Three members of the Windmill Piecemakers Quilt Guild – Dar Sittlow, Kris Pederstuen, and Joan Vobejda – created a queen-sized quilt to raise funds for Family Resource Center programs.
The project received seed money as part of a Thrivent Action Team, coordinated by board member Barbara Nelson. Additional support was provided by the Lincoln HCE (Home & Community Education) club, Topstitchery and A Little Piece of Mind.
Tickets were sold throughout the spring, and the winner was drawn at the Family Resource Center’s May 23 Open House. The raffle raised over $2,000 for Family Resource Center programs. Thanks to all who purchased tickets!
Our 13th annual Reach for the Stars gala was held on April 15 at R&D Catering and Banquet Facility. While a ‘Black & White’ theme was planned, there was more ‘white’ than anticipated, with several inches of blowing snow. Our thanks to the over 200 individuals who contributed through this event, as well as the businesses who sponsored the event and donated to our auctions and raffles. Our appreciation to the many volunteers who made Reach for the Stars possible, including photographer Amanda Richter and auctioneer Chad Nawrocki. Over $52,000 was raised for in support of Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley programs for local families. View event photos
Executive Director Agnes Ring addressed the crowd, drawing attention to Child Abuse Prevention Awareness and calling for attendees to become familiar with Infant Mental Health. (Photo Credit: Amanda Joy Images)
Participant Rochelle first learned about Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley when she gave birth to her second child at St. Croix Regional Medical Center, and a parent educator visited her hospital room. She was eager to learn about programs available to her and new baby Nolan. Rochelle had participated in Early Childhood programs in Minnesota after the birth of her older son, who is now in high school. Over the past two years, Rochelle and Nolan have participated in Home Visiting, Baby & Me, and Play & Learn. “[These programs are] extremely beneficial and exciting to me since my children are about 14 years apart. I feel like I am a first-time mom again.”
Rochelle said one of her favorite Family Resource Center program topics is the importance of exposing young children to different sensory opportunities. She learned to engage the senses of touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing through play. “Surprisingly, sensory play encourages versatile eating habits,” said Rochelle. She appreciates the adult interaction and socialization from parent-child groups and home visits with parent educator Kristine Brede. “[Family Resource Center programs] not only help me connect to other community resources, it helps me connect to other engaged mothers. I actually have plans to go on an outing with another mom in my playgroup.”
Rochelle agreed to share her experiences at the Family Resource Center’s Reach for the Stars gala this past April. “If I’m going to share my full story, I’m going to be honest. I struggled with drug addiction for almost 20 years. I was a high school dropout, did many different kinds of drugs, and made lots of poor choices. At 22, I had my first son. I quit using during my pregnancy, and remained sober for about a year-and-a-half after he was born.” When Rochelle began using again, she struggled to meet her family’s basic needs. “When it came to losing the running water in an abandoned house my son and I lived in, I gave my son to my mom.”
“My life was a downward spiral for the next 9 years. When I hit rock bottom, I was offered the drug court program in March 2014. I completed it successfully and graduated in January 2016. I have been sober for 4 years. I am currently living my best life and was given a second chance at motherhood with Nolan…. I’ve gained the trust and support of my family and have rebuilt my mother/son relationship with [my older son]. Today I get to enjoy being a parent, being Nolan’s first teacher. Watching him learn from me is so rewarding.”
Rochelle serves as a co-presenter in training service providers in the Protective Factors.
In 2017, parent educator Kristine had the chance to participate in the ‘train the trainer’ workshop on Bringing the Protective Factors to Life in Your Work, made possible by a grant from the Wisconsin Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Board. The training program included a leadership opportunity for a parent co-presenter to undergo training and participate in training others. Rochelle stepped up to the challenge. “The Protective Factors are five strengths that make families stronger,” said Kristine. “Research has shown that these factors contribute to healthy child development and family well-being, and prevent child abuse and neglect. I recommended Rochelle for the co-presenter role because of the challenges she has overcome.”
A series of three workshops focused on the Protective Factors Framework has been presented to a group of Polk County service providers this spring. Another training (dates and location to be determined) will be offered later this year.
The Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board will be kicking-off a public awareness campaign in July with a new website for parents and caregivers to promote the protective factors that keep every family strong.
Four communities in Wisconsin, including St. Croix County, have been selected for additional marketing, such as billboards and a movie preview ad.
Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, a regional nonprofit with a 20-year history of serving children and families, seeks a dynamic team player to fulfill the role of Development and Communications Coordinator.
This full-time professional position reports directly to the Executive Director, working closely to meet development goals and manage donor relations. Position responsible for fundraising, including major donor cultivation, special events, planned giving, and database management. Communication responsibilities include preparation and editing of external/internal communications, management of website content, social media, quarterly newsletter and annual report. Bachelor’s degree in related field and 3-5 years of progressive fund development achievement required.
