Performance Evaluations

Several of you have already completed or signed up for Performance Evaluations with me. I need to meet with every active peer parent over the next month or two. I am doing these meetings on Tuesdays. The following peer parents have attended or are signed up for a time already:

Shane/ Jennifer Christensen

Tiffinie Vieira

HollyJane Dixon

Pam Warren

Priscilla/ Steve Hardy

DeAnn Burton

Elizabeth Drew

Kevin/ Kathleen Gordon

Nancy Housekeeper

Ilene Barton

Jennee Allan

If your name is not on this list, you need to contact me to set up an appointment. If your name is on this list and you forgot when your appointment is, let me know also. Thanks so much!!

The Christmas Party was a Hit!!

I am sorry that I am finally getting around to posting about our Christmas party. BUT, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who attended and made it such a success. We really missed those of you that couldn't attend.

I really appreciate all you do and hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have a happy New Year!!

PS- The PP Newsletter for Dec is now available on this site at the right side near the bottom.

CHRISTMAS PARTY TIME CHANGE!!

There has been a little drama with the scheduling of our room in Provo. Because of this,

The Christmas Party will now start at 6:15 pm on Thursday Dec 10 (same day). Please make note of this and adjust your schedules to be there at 6:15 instead of 5:30.

Also, if you haven't RSVPed and you would like to attend, there is still time to let me know! We would love to have you, but you must let me know if you are coming (if you haven't already).

See you there for fun times at 6:15!! Did you get that? 6:15, 6:15, 6:15!!!

Soup Anyone?

What do I want to eat when the weather is lousy? SOUP!! Here are some fun soup recipes to make for yourself and/or share with your clients:

Lasagna Soup

10 Servings
Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 package (7-3/4 ounces) lasagna dinner mix (like Hamburger Helper)
5 cups water
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (7 ounces) whole kernel corn, undrained
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 small zucchini, chopped

Directions
In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add contents of the lasagna dinner sauce mix, water, tomatoes, corn and Parmesan cheese; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the lasagna noodles and zucchini. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until noodles are tender. Serve immediately. Yield: 10 servings (2-1/2 quarts).


Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 cup) equals 175 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 23 mg cholesterol, 671 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 12 g protein.

Recipe: Tortilla Soup
Source: Eating Well
Makes: 6 servings, 1 1/3 cup each
Active / Total Time: 30 minutes / 45 minutes

Ingredients:
· 8 corn tortillas, halved and thinly sliced
· Canola or olive oil cooking spray
· 1 tablespoon canola oil
· 3 Anaheim or poblano peppers, diced
· 1 medium onion, diced
· 1 teaspoon ground cumin
· 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (see Tip)
· 4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
· 1, 14 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies
· 2 tablespoons lime juice
· 1/2 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
· 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spread corn tortilla strips in an even layer on a baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Bake until browned and crispy, 12 to 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add peppers and onion and cook, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add cumin and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add chicken, broth, tomatoes and their juice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice. Serve each portion topped with some of the baked tortilla strips, cheddar and cilantro.
Tips:
To trim boneless, skinless chicken thighs, use kitchen shears to snip the fat away from the meat.

Nutrition (per 1 1/3 cup serving): 288 calories, 12 g fat, 2 g sat fat, 56 mg cholesterol, 25 g carbohydrate, 20 g protein, 5 g fiber, 483 mg sodium, 404 mg potassium, Vitamin A 40% DV, Iron 15% DV

Recipe: Pasta and Bean Soup
Source: Eating Well
Makes: 8 servings, 1 cup each
Active/Total Time: 15 minutes / 35 minutes

