Resource center in Baldwin focuses on helping families

The St. Croix Family Resource Center has opened in Baldwin. The mission of the center is to provide programs and resources to strengthen families throughout St. Croix County. Staff members plan to accomplish this by promoting:

-The developmental needs of children among young parents and how to provide for these needs;

-Positive parenting skills;

-Health and family relationships; and

-Resource and referral information for families and assistance in how to use these networks.

Programs and activities are not yet available, but should start soon. A $20,000 start-up grant from the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation will go toward hiring a halftime director. Anyone interested in that position should contact Mary Lestrud, president, at (715) 684-3301 ext. 5. It is hoped that the directorship will become a full-time position.

Some of the planned programs include the following:

-Parent education classes. These will be classes devoted to parenting topics, such as listening skills, discipline in a positive manner, stress and anger management, etc.

-Parent support groups. These will be small groups of parents under leadership of a parent educator to share experiences and to learn from each other.

-Loan library. There will be a loan library of books, videos and toys for use by parents and children.

-Parent and child activities. These will be fun activities to bring parents and children together.

-Home visitations. Home visitations will be conducted by a qualified home visitor to assist parents and families in the home with parenting skills.

-Warmline: A phone line will be established for parents to call for guidance and information regarding positive parenting.

Activities currently scheduled are ADHD Kids: What Makes Them Tick? April 12, 7 p.m. (childcare provided); Chess for Beginners (parents and youth welcome), April 19, 7 p.m.; Stamp Collecting for Families, April 26, 7 p.m.; a night in Norway for grade school youth and parents, May 3, 7 p.m.; Y2K, How it Could Affect your Family, May 6, 7 p.m.; six weeks of guitar lessons starting in June ($10 for six weeks).

To register for classes write to Family Resource Center, PO Box 2087, Baldwin WI 54002.