Strong Families

• About Strong Families
• Family Activity Center Calendars
  • FAC Activity Guide
  • FAC Calendar April-May 2008
  • FAC Calendar February-March 2008
  • FAC Calendar November-December 2007
  • FAC Calendar September - October 2007
• Strong Families Enrollment Form - Free Enrollment

Community organizations and individual citizens play a vital role in making every family with very young children feel welcomed and supported in their community. Every birth should be celebrated. Every family with very young children who moves into the area should be welcomed. All families with young children need help and support. Strong Families works with community organizations to welcome and support families with young children in many ways:

• Connections for Strong Families is mailed to families of children birth to 3 with age-related information, tips and activities for parents and their growing baby and a calendar of activities for families with young children.
• Family Friends are available to any family with a child 6 years old and younger. Family Friends are your neighbors who have volunteered to provide friendship and support to parents with very young children.
• Family Activity Centers regularly offer family activities such as play groups, Parents’ Night Out, parent-child activities, general assistance for family problems and financial education and mentoring.
• Family Partnerships is available to families with a 4 or 5 year old child. Family Advocates offer parents opportunities to meet each other, prepare children and parents for success in their partnerships with school and provide assistance in meeting family needs.
• Extra Care for Caring Families is available to parents of children less than 3. Family Advocates work with the child’s medical provider and parents to ensure a child’s healthy development and to enhance the information and support available to parents.

If you know a family who is expecting a baby, who has just had a baby, or who has children under 6 and is new to the community, welcome that family and connect them with Strong Families by:

• Completing the Strong Families enrollment card. For enrollment cards, contact Peg Manikowski at the Center for Community Services, 688-2214, mmaniko@clemson.edu or Beth Bagwell at the Riley Center, 245-2730, or
• Contacting Peg Manikowski, 688-2214, mmaniko@clemson.edu, at the Center for Community Services or Beth Bagwell, 245-2730, bagwel3@clemson.edu, at the Riley Center for calendars of events and activities at Family Activity Centers.

If you or your organization would like to play a role in welcoming and supporting families of very young children:

• Contact George Hicks, 561-3597, ghicks@clemson.edu , to find out more about how your organization can start its own Family Friends program to celebrate births, to welcome new families and to support parents of very young children.
• Contact Jill McLeigh, 238-0187, mcleigh@clemson.edu , to find out about creating more activities for families in your community.
• Contact Teena Whittenberg, 561-9345, ewhitte@clemson.edu , if you are a health care provider and wish to connect your patients with Strong Families or to participate with Strong Families by providing enhanced well child care.

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