Ingredients:
· 4, 14 ounce cans reduced sodium chicken broth
· 6 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
· 4, 4 inch sprigs fresh rosemary, or 1 tablespoon dried
· 1/8-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
· 1, 15 1/2 ounce or 19 ounce can cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed, divided
· 1, 14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes
· 1 cup medium pasta shells
· 2 cups individually quick frozen spinach (6 ounces) (see Ingredient Note)
· 6 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil (optional)
· 6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
1. Combine broth, garlic, rosemary and crushed red pepper in a 4-6 quart Dutch oven or soup pot; bring to a simmer. Partially cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes to intensify flavor. Meanwhile, mash 1 cup beans in a small bowl.
2. Scoop garlic cloves and rosemary from the broth with a slotted spoon. Add mashed and whole beans to the broth, along with tomatoes; return to a simmer. Stir in pasta, cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Stir in spinach, cover and cook just until the spinach has thawed, 2 to 3 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish each serving with a drizzle of oil and sprinkling of Parmesan if desired. Variation: Substitute chickpeas (garbanzo beans) for the cannellini beans; use a food processor to puree them.
Ingredient Notes:
Individually quick-frozen (IQF) spinach is sold in convenient plastic bags. If you have a 10 ounce box of spinach on hand, use just over half of it and cook according to package directions before adding to the soup in Step 3.
Nutrition (per 1 cup serving): 133 calories, 2 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 6 mg cholesterol, 21 g carbohydrate, 9 g protein, 4 g fiber, 356 mg sodium, 29 mg potassium, Vitamin A 35 percent DV

Christmas Party!!

Have you RSVPed for our First Annual (well, my first annual) Peer Parent Christmas Party?? If you haven't, you can do so by leaving me a comment or sending me an email. We will be having the party catered by BYU Catering with a Holiday Dinner of ham, potatoes, mac and cheese, salad, rolls and BROWNIES! YUM!! I will also be giving out gifts as a sign of my appreciation for all you do as peer parents! We will cover short agenda items, then party party party!!

PS- You get paid for this "training!" Hope to see you all there!

Feedback, Anyone?

Hello! I didn't really have anything to post today, so I thought I would ask for your feedback. How are things going? Any frustrations? I would love to hear from you guys (especially those that I don't hear from that often). Also, does anyone have any suggestions for posts? These can be anything from resource requests to peer parent policy reminders. Please leave this information in the comment section under this post. I would love to hear from as many of you as possible.

Also, in the way of announcements, I am now setting up Performance Evaluations. I will need to meet with each active peer parent over the next few months to discuss your job performance, commend you on your excellent work, and to address any issues that are necessary. This is all part of our region's efforts to improve our program. I am looking forward to meeting with each of you. So, I would like to schedule these meetings on Tuesdays during the days. You can email me if you have a preference for a date and time. Appointments will be first come first serve (starting with the loyal blog readers). If Tuesday during the day doesn't work for you, let me know what does and we can work something out.

Difference Between Cold and Flu

I know we are hearing a lot about the Swine Flu these days, but it is a scary thing that we need to take seriously. I recently received this list, which is a really helpful, concise list that shows the difference between the common cold and the flu (seasonal and H1N1). This is good information to know and to share with our clients. I have heard too many stories of families delaying medical care for their children because they didn't think it was a "big deal." Please pass this along.

Click Here to Get the Difference Between Cold and Flu Guide

One Stop Shopping

The following info would be great to pass along to your clients, or to attend with them:

The following agencies provide free services at the walk-in center located at the Utah County Health & Justice Building (151 S University Ave., Provo) every Tuesday evening from 5-8:30pm:
Department of Workforce Services
Community Action (including the HEAT program)
Provo City Housing Authority
Utah County Housing Authority
Victim Advocate Services (including our very own DV workers)
Law School Students (legal advice & help with online documents for family law matters)
Center for Women and Children in Crisis (Provo Women's Shelter)
Utah County Children's Justice Center
Utah County Health Department

This is a wonderful, weekly one-stop shop of resources. Detailed fliers in both English and Spanish (thanks, Annabella for translating!) are attached. The agencies do request people arrive no later than 8pm, as the services generally take at least half an hour.

For the flyer, click here
(I also have this flier in Spanish if you are interested)

Cleaning After A Cold (Or Flu)

'Tis the season for fun colds and other ailments. I have already heard from alot of you that you either have gotten the swine flu or have clients who have it. PLEASE be careful this season to ensure that you aren't picking things up and/or bringing the germs back to your family.

