In This Month's Spotlight

In the SPOTLIGHT this month at Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska

C.A.R.E Program

Over the years, the Child Abuse Resource and Education program has offered many different programs.  Currently, C.A.R.E. offers four programs – Happy Bear, Bullying Prevention, Love and Logic, and Safe with You. 

            The Happy Bear presentations are provided to day-cares and schools in the Kearney and Hastings areas.  Generally, presentations are for kids from preschool through 2^nd grade.  During the presentations, issues like appropriate touch, boundaries and comfort zones are discussed.  We also talk about how to react to someone who makes us feel uncomfortable, including talking to a trusted adult.  Happy Bear does a great job of making this difficult subject easier for the kids to talk about.  Since I have been facilitating the Happy Bear program (just over one year), three children have disclosed inappropriate situations that have led to action being taken by school counselors.  In the past year, over 1,000 children have experienced a Happy Bear presentation. 

            Bullying prevention is available to schools as well.  Most of the requests come from elementary schools, but I have worked with the middle schools, too.  Bullying presentations vary depending on the ages of the kids, but we generally cover what a bully is/what they look like, why they bully, who they target and why they target them, how to react to a bully, and how to help someone who is being bullied.  In the past year, over 500 kids have attended this presentation. 

            Love and Logic parenting classes are offered approximately 3 times a year at Mid and per request from other organizations.  I attended the Love and Logic Train the Trainers in May and learned quite a bit from the founders of the program.  Generally, the Love and Logic classes occur once a week and last 4-6 weeks.  Topics discussed during the class include healthy relationships, sharing control, ending whining and arguing, potty training, morning and bedtime routines, modeling positive behaviors, and enforceable statements.  A fee of $25 per person or $35 per couple is charged for the class.  Class sizes have ranged from one-on-one to over 50 people.  Over the last year, over 100 people have taken a Love and Logic class through Mid, and we have had wonderful responses to the program!

            I recently became certified to teach the Safe with You program.  Safe with You is a three-part training that includes information on child abuse/neglect, shaken baby syndrome and safe sleep for infants.  This program is specifically geared towards child care facilities and anyone working with young children.  Although day-cares are not yet required by the state to take this training, many day-cares are already expecting their staff to attend because of the vital information it provides.

            School will be starting soon, and I look forward to another year working with the kiddos and helping them better their lives.  I will be having another Love and Logic class starting this fall – be on the lookout for info soon!

 – JESSICA DIETLOFF