august, september, october 2013 family resource newsfamily … · 2013-09-10 · august, september,...
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August, September, October 2013
EVENTS
Interested in attending upcoming events, workshops,
community resources, and conferences?
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT FUNDS may be available to you!
Early Steps families may be eligible for scholarships to
attend workshops and conferences held in the
State of Florida.
For more information contact a Family Resource Specialist!
Kim Barger - (941)487-5429 [email protected]
Or
Kylee Barry - (941)487-5420 [email protected]
Save a tree!
Sign up to receive our Family Resource Newsletter via
E-mail! Contact your Service Coordinator or
Family Resource Specialists to obtain a copy of the
release form!
Your Opinion Matters!
From August 1st through November 30th, all of the Early Steps programs in Florida are distributing the Early Steps
State Office Annual Family Surveys.
Families with children who are exiting the Early Steps program, and who have been receiving Early Steps services
for at least 6 months prior to their exit date, will be receiving a survey.
We are asking the Gulf Central area families who receive a survey to please complete and return your survey via the
postage-paid envelope, or online, no later than November 30, 2013.
The information you provide will tell us what we’re doing right and what we need to work on. You will also be provid-ing valuable information on whether Early Steps is receiving the appropriate funding to effectively serve children with
developmental delays and their families.
If you have any questions about your family’s survey, or need assistance completing the survey, please contact:
Kylee Barry at (941)487-5420 or email [email protected]
Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
A Newsletter for Families and Their Children Served by Gulf Central Early Steps
CHARLOTTE, DESOTO, HARDEE, HIGHLANDS, MANATEE AND SARASOTA COUNTIES
Family Resource NewsFamily Resource News
FAMILY RESOURCE SPECIALISTS
Family Resource Specialists (FRS) are first and foremost
mothers of children with special needs.
As your FRS, we serve as a resource for you and your
family. We are here to express your views, perspectives and needs within the Gulf Central
Early Steps program. We promote awareness of the
services available from our program, as well as the support
and resources within our communities. If there is anything we can do to assist your family with locating resources, please
call or e-mail us any time!
Are you looking for a local support or play group?
Do you need some support or encouragement from another parent of a child with special needs?
Are you confused about who to call for assistance finding health insurance, housing, childcare, food or financial assistance?
Do you want to attend a conference, workshop or training to benefit your child but need help with the cost?
Just don’t know where to start? Contact us today!
[email protected] -(941)487-5429
[email protected] -(941)487-5420
YYYOUROUROUR CCCHILDHILDHILD’’’SSS FFFIRSTIRSTIRST TTTEACHEREACHEREACHER ISISIS YOU!YOU!YOU!
HELP YOUR CHILD BE HAPPY AND CONFIDENT
Show you care with hugs and positive attention.
Play, laugh, and have fun with your child.
Encourage effort and trying hard, but give help when
HELP YOUR CHILD BECOME A READER
Talk together a lot! To be good readers, children need to
lots of words and what they mean.
Listen and ask questions.
Sing songs and make up rhymes.
Read to your child - not just picture books, but signs,
shopping lists and labels, too.
Have your child act out favorite stories or pretend to read
a story to you.
HELP YOUR CHILD BE STRONG AND ACTIVE
Play outside as often as you can.
Encourage physical activities like dancing, running,
jumping, hopping and riding.
Serve a variety of healthy foods., including a lot of
fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START!
Add a new activity every day or week. Write new activities on pieces of paper and let your child
pick one and have fun doing it!
Buddy up - Encourage the families of friends or neighbors to participate in appropriate activities.
Make it a (friendly) competition or a creative support network.
Don’t give up! Remember how it feels when you child shows you how proud he is of what he’s learned
or accomplished. Keep up the good work!
Interested in starting a play group in your area? We have Family Involvement Funds available to help you get started!
Contact [email protected] or call (941)487-5420!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Free Sensory-Friendly
Events for Children with
Autism
What: Movie
When: Sept. 14 & Oct 26
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Where: Burns Court
506 Burns Lane
Sarasota, FL
What: Roller Skating
When: Sept 28, Nov 9
Time: 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
Where: Stardust Skating Rink
2571 12th Street
Sarasota, FL 34237
Bowling
When: Aug 31, Oct 26
Time: 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
Where: AMF Gulf Gate Lanes
7221 S. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34231
Contact [email protected] or 813-240-3044
For more information.
Visit www.manasotabuds.org (click on
CALENDAR) for more programs and
parent networking opportunities!
What: Monthly Meetings
When: First Thursday of Every Month
(except December)
Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Living Lord Lutheran Church
11107 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
What: Little Buddies Playgroup
When: First Saturday of Every Month
Time: 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Where: PlayAway (Lakewood Ranch)
11538 Palmbrush Trail
Bradenton, FL
Monthly: Moms Night Out (To Be Announced)
D.A.D.S. Night Out (Sept 11, Oct 9)
12th ANNUAL BUDDY WALK Join Manasota BUDS at Hunsader Farms’
Pumpkin Festival. Show your support for
individuals with Down syndrome!
Saturday, October 19 @ 9 a.m.
Visit manasotabuds.fundly.com/buddywalk
for registration information.
Macaroni Kid is an online resource for families
looking for events, playgroups and discounts.
Sign up to receive their email newsletters:
Bradenton area: www.bradenton.macaronikid.com
Highlands county: www.sebring.macaronikid.com
Want to see your organization’s event here?
Call 941-487-5420 or email
From the Early Steps State Office
- Guest Contributor -
Hello Early Steps Families,
My name is Katie Williams, and I’m the new Marketing and Outreach Coordinator at the Early Steps State Office. In this role, I am responsible for developing and implementing a public awareness plan to effectively inform and communicate with service providers, families, local early intervention programs, and the public about Early Steps. With over five years of nonprofit experience working with children, I come into this position with a passion and desire to help more people learn about Early Steps and the services we provide for children and families.
I asked Kelly Rogers for the opportunity to write this letter to you because you are the experts on our system. I am seeking your feedback about what is working and what isn’t with our current outreach efforts. The bottom line is that we need to reach more families in Florida, and the best place to start is by learning from your experiences. I am very open to suggestions and would love to hear any ideas you have for new events, promotional items, marketing materials, or general public awareness activities. Please email me anytime!
Sincerely,
Katie Williams, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator
Early Steps State Office [email protected]
GULF CENTRAL EARLY STEPS Health Planning Council of SW FL 4630 17th St Sarasota, FL 34235 Phone: (941)487-5400 Fax: (941)487-5430 http://www.hpcswf.com/early-steps-program/gulf-central
http://www.facebook.com/gulfcentralearlysteps
Sponsored by The Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, and the state of Florida, Department of Health. The articles, opinions and
information in this newsletter are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or an endorsement by The
Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, Children’s Medical Services, or Gulf Central Early Steps.
Summer 2013