La Plata Family Centers Coalition
Winter Newsletter 2019
Welcoming 2019
Can you believe we are already into a new year? We begin another journey, make new agreements and commitments and feel rejuvenated.
It has been an incredible experience since I joined the Family Center almost five years ago! I am very thankful for each one of you, our families, partnering organizations, donors and supporters!
It is with great excitement that I accepted the position of Executive Director at the Family Center last November. I am proud to have chosen Durango to raise my children and to set roots after the amazing adventure that I began 18 years ago when I left my home town in Argentina to become a world citizen. I am truly invested in our community and I hope I am able to contribute to its growth and well being.
In 2019-2020 LPFCC celebrates 35 years of service to the community! I am so happy to be part of this celebration! This year LPFCC will deepen into family support services, early childhood education, parent support, group connections, prevention and after school and summer childcare in Bayfield.
We believe that every service that LPFCC provides has an impact in someone’s life and it causes a positive ripple effect. From a compassionate and open stance towards our families’ unique experiences, we partner with individuals to find alternatives and new paths to bring positive change in health attitudes and behaviors through goal setting and resources and referrals. We assist families to form deeper connections with others to create greater support systems that will aid them during challenging times. LPFCC advocates encourage families to explore new ways to invest in themselves and remain in the present moment to enjoy life, parenting, and our community at large.
I would like to share a quote that hopefully will inspire you as much as it does to me daily:
“And what is it to work with love? It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth. It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house. It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit. It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit. Work is love made visible.”
Kahlil Gibran
Warm regards,
Mariel Balbuena
Executive Director
Mission: Through education, resource networking and positive relationship building, we form respectful, productive family partnerships that create thriving, empowered individuals who are self-reliant and who envision a hopeful future for themselves, their families and their communities.
What's inside this newsletter:
* Community Supporters
* Events
* Grant Awards
* Classes Offered
* Employment Opportunities
* Staff at La Plata Family Centers Coalition
* Board of Directors
* Our Proud Partners and Memberships
THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS
With the support from our many community partners in 2017-2018,
we provided 15,273 separate services for individuals or families.
We assisted 1584 participants and 646 families.
Come visit with some of our funders:
Buell Foundation
City of Durango
Colorado Health Foundation
Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado
Daniels Fund
Durango Rotary Club
David Smith
First United Methodist Church and Thrift Store
Maria's Bookshop
La Plata County Humane Society
Parents Possible
River Church
Rocky Mountain Health Foundation
St. Columba Church
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango
Town of Bayfield
United Way of Southwest Colorado
99X Radio Station
EVENTS
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School
Friday, Mar 1, 2019, 05:00 PM
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School, Colorado 140, Hesperus, CO, USA
Masquerade Party - Come celebrate 35 years of the La Plata Family Center
$40 adults, $20 children and children under five free.
COME JOIN LIVE MUSIC from the Afrobeatniks.
GREAT FOOD
CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES
SILENT AUCTION
FUN SOCIAL GATHERING WITH THE COMMUNITY
Saturday, Apr 6, 2019, 06:00 PM
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum, Main Avenue, Durango, CO, USA
GRANTS AWARDED
Rocky Mountain Health Foundation
The La Plata Family Center is pleased to announce it has received a generous grant from the Rocky Mountain Health Foundation. These funds will assist the Family Support Services program with the following opportunities for families who enroll in the program: goal setting, budgeting, application assistance, resource connections, and an in-house food pantry.The family center is deeply grateful to the foundation for its investment to help families in La Plata County improve their health and economic well-being.
The Rocky Mountain Health Foundation serves 22 counties in Western Colorado. With the mission of improving the overall health of a community, Rocky Mountain Health Foundation distributed over $1 million in its inaugural year. The Foundation addresses some of the Western Slope’s most pressing health needs, including access to healthcare, hunger, transportation to/from medical treatments, and integrated behavioral health.
Parenting Education Grant
With funding from the Buell Foundation, we are grateful for the support of our home visitation and parent education programs. These programs have improved the lives of many families in our community.
The Buell Foundation helps us serve families to foster children's school readiness, positive parent/child interactions, and support the immigrant community's development and integration into the larger community.
Lewis True Value Mercantile Bayfield
The True Value Foundation awarded their Youth Up matching funds grant to the La Plata Family Center. This grant supports the Bayfield Summer and Enrichment Program for youth and families.
True Value Foundation has had a long time commitment to helping youth in the Bayfield area. Their dedication to the cause has been a great partnership for the center and we thank them.