This position includes travel in the three-county area. Occasional evening and weekend commitments. Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley is an equal opportunity employer. Competitive compensation package includes flexible schedule; 403(b) contribution; HRA; Flex Plan; Short-term Disability.
Send cover letter and resume via email to executivedirector@frcscv.org . Include Development and Communications Position in the subject line. Applications accepted until position is filled. Preliminary application deadline is June 4.
Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley is pleased to partner with Thrivent Financial to hold a ‘Give a Child a Book’ board book drive. Every new or gently used board book contributed will be shared with families participating in the Family Resource Center’s Home Visiting program. Thrivent member and Family Resource Center board member Barbara Nelson is sponsoring the event, and has received a grant to purchase a book for each one donated.
“I’m pleased to be able to provide extra support to families through this project,” said Barbara. “Promoting literacy from birth is a key component of Family Resource Center programming. I am hopeful that matching support from Thrivent will help inspire our community to give generously.”
The goal of the project is to collect at least 100 books appropriate for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Books will be collected from mid-February until the end of March. Please contact the Family Resource Center at 715-684-4440 or info@frcscv.org if your business or civic group would like to participate in the book drive. We are also looking for community locations that are willing to be a drop-site for donations. Thank you for your support!
Family Resource Center staff recently met with Western Wisconsin Health to discuss strategies for increasing patient referral to home visiting prenatally.
New this year, Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley has become a grantee of the Wisconsin Family Foundations Home Visiting Program. Through this program, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Family Foundations Home Visiting Program will reimburse Family Resource Center for a portion of its costs.
“Family Resource Center staff and board have spent years preparing for this opportunity,” said Executive Director Agnes Ring. “It was a very competitive process to be selected as one of 30 programs in Wisconsin. We continually meet rigorous accreditation standards as an affiliate of the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model, and participate in statewide continuous improvement initiatives for home visiting. This support will allow us to expand, reaching more families in our service area.”
Family Foundations is a grantee of the federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. Aligning with state and federal objectives will result in some changes in the Family Resource Center’s Home Visiting program over time. The most significant change is a goal of enrolling 75 percent of participants in the program prenatally.
Research and best practice recommend making home visiting services to pregnant women early in their pregnancies to maximize positive outcomes, such as:
Improved maternal and child health;
Reduction of child injuries, child abuse and neglect and child maltreatment, and emergency department visits for children and mothers;
Improvement in school readiness and achievement;
Reduction in domestic violence;
Improvement in family economic self-sufficiency; and
Improvements in the coordination and referral for other community resources and supports.
To accomplish the goal of reaching more families prenatally, the organization is looking to established partnerships for support – specifically, partner hospitals and clinics, physician groups, and county health and human service agencies. “There has been a very warm reception to the concept among the Family Resource Center’s partners,” said Ring.
Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin is among partners eager to work closely with the Family Resource Center in a pilot project. Director of Women’s Health Services Stephanie Johnson serves as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors, and is enthusiastic about the new direction for services. “We are excited to partner with Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley in building a process that creates seamless prenatal identification and referral of those families who will benefit from the programs and resources the Family Resource Center offers,” she said. “The key to establishing this early relationship is families and parent educators navigating through the pregnancy course together, ensuring all available needed resources are utilized. The trust and bond of this early relationship will encourage more families to take part in the amazing parent education programs offered post birth encouraging family health and well-being. In turn this will benefit our community by having empowered families parenting our future.”
To learn more about the Family Resource Center’s programs for families and eligibility for the Home Visiting program, please call 715-684-4440.
Each year, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls hosts ‘Bowls for Hope’ to raise funds for an organization that is making a difference in the lives of people across the St. Croix Valley. The Family Resource Center has been selected as the recipient of funds for this year’s event, which will be hosted on Tuesday, March 6 from 5-7 p.m. at the University Center Ballroom. For an entrance fee of $25/adults and $5/children under 12, attendees may select a handcrafted bowl to take home with them. Created in ceramic, pottery, fiber, wood and glass, the bowls are made by students at UWRF and local schools, or by area artists. Participants may also sample a variety of soups donated and served by area restaurants.
“It is an honor to be named the recipient of UWRF’s 2018 March Bowls for Hope event. Our board and staff are excited to participate. We appreciate the generosity of all the volunteers from the university, local artists and restaurants in bringing people together in support of children and families through the work of Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley,” Executive Director Agnes Ring said. “The proceeds from this event will help make it possible to meet emergency needs of families who are enrolled in our home visiting program. Our parent educators work with families one-on-one to understand child development stages and improve parenting skills.”
