The Children's Center- DCI Parents as Teachers

Happy Monday Elk County Families! Today is December 14th, 2020. Our story today is "Douglas, You Need Glasses!" By Ged Adamson. The story is being read by Miss Amy's brother, Dr.Michael Murphy from the Professional Vision Center. Don't forget - Miss Amy and Miss Allison have upcoming Incredible Years Programs in January. If you are a Elk County parent/guardian of a child birth-6 years old and are interested in the free program, please call 814.834.2602 for more information.

Happy Saturday! The expectations for being a perfect parent during the holiday season can add up. Download our handout to learn 10 ways to cope with burnout. #HomeVisiting #Parenting http://ow.ly/SQsj50CfTqA (In English and Spanish.)

Make your 2020 gift by December 31st. There is joy in giving! There are many ways to make a difference at Dickinson Center, Inc. and right now is the perfect ...time to make a gift. Donate by Check: To have your gift count in 2020, please mail your check to Dickinson Center, Inc., Institutional Advancement Office, 800 East Main Street, Bradford, PA 16701 postmarked by December 31, 2020. (Don’t forget, as result of the CARES Act, for 2020 only, you can make a $300 donation and deduct it from your total income for this year without having to itemize.) Charitable IRA Rollover: If you are 70 years old or older, you can take advantage of a simple way to benefit DCI and receive tax benefits in return. You can give any amount up to $100,000 per year from your IRA directly to a qualified charity without having to pay income taxes on the money. This popular gift option is commonly called the IRA charitable rollover, but you may also see it referred to as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). A charitable IRA rollover makes it easier to use IRA assets, during lifetime, to make charitable gifts. Please consult with your financial advisor to make sure this is the right option for you. Questions? Contact Jill Dunn at (814) 817-1400 x1479 or via email at [email protected].

A huge Congratulations is in order for the Radkowski Family! They've been nominated as our Parents as Teachers(PAT) Family of the Month for December! We reached out to Elena to get her feedback about the PAT program. 1. What is your favorite activity: We love the crafts that we make. This is helpful and nice that they don’t have to think of something to do and we bring to her. Elena shared at the end of every visit she enjoys getting to watch her child being read to, it...’s a different view point. 2. What do you love about PAT: We love that a family isn’t declined because of their income! When there is a financial requirement some families can get missed. She likes that the family doesn’t have leave their home to receive this service. This program is great because they help to ensure the children are on track and are a good connection to resources in the community. 3. What do you like about your Parent Educator: Elena shared that it was her Parent Educator that assisted in connecting her to Early Intervention when she found out her son had a speech delay. With mom being familiar, but not using this resource in the past, her Parent Educator was able to help give her the confidence in working with this program. Mom also mentioned many times that her Parent Educator is like having a professional to help coach you through and a cheerleader all in one. When the parent educator is offering suggestions they’re done in a gentle way, not forceful, and it’s nice. The positive feedback is always appreciated. She said," it feels more like a partnership when working with this program". Miss Amanda is always very professional and is doing a great job! Mom said she is so grateful to have another adult to consult with as she is a stay at home mom. 4. Other Comments: Elena expressed how much she enjoys not just PAT, but our other programs; The Children’s Center, Coffee & Chit Chat, The Incredible Years, and Staying Connected with your Teen. She shared that being able to get together with other parents an hour every couple of weeks is a blessing. These programs are irreplaceable and a gift to our community. These services are not always found. We're so beyond thankful for the kind words Elena has said about our program. Thank you and again Congratulations! Are you a parent/guardian in Elk County with children 5 years old and under looking for that cheerleader and coach to work with you and your family? We have immediate openings in our PAT program today. Did I also mention it's FREE??? Call 814-834-2602 for more information or to enroll today! :)

Support our creative friends at Elkwood Arts this holiday season. Their wood shop is located inside our main building in Ridgway!