Supporting Our Youngest Community Members: Resilient Families, Early Life Skills |
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Community Response Program Steps in with Timely, Targeted Support |
The Problem: Families at risk of abuse and neglect In 2018, the data was impossible to look away from. In Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Child Protective Services (CPS) intervened in 542 child maltreatment cases, a 30% increase over the previous 3 years. To drive change, we needed to understand why and how could it be prevented? And then intervene in a meaningful way.
The Solution: GWCHF invested $568,750 from September 2018 to September 2021 in the Community Response Program The Community Response Program provides connections to services, case management and skill building for parents and caregivers, focusing on evidence-based factors that foster positive parenting and protect against abuse and neglect.
The Results: 387 families reached before crisis in Dodge and Jefferson Counties, representing more than 750 children “We are thrilled to offer these earlier intervention and prevention services,” says Kathi Cauley, Director of Jefferson County Human Services. “We have received positive feedback from participants. We hope to expand the program even further.”
Read the full article about the independent program evaluation conducted by The Institute for Child and Family Well-Being, part of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at UW-Milwaukee.
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Pyramid Model Instills Pre-K Life Skills |
Strong life skills are key building blocks for success. Employers may call them “soft skills,” and say they’re in serious decline. Research backs that up… all the way to preschool! In our region, only 61% of kindergarten students were developmentally ready with these vital skills (based on the Ages and Stages screening tool).
Investment: $350,000 over 3 years to implement the Pyramid Model in early childhood care centers
“It has been amazing to partner with the team members at FASA and Willows over the past two and a half years and work alongside their leadership teams to support and celebrate as they build Pyramid Model practices to fidelity,” says Jill Van Sickle, Early Childhood Learning Innovation Coach. “It is incredible to see, hear and feel the cohesiveness of staff and children in their center-based early care programs.”
Initial results over the first three years include:
How much? A total of 182 children are being served across seven participating sites.
How well? The percentage of Benchmarks of Quality (BOQ) achieved overall, by all participating sites has steadily increased to 59%.
Is anyone better off? The long term goal of this investment is to improve developmental readiness for school, as measured by the Ages and Stages developmental screening tool. In 2021, 53% of 4-year olds in pyramid model classrooms were meeting all recommended developmental milestones.
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Community Survey (Please help spread the word!)
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The TalkReadPlay movement, facilitated by the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation and its Every Child Thrives partners, is focused on strengthening families by promoting quality, positive interactions between parents/caregivers and their young children. We are seeking data to know how we are doing so we can set targets for the future.
Please help us collect information from community members through a short online survey. This survey will help us understand awareness of the importance of early learning, how much families are currently engaging with their young children, and knowledge of TalkReadPlay.
The TalkReadPlay Community Survey will take about 5 minutes to complete. All participants have the opportunity to be entered into a gift card drawing for participating. Answers will be used to help our network of partners plan for the future.
Please help spread the word in our community by sharing the post on our Facebook page.
Here is a recommendation for your Facebook post share:
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(Your organization name) is a proud partner of TalkReadPlay, an effort that supports young children and families in our community. Please take this short survey to help us understand community awareness on the importance of early learning, how much families are currently engaging with their young children, and knowledge of TalkReadPlay.
Thank you for your assistance in helping us to collect information from our community!
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Triple P Parenting Program
Creates Success for Families
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Triple P is an evidence-based parenting education program that teaches families how to spend less time battling misbehavior and more time building close relationships with their children. Participating parents and caregivers develop skills to manage stress and encourage healthy habits, which create more positive days for their families and a brighter future for their children.
The Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation has provided facilitation and support to 14 agencies to become trained to deliver Triple P programs throughout Dodge and Jefferson counties. Amber Schraufnagel with Mayville Open Door, has taken an innovative approach to delivering Triple P. She designed a 9-month journey for the Moms Unite Group, a cohort of moms who gather monthly at the Open Door Coffeehouse to learn about and discuss Triple P strategies as a group. The moms also have the opportunity to meet with Amber to get one-on-one parenting support based on their family’s unique needs.
With take-home tools like Triple P parenting guides and tip sheets, participating moms have shared learnings with their partners, who have also become engaged as they experience the positive changes the program has offered their families.
Learn more about Triple P at Open Door Mayville in this feature video.
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Open Grants Focus on Improving Community Health for All |
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GWCHF is currently accepting proposals for four open grant cycles.
Changemaker Grants provide support for agencies working to improve health equity for those they serve, while focusing on the social determinants of health.
Capacity Building Grants are for agencies looking to advance their missions by developing leadership skills or strengthening organizational efforts.
Submitted proposals must directly support the communities served by the school districts of Dodgeland, Hustisford, Ixonia, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Waterloo and Watertown.
To date, the Foundation has invested nearly $13 million in its five strategic, child-focused priorities: Strong Families; Kindergarten Readiness; School Success; Social Emotional Wellbeing; and Healthy Eating/Active Living.
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Related Articles (click on the links to read)
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920.390.4000
600 East Main Street, Suite 200, Watertown WI 53094
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