works with non-parent caregivers and their children to provide a fun, safe, welcoming space for them to connect with other families in situations similar to their own.

Know a kinship family who could use this support? Contact Jessica at jmc646@cornell.edu or at 845-677-8223 ext. 137

*A "Kinship Family" are grandparents and other (kinship) relatives who have taken on the responsibility of surrogate parenting because the parents are unable or unavailable to parent their children.

Talking RAPP:

2023 Promotion

Some of the adult participants chatted about why they are involved in Relatives As Parents Program (RAPP) and shared their experiences, thoughts and advice for other kinship families* within Dutchess County that are seeking support and resources for the unique challenges their families may be facing.

Click the image to watch the full video!

Click the images below for complete information!

It’s A Family Affair- The connection between debt and gambling.

Debt is something that majority of people come across in their lifetime, having a knowledge of how to manage your finances are good to help you get out of debt, but what happens when then debt in your family keeps increasing despite your efforts to be more financially savvy. The answer can be gambling.

What is gambling? Gambling is defined as risking something of value for a chance of reward. It can become a problem when gambling behavior starts to impede someone's lifestyle. The impediment can look like a slow or quick decline in their finances, new credit cards coming in the mail, the refusal to talk about the finances of the family, conversations turning aggressive. All these are signs that someone in your family may have gambling addiction.

If you find yourself asking questions or suspecting that your loved one has a gambling addiction, please reach out to the Mid-Hudson Problem Gambling Resource Center. We will answer any question you may have about this addiction, connect you with financial literacy resources, like the Cornell Cooperative Extension program, and provide you and your loved one with therapeutic help to start the recovery journey. If this message is for you, please give us a call at 1-833-here-to-help or 1-833-437-3864 or email us at mid-hudsonpgrc@problemgambling.org

-submitted by Leilani Yizar-Reid, Team Leader, Mid-Hudson Problem Gambling Resource Center, New York Council on Problem Gambling

Click here for the entire DC Office for the Aging Senior Summer Picnic schedule and complete info!

The Family and Consumer Education (FCE) program strives to ensure that families facing challenges in parenting, family finances, and wellness and nutrition find the resources and education they need to improve their lives.

FCE creates connections for residents with the latest, evidence-based research and practical information that can be directly applied to their day-to-day lives.

We work to strengthen individual knowledge and skills while providing community level and County wide education.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities. This program is partially funded by the County of Dutchess, Dutchess County office for the Aging, and New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Please contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension office if you have any special needs.

Wishes would come true with you! FCE needs ongoing supplies for our parenting programs. Click here to see how you can enhance our programming today!

Need to reach a member of the team?

Jessica M Canale- Program Leader

Maureen Rodriguez Callamari

Amber Dulavey

Ashley Furs

Heather L. Ohlson

Click here for previous FCE Update: Newsletters!

Thanks for your support and collaboration!

Are you a collaborative program or agency that needs information shared to the FCE community? Email Heather!

The Family & Consumer Education Program counts entirely on grants and donations to maintain and grow the services we offer throughout Dutchess County. Click the button below to see how you can contribute to maintaining the success of these initiatives!

Support FCE!

FCE Program Updates﻿

Fishing Maps by County

It’s A Family Affair- The connection between debt and gambling.

FCE Program Updates