A good lesson this season might be how to disenfect to prevent colds and how to clean after someone has one (so that it might be possible not to spread it all over the other family members?). Here are some tips and websites to help in your lessons:

A recent study found a strain of the flu virus was present on 60% of common household items in homes with just one sick child. Did you know that germs and viruses can contaminate most common household surfaces? Don't worry! Flu disinfectant products can help. When shopping for cleaning products, choose sprays and wipes that are labeled "disinfectant" because they can be designed to kill a broad spectrum of harmful bacteria and viruses like the flu that other cleaners cannot. Check the label to ensure your disinfectant product kills the flu virus. Here are the top five germ hotspots:

Prevention Tips for H1N1

Hand Washing Reward Chart for Kids

How to Teach Handwashing to Kids

Computers for Clients

Have you ever wanted to use the computer as part of your lesson? Or teach a client to job search or help with homework on the computer? Here is an interesting resource. A company in Salt Lake allows customers to get a computer for a LOW cost or for service hours. I looked through the site and they have some great stuff. The computers are not new (around 4-7 years old), but they will definitely work great for your clients or your family.

Their Website

Here's what they say about how people can get a computer:

"Individuals may obtain a computer via purchase (typically starting at $100/$130), or by completing 15 hours of service to our organization. There is no technical experience necessary to volunteer with our organization. We have lots of nontechnical tasks (such as cleaning, sorting, etc.), and with any technical tasks, we'll show you how to do it.
Service hours can be performed by proxies and may also be pooled -- so, for example, a family of 5 could serve 3 hours and achieve the 15 total hours needed to receive a computer system. To volunteer, just show up at our warehouse during warehouse hours."
Their warehouse is located at 555 S 400 W, Salt Lake City, UT.
If you want to see what they usually have:
Click Here

Baby Tantrums

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle Baby Care

A baby’s first tantrum can take you by surprise. Your baby can really shock you by shrieking, stamping, hitting, or making his whole body go stiff. But don’t take it personally; baby tantrums aren’t about anything you’ve done wrong, and they aren’t really about temper, either – your baby isn’t old enough for that. The ways you’ll respond to your baby’s behavior when he is older are different than how you should respond now.

Why babies have tantrums and what you can do about it
A baby tantrum is an abrupt and sudden loss of emotional control. Various factors bring tantrums on, and if you can identify the trigger, then you can help him calm down ¾ and perhaps even avoid the tantrum in the first place. Here are the common reasons and ways to solve the problem:

Reason for tantrum
Possible solution
Overtiredness
Settle baby down to sleep; Provide quiet activity
Hunger
Give baby a snack or something to drink
Frustration
Help baby achieve his goal or remove the frustration; Use distraction
Fear/anxiety
Hold and cuddle baby; Remove baby from difficult situation
Inability to communicate
Try to figure out what he wants; Calmly encourage him to show you
Resisting change
Allow a few minutes for baby to make adjustment
Over stimulation
Move baby to a quiet place

How to prevent baby tantrums
Often, you can prevent a baby from losing control of his emotions if you prevent the situations that lead up to this. Here are some things to keep in mind:

When baby is tired, put him down for a nap or to sleep.
Feed your baby frequently. Babies have small tummies and need regular nourishment.
Give your baby toys that are geared to his age and ability level.
Warn your baby before changing activities (“One more swing, then we’re going home”).
Be patient when putting your baby in an unfamiliar environment or when introducing him to new people.
Help your baby learn new skills (such as climbing stairs or working puzzles).
Keep your expectations realistic; don’t expect more than your baby is capable of.
As much as possible, keep a regular and predictable schedule.
When your baby is overly emotional, keep yourself as calm as possible.
Use a soothing tone of voice and gentle touch to help your baby calm down. He can’t do it on his own, he needs your help.

Pumpkin Recipes

This is a great idea to teach as part of a family traditions or nutrition lesson. Make your sessions fun this month by incorporating pumpkins!

A smiling jack-o-lantern, a decoration for your doorstep or table, nothing says fall like a brightly colored pumpkin. While they are a favorite seasonal decoration the health benefits of incorporating pumpkin into your diet are often overlooked. Pumpkin is chock full of beta-carotene, potassium and fiber. These important nutrients are often lacking in the American diet.

These recipes will help you add the flavor, color and nutritional benefits of pumpkin to your fall table. For more recipes, click here.

