Program Presenters: Columbia County Family Center – Michelle Welsh and Peggy Sterner
During the January 5th club meeting, Michelle Welsh presented the club with a wide amount of information regarding the Columbia County Family Center. The Center provides a home visiting program for children ages 0 – 5 and living in Columbia County or a Columbia County school district. Some resources provided by the Family Center include: play groups, screenings, fatherhood activities, parenting classes, baby basics classes, and an adolescents class that focuses on goals.
Other programs offered through the Columbia County Family Center include:
· Parenting and Budgeting
o Presented to area high school students
o Grants from United Way make this program possible
· Divorced and Separated Parents
o Training and support for child-focuses parenting
· Family Group Decision Making
o Program to empower families to solve problems together
o Involve and include children and adolescents in defining the issues and possible solutions
Referrals to the program come from Children and Youth, school districts, the court system, local hospitals (first-time parents), and word of mouth. There are no fees and no income guidelines for the programs offered by the Columbia County Family Center.
Funding for the programs is provided by: PA Department of Public Welfare, Columbia County Children & Youth Services, area school districts, Berwick Health & Wellness, Berwick United Way.
There is a great need for these programs in Berwick and the local area. Currently there are waiting lists for some of the programs.
Thank you to Art Naugle for arranging this informative program.
