Mark your calendars for Building Stronger Families 11th Annual Chili for Children Fundraiser.
Friday, February 9, 2018
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall
4005 Frederica Street
Owensboro, KY 42303
Menu: Chili, sandwich, drink and dessert for $8
Deliveries: Must have a minimum order of eight to be delivered; To place an order you MUST call 270-852-2932 or email linda.wahl@grdhd.org by noon 2/5/18.
Building Stronger Families (BSF) is a child abuse prevention program that provides weekly home visits to families in the seven-county GRADD region. BSF receives federal funding as a child abuse prevention program and are also a United Way agency.
The program works with families with children birth to age 18 to educate on positive parenting, strengthening family bonds, new healthy coping skills, and developmental milestones – all of which help prevent abuse and neglect. Weekly visits consist of setting goals, screening young children for developmental delays, and linking families to available community resources.
Building Stronger Families believes that parents want to be the best parent they can be, but sometimes need some help to overcome daily obstacles. BSF has been actively helping families for over 19 years. More than 74% of families have demonstrated positive changes in their parenting abilities.
Here is just one of those successful stories:
Mom and three children asked for services due to the behavior of the middle child. Mom was very inconsistent in follow through on discipline; she would tell them to stop, or redirect them, but if misbehavior continued, she did not give consequences. The children fought and argued often. Mom was frustrated and sometimes angry.
The children were screened for developmental delays and social-emotional problems. The middle child scored high on the social-emotional screening and was referred and given therapy. The youngest child scored as needing monitoring for speech so the home visitor provided activities mom could do to help.
The home visitor and mom created behavior charts with stickers. Mom was to use these to reduce fighting in the home. Mom began using the charts and began to enforce the consequences she and the home visitor agreed upon for misbehavior.
At closure, mom reported there was much less fighting among the children. They were more cooperative with chores. The youngest child’s speech score improved and was typical speech for his age. The assessment scores improved from enrollment and the family’s new scores demonstrated the home was safer due to reduction in stress level in mom and reduced fighting among the children.
At closure, the children were thriving in a healthy, safe, nurturing home.