Tickets can be purchased from Family Resource Center staff and board members, at the UWRF Chancellor’s Office (116 North Hall), and at the information desk in the University Center on campus. Purchasing tickets in advance guarantees that attendees will receive a bowl. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley is pleased to partner with Celebrate Children Foundation to help advance the mission of Wisconsin’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board: to proactively build safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments that strengthen Wisconsin families. You can help highlight the visibility of this important work through ordering a ‘Celebrate Children’ license plate. In addition to the typical issuance and registration fees, your license plate purchase or renewal will include a $25 tax-deductible donation to Celebrate Children Foundation. For more information, visit www.celebrate-children.org.
Every week, parents and babies gather at Baby & Me to share their joys and concerns from the week. Often, parents come with questions about feeding or sleeping, and are excited to share news of a recent milestone, such as crawling, clapping and learning to wave. Parents discuss a topic related to child development or parenting, ranging from baby sign language to family traditions, and end the hour singing and playing with their babies.
Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley offers Baby & Me groups weekly in six locations in partnership with area hospitals as part of United Way St. Croix Valley’s Success By 6 initiative. Family Resource Center parent educator Kristine Brede facilitates the group on Thursday evenings at Osceola Medical Center. She says it has been rewarding to see the families form relationships with each other through their participation in the group. “I love having both mothers and fathers participating and singing the songs together! It has also been great to see the families connect outside of the group,” said Kristine. “They have created great friendships for the adults as well as the children.”
Kat Benti of St. Croix Falls participates in the group with her eight-month-old son Liam. She said, “I come to this class because it’s a fantastic opportunity for my son to socialize with other babies as well as me to meet other moms.” She added that they have enjoyed learning new games and songs at Baby & Me, and that the class has helped Liam with his gross motor skills.
Dr. Nicole Smith, family medicine provider at Osceola Medical Center, is an enthusiastic supporter of the Family Resource Center’s programs for families. “Baby & Me classes provide a wonderful opportunity for parents – especially first-time parents – to discuss their child’s development and milestones with a parent educator and other parents,” said Dr. Smith. “The group fosters the development of a support system with other parents, and their ‘learning through play’ approach also is instrumental in a baby’s development.”
In addition to Osceola Medical Center, our Success By 6 partners include Allina Health, Amery Hospital & Clinic, St. Croix Regional Medical Center, Western Wisconsin Health and Westfields Hospital & Clinic. Baby & Me groups are open to all families with infants up to 1 year, and there is no cost to participate.
Long-time supporters like Ann and Bill Findlay sustain our work; they have seen first-hand the difference our services can make for families. In the mid-1990s, health care professionals and educators in St. Croix County began to recognize a need for increased support to families with young children. A Public Health needs assessment pointed to a need for services for moms experiencing high-risk pregnancies and a general lack of programs providing parenting support. A coalition was formed that ultimately led to the formation of the Family Resource Center in 1998.
Ann Findlay, former OB nurse manager of the Baldwin Area Medical Center, now known as Western Wisconsin Health, was involved with the needs assessment as part of the ‘perinatal work group.’ For Ann, sharing information with families about developmental stages was a natural extension of the prenatal instruction she provided. Over the years, Ann diligently promoted information about child development by enlisting the help of the hospital auxiliary to mail out UW-Extension’s monthly parenting newsletters to patients. As time went on these newsletters became an online resource for parents.
The hospital first partnered with the Family Resource Center in 2005. A parent educator was available to talk to families when they returned to the hospital for newborn hearing screenings, and invited parents to participate in ‘Baby & Me’ – a new group for parents with infants. Ann greatly appreciated having parent educators as a resource for families, stating, “with short hospital stays, the nursing staff only had time to focus on maternal and newborn physical care and early parental bonding; we didn’t have time to focus on in-depth parenting.” She believes parents’ understanding of the stages of development and being able to understand their child’s cues helps provide a foundation for lifelong health and is key to the prevention of child abuse.
Ann and husband Bill have been regular attendees of events put on in support of the Family Resource Center through the years, such as the annual wine tasting and Reach for the Stars gala. Bill was invited to join the Board of Directors in 2014, and was glad to accept the new role. “It’s been a good culmination of my years serving on the St. Croix Central school board,” said Bill. “I appreciate the interest of our organization in collaborating with other agencies, and the attention to research.”
In addition to their commitment to supporting families in the community through their own acts of service, the Findlay’s have been generous in opening their home for board and donor events. According to Aaron Mork, Board President, “No one draws a crowd better than Bill and Ann. They have such a unique ability to make everyone feel welcomed and at home. Both have proven to be strong advocates of the Family Resource Center through the years.”
