The National Register of Evidence-based Programs and Practices describes the program in this way “Active Parenting Now is a video-based education program targeted to parents of 2- to 12-year-olds who want to improve their parenting skills. It is based on the application of Adlerian parenting theory, which is defined by mutual respect among family members within a democratically run family. The program teaches parents how to raise a child by using encouragement, building the child’s self-esteem, and creating a relationship with the child based upon active listening, honest communication, and problem solving. It also teaches parents to use natural and logical consequences to reduce irresponsible and unacceptable behaviors.”

These parent classes will be open to all parents and child care will be provided during class. A calendar of classes and locations is being developed and more information will be available shortly.

Broadreach provides a variety of services to young parents and their children in Waldo and Knox Counties. Broadreach services have been making a critical difference in the lives of area children and families since 1983.  Each year over 2000 families with children benefit from the agency’s quality education and support programs.  Broadreach has over a quarter of century expertise in delivering parenting education, family support, early childhood education and family literacy programming. Other provided parent education options include Kids First, Guiding Good Choices, and the Nurturing Fathers Program.

If you would like to learn how to register for Active Parenting Now, or learn more about our parent education offerings, please call Patrick Walsh at 207-338-2200 ext 109 or e-mail pwalsh@brmaine.org.

For further information on participating centers, please contact Mary Bailey, the Broadreach Early Childhood Programming Director, at 338-2200 or mbailey@brmaine.org, or visit the agency website at www.brmaine.org .

**2 DINNERS WILL BE RAFFLED*2 CHANCES TO WIN**

$5.00 per ticket or 5 tickets for $20.00. Tickets are available at all Broadreach locations or contact MORGAN at 338-2200 x 100.

DRAWING WILL BE ON JULY 14, 2010.

With Zero-Sort recycling, employees can toss all recyclable items together into ONE container, including junk mail, magazines and newspapers, cardboard, paper of any color, aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles and jars and clean food containers. A few things aren’t recyclable, including food waste, Styrofoam and incandescent light bulbs. The simplicity of one container for all recyclables will reduce the time and effort required by most recycling systems.

A special Zero-Sort dumpster will be located at 5 Stephenson Lane. Details on the program will be distributed to all employees at 5 & 8 Stephenson Lane, the first locations to take part in Zero-Sort recycling.

This program should save money and help the environment. Many of our employees are already recycling at home, and we hope many will be eager to ‘think green’ at work, too.

We are thrilled to announce that Broadreach Family & Community Services, in partnership with SAD#3, is offering an Early Childhood Inclusive Education Program (ECIP) for preschool aged children at the Walker School this coming September.  The program‘s operation of hours will be Monday through Friday , 9 to 3 with before and after care available to families needing extended care.  Broadreach offers subsidized tuition to eligible families with support from the Maine Department of Health & Human Services.

Similar to some of our other Broadreach Preschool Sites, this new classroom’s curriculum will be designed to meet the individual developmental and educational goals of the children enrolled.   Our caring, certified, experienced teachers plan the curriculum around the child’s unique needs, interests and strengths.  The classroom will be well-equipped with a variety of educational materials and toys to stimulate and challenge children.  The children will have the opportunity through the planned play activities to develop the skills necessary to enter kindergarten ready to succeed.   The daily storytelling, book sharing, song and movement activities nurture the young child’s language development and his or her first steps toward learning to read.  And as they attend school at the Walker Elementary School during their preschool year, they become familiar with the wonderful Walker School staff, adjust to the routines of the school and adapt to the idea of being in the Walker facility. In addition, they will use the outside play area and the gym. They may even be invited to participate in various reading activities with a ‘reading buddy’ from one of the higher grades. The daily routine encourages each child’s development of self discipline, self esteem and creativity. 

The ECIP program at Walker School will offer children and their families:

• A rich , early educational experience
• Program licensed by the State of Maine, Department of Health and Human Services
• Certified Early Childhood educators
• Nutritious meals and snacks
• Early language and literacy enriched High Scope curriculum
• On going screening and assessments to measure the skills children are gaining
• Indoor and outdoors activities
• Preschool/ elementary school/parent partnership that supports a seamless transition  to kindergarten
• Services to children with special learning and developmental needs

Broadreach is a private, non profit agency and has provided high quality services for young children and their families since 1983 in Waldo County.  Don’t miss this amazing opportunity! For more information about enrolling your child into this program, please contact Mary Bailey, Early Childhood Education Programs Director, at mbailey@brmaine.org or 338-2200 ext.304.  Broadreach is very excited about this opportunity to come to the Liberty area and be a part of your child’s early years.

 Programs begin June 21^st and are open to students entering 6-9^th grade in the Fall of 2010. 