Be an Asset Builder for Children in our Community
Learn about the 40 Developmental Assets which are
the essential building blocks of healthy child development.
Asset #1 Family support | Family life provides high levels of love and support.
Local Data: 77% of La Plata County youth report high levels of family support. (Assets Survey 2015)
Essential Question: How have you been supported and loved within your family this month?
Tip of the Day: “Think about when not to say anything. Well-timed silence in the form of listening---rather than lecturing or changing the topic can help your children turn problems into learning experiences on their own.” (Your Family, Using Simple Wisdom in Raising Your Children. Search Institute)
Resource: The La Plata Family Center offers ongoing parenting classes. You can find these classes at www.lpfcc.org.
Source: Search Institute 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents
Classes offered through the La Plata Family Center
Parents As Teachers helps you understand child development.
Parents as Teachers children are healthy, safe and ready to learn.
Ages 0-5
Registration is on-going
Call 385-4747 to enroll
Minimum of 12 visits which include:
*Child's development and parenting challenges
*Family dynamics, values and decisions
*Build strong protective factors
Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun!
When: Thursday, March 7th, 14th, 21st
3:30pm-5:30pm
Where: 150 Tech Center Drive Suite A, Durango
Cost: $40 per person/ $50 per couple
$25 child care for 3 week session
(payable online at www.lpfcc.org )
Contact@lpfcc.org or call (970) 385-4747
PLEASE REGISTER BY FEBRUARY 28th
This class provides parents an opportunity to gain practical and proven tools for raising respectful, responsible, and happy kids.
You will learn techniques that:
* Are simple and easy to learn
*Teach responsibility and character
* Lower your stress level
*Have immediate and positive effects.
What is Nurturing Parenting?
Learn about personality traits and how they relate to parenting.
Have fun with other parents in your area with time for discussion through a parenting cafe atmosphere.
Sign up for classes beginning in April 2019 for 5 weeks.
Dinner included with family style meals.
Time: 6-8pm
Call Marti @ La Plata Family Center (970) 828-4701 for further information.
Employment Opportunities at La Plata Family Center
Part-time, Bilingual Parent Educator (BPE) for our Parents as Teachers Program
The Parent Educator will facilitate home visits with parents who have children ages 0 to 5 and facilitate group connections once a month. This will include but is not limited to Early Childhood Education, Parent Education, Parent Engagement, and all other community activities as driven by our mission. Ability to have a flexible schedule is needed as occasional evenings and weekends are possible.
Full-time, Colorado Community Response (CCR) Family Advocate (Archuleta County)
Responsibilities include obtaining all required advocate training, contacting referred families, periodic home visits, conducting various assessments with families, working cooperatively with other agencies to link families to financial services and community resources that meet the parents' expressed needs, providing direct services, and timely data entry to track and record contacts. Ability to have a flexible schedule is needed as occasional evenings and weekends are possible. Includes benefits!
Staff at La Plata Family Centers Coalition
Mariel Balbuena, Executive Director
mariel@lpfcc.org Direct line: (970) 828-4704
Anne Strainis, BA, Colorado Community Response Advocate
anne@lpfcc.org Direct line: (970) 828-4702
Carmen Godac, Parent Educator - Parents as Teachers
carmen@lpfcc.org Direct line: (970) 828-4708
Marti Genge, Family Support Advocate
marti@lpfcc.org Direct line: (970) 828-4701
Trish McManus, Family Support Advocate (Bilingual)
trish@lpfcc.org Direct line: (970) 828-4707
Meredith Cox, Bayfield Afterschool and Summer Enrichment Director
bayfieldafterschool@lpfcc.org Direct line: (970) 884-9750
Debra Ewing, Pagosa Springs and Colorado Community Response Advocate
debe@lpfcc.org Direct line: (970) 507-1550
Lauren Patterson, Program Planning & Evaluation Consultant
Tori Kroeger, Contact Accountant
Judy Bierma, Yoga for You Consultant
Board of Directors
Lisa Isenberg, President
Michael Wanger, Vice President
Tom Helms, Treasurer
Kim Shropshire, Secretary
Laura Shelton
Heather Hawk
Kim Kirsch
La Plata Family Centers Coalition
Durango Office: (970) 385-4747
Fort Lewis Mesa: (970) 588-3331
Bayfield After School/Summer Program: (970) 759-2148
Email: Contact@lpfcc.org
Website: www.lpfcc.org
Location: 150 Tech Center Drive, Ste A, Durango, CO 81301
Phone: (970) 385-4747
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaPlataFamilyCentersCoalition