Exciting Updates from our Incredible Years Programs
At the Erie Family Center, we’re all about spreading parental knowledge and resources wherever we can! With the onboarding of our current Incredible Years Supervisor Michelle Kephart, came a wealth of knowledge on the City of Erie’s community partners and relations.
Thanks to our wonderful Incredible Years team facilitators, Kesha Roberts and Shelly Graves, our parental education groups will be popping up in various areas around the Erie area. Currently, the program runs at our main Erie location, our Corry satellite location, and areas such as the Mercy Center for Women and The NWPA Autism Society.
As we get the ball rolling, upcoming groups will be more accessible to different communities of people such as those involved in communities surrounding JoAnna Connell Elementary School, St. Benedicts Head Start Program, and the Erie County Prison, with an ultimate goal to branch out further into Erie County to provide valuable parenting information to those who may not have access to any of our current group locations.
We would also like to give a huge thank you to Mr. Roberts at the First Born Apostolic Faith Church of God for allowing us to utilize his space to continue running our Incredible Years group during our company-wide move. As well as for providing a safe space for childcare, meal-time and giving us extensions when needed as our new space was being renovated.
Parent Resource Center
As Halloween approaches, Safe Kids Erie, encourages parents to implement preventative safety measures before Trick or Treating. With recommendations to wear reflective tape on costumes or make sure young children are supervised and remain on sidewalks when possible. Other tips include checking for open candy packages, and throwing them away if they look tampered with.
Adults passing out candy should also be mindful of young children (under 5 years old) and avoid handing out hard candy as this poses a significant, but avoidable choking hazard.
The Crafting Corner
What better way to enjoy the changing of seasons than creating decorative Halloween inspired crafts with your children. When finished, these crafts can be used as decorations for years to come. Enjoy this extensive list of ‘Spooky Season’ crafts to do with your kids! This list provides easy crafts that require minimal materials. Crafts pictured-
- #3: Bat Handprint Craft
- #4: Straw Skeletons
- #5: Salt-Painted Spiderwebs
- #7: Paper bag haunted house
Community Partner Spotlight
This month we are shining the spotlight on Edison Elementary School. In addition to being a collaborator in our Diaper Depot program, and distributing diapers to families in the area, Edison runs their own Community Closet every Friday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, where families can get free clothing and household goods. The school also participates in the Student Assistance Program that works to help identify and combat issues that pose significant barriers to student success rates.
Click the button below to learn how Edison Elementary makes an impact in the Erie community.
What’s Happening in your Community?
The Erie Zoo is hosting their annual Zoo Boo event this month! This event requires participants to pay for admission and will run nightly from 6:00pm to 9:00pm starting Thursday October 15th through Friday October 30th.
Zoo Boo is an annual fundraiser with Halloween family fun, and for the second year in a row, the Erie Zoo is adding a Sensory Zoo Boo day, which is set to occur on the first night (October 15th). This day is more suitable for children with specific sensory needs.
Upcoming Incredible Years Classes – Enroll Now
This evidence-based class provides parents with social and emotional techniques to strengthen parent-child bonds, and teach positive behavior management. This 14-week is set to begin Monday, October 19th from 5:00pm to 7:30pm at our Corry Satellite Office.
Upcoming Motherhood Support Group- Enroll Now
This group allows mothers to talk about the hard parts of pregnancy, motherhood and just being a mother figure in a child’s life in a safe, confidential, judgement-free space. Allowing members to relate to one another’s experiences and support each other. This 8-week group is set to begin Wednesday, October 21st from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at our new EBCO Erie Family Center location
What Parents are Saying
“The class provides you with knowledge and tools. You never feel out of place, and you feel like you’re not alone.”
– Incredible Years Autism Participant
Upcoming Events
- Diaper Distribution: October 9th and 23rd (10am to 12pm) at Mercy Anchor Community Center- Register Now [Must register by the Wednesday before at 8am]
- Diaper Distribution: October 28th (9am to 11am) at Corry Family Center- Register Now [Must register at the latest by 8am on Tuesday the 29th]