Camps run at RDMS Monday through Thursday, 9:00am to 12:00pm.  Activities will include cooking, hiking, volunteering, art and sports.  Visit www.youthlinksonline.org/RASA for complete program descriptions and registration information.

 Registration opens on May 3^rd for Rockland, South Thomaston and Owls Head residents. 

 RASA, a 21^st Century Community Learning Center Program, is a partnership between Youthlinks, a program of Broadreach Family & Community Services, and RSU 13.

Volunteers from Waldo, Knox and parts of Lincoln Counties have joined together to help raise $50,000 in a campaign to assist Broadreach Family & Community Services with its efforts to meet an increasing demand for social and educational services.  Funds raised in the campaign will be used to support important early childhood and adolescent programs, and to continue critical services for families and individuals that have financial or health challenges.  This campaign, which began in March 2010, will continue through June 2010. 

Broadreach provides quality early childhood education and care for area residents, maintains services for children with special needs, operates programs to prevent child abuse and neglect, conducts after-school programs that connect teens to their communities and provides tutoring programs for adults with low-literacy levels. The organization depends on charitable contributions from community members, local businesses and foundations to maintain the services, and to ensure that the basic needs of community residents are met and critical educational support is available to all citizens. 

“This year with the economy, job reductions and other life challenges, many people who may not have ever needed services before now are asking for assistance,” said Ruth Southworth, Executive Director of Broadreach. “We are grateful for the contributions that we receive and hope that the people in our communities will respond with their kind support to this campaign.  We are delighted and thankful for the volunteers who are assisting us with this important endeavor.”

Broadreach is a nonprofit organization serving more than 2,500 residents each year. In recent years, Broadreach has ensured the delivery of critical community services by merging with three well-respected nonprofit organizations, Mid-Coast Children’s Services, Youthlinks and Literacy Volunteers of Waldo County. With these mergers, Broadreach has been able to offer services to the growing number of clients. 

Broadreach Community Gifts Campaign members include:  Christine Boone, Mary Frenning, Ann Hubbard, Helen Kosmo, Ken McKinley, Scott Story, Gerritt Vander Veer, Mike Towey and Polly Chatfield.

For more information about how you can support the Broadreach campaign, please call Deborah Schilder at 338-2200 Ext. 112 or email dschilder@BRMaineorg. Also, please visit www.BRMaine.org/giving for further information. Donations may be mailed to Broadreach Family & Community Services, #5 Stephenson Lane  Belfast, Maine 04915.

The Maine Association of Services for Children with Disabilities( MADSEC) gives awards  each year to outstanding individuals in several areas of education:  parent/advocate, special education teacher, paraprofessional. director of special services, regular education teacher and therapist.   

            The recipient of MADSEC’s’ regular education teacher of the year for 2009-2010 is Karen Keniston of Searsport.  Karen is a preschool teacher who works in the RSU20 four year old program at Searsport Elementary School and in the early childhood Inclusive Program which is run by Broadreach Community and Family Services and hosted at Searsport Elementary School.  Karen has been in preschool education since 1993.  She holds a B.S. in elementary education and has had hundreds of hours of training in early literacy and child development.  Karen is a strong teacher leader with immense expertise in preschool education ,and more specifically, in including children with disabilities with their typically developing peers.  Karen has extensive training with the Early reading First, High Scope, OWLS programs and provides early literacy instruction to all her students.  Karen is gifted at being able to individualize and demonstrates that each child, no matter how challenged, can be included in the classroom community.  Karen collaborates well with the variety of consultants and therapists who move in and out of her classroom supporting her inclusion efforts. She supervises several paraprofessionals and provides them wit superb leadership which fosters a high quality tapestry of  instruction and interventions which few preschool program can emulate.  Karen is described by one of her student’s parent as flexible, adaptive, compassionate, communicative.  This parent marvels at her ability to create and modify lessons that allow her child to access the general curriculum.  Karen sets the bar for her colleagues at both  the preschool and elementary level to strive for in making their classrooms accessible and accommodating for all children.  In Karen’s classroom all children can and do learn and have abilities not disabilities!

I want to bring to your attention a wonderful event  that is happening this coming Sunday. May 2nd The Belfast Lions Club is hosting their Annual Spring Brunch and the proceeds will be helping us bring life, wood chips and large toys, back to our ECIP playground! We are very excited and quite honored, to be the recipient of this event. So please share this wonderful delicious event  with other family members, friends and neighbors. The Lions Club is seeking food donation items to help offset the cost of putting on this event. If you would like to help and support in this manner. please call Julie Horton at Mill Lane 338-0029.

Belfast Lions Club Brunch
Sunday May 2, 2010  8:00 am to 11:00 am  at the Waldo County Shrine Club, Belfast, Maine
You won’t go away hungry! Adults $8.00  Children 12 and under $3.00