Maple Pumpkin Sauté
Source: Cooking Light

Ingredients:
4 cups cubed peeled fresh pumpkin (1 1/2 pounds)
1 1/2 cups chopped Red Delicious apple
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup raisins
Cooking spray
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions:
Combine the first 4 ingredients in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray; cover pumpkin mixture, and cook over medium-high heat 20 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in syrup, salt, and ginger.

Makes: 4 servings

Nutrition Information:
Calories 137; Fat 0.4g; Protein 1.9g; Carbohydrate 35.1g; Fiber 3.6g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 151mg; Calcium 47mg;


Everyday Pumpkin Parfait
Source: Libby’s Pumpkin
Ingredients:
1 cup fat-free or low fat vanilla yogurt (or use light to reduce calorie content further)
1/4 cup Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 to 2/3 cup low fat or fat free granola (or use high fiber cereal in place of granola to reduce calorie content and add additional fiber)
Directions:
Combine yogurt, pumpkin and pie spice in small bowl. Place 1/2 of yogurt mixture into two 1-cup parfait glasses. Top yogurt mixtures with 1/2 of the granola or other cereal. Top each with remaining yogurt mixture and granola or other cereal.

Makes: 2- 1 cup servings

Nutrition Information (using low fat yogurt and granola):
Calories 200; Fat 1.5g; Protein 7g; Carbohydrate 41g; Fiber 4g; Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 120mg; Vitamin A 80% DV; Vitamin C 2% DV; Calcium 20% DV; Iron 4% DV

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins recipe
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour.

½ cup of sugar.2 teaspoons of baking powder.

½ teaspoon of cinnamon.

½ teaspoon of salt.1 cup of milk.

½ cup of solid pack pumpkin.

¼ cup of butter, melted.

1 medium egg.6 oz of semisweet chocolate chips.

¼ cup of nuts, finely chopped.

Preparation Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Form a well in the center.In a small bowl, combine the milk, pumpkin, butter and egg; then add to the well in the flour mixture.Add the semisweet chocolate chips and stir until the dry mixture is moistened.Spoon mixture into greased muffin cups, filling each ¾ full.Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of chopped nuts over each muffin.Bake for 20 minutes, then allow to cool for 5 minutes. Remove from pans, then allow to completely cool on racks.

Food Co-ops

Here is info on a great resource for you or your clients. There are flyers about this at the front desk or the website is http://www.foodco-op.net/. A friend participates in this and has been really happy with the quality of food. They have pick up locations all over the county.

In these tough economic times here is a great resource for all members of our community...
- The Food Co-op provides nutritious food at 30-50% savings to consumers because they buy in large quantities from local growers. The "Standard Share," at retail value, is worth $35-46 but can be purchased for $23.
- A food order is available every month and can include pork, chicken, beef, fruits, vegetables, grains, salsa, and more (depending on the "share" that you order). Orders are picked up at Centro Hispano in Provo.
- For each month you place an order, the Co-op asks that you complete 2 hours of volunteer work in the community. It can be as simple as taking a neighbor to the store, volunteering at a school, etc.
- If you eat, you qualify! They also accept food stamps. It is a great way for all of us to give back to our community.

Free Stuff This Weekend (Oct 9-11)

Most of this is in SL or Northern Utah Co, but still good to know! Pass this along to your clients or use it for your family!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off: Utah’s Giant Pumpkin Growers will bring their year’s biggest and best pumpkins to be weighed and judged in the UGPG 5th Annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off competition. Admission is free. Weigh-off starts at noon at the Thanksgiving Point Water Tower.

Library Square Festival of Science and Art: Chemistry--It's Elemental! The library celebrates National Chemistry Week by hosting a festival featuring a variety of hands-on scientific and artistic activities. This is a free event on Saturday, 10/10 from 11am- 4pm at the Main Library, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City.

Kids Club Game Day: Kids and their parents can watch demos of some of the latest board games, and instructors are on-hand to teach families how to play kid-friendly board games. Ages 4 and up. 10am- noon on Saturday, 10/10. Space is limited. Reservations can be made from the event calendar on the store's website. Location is at Game Night Games, 2030 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Game Night Games is a game store that carries a large selection of strategy board games and card games.
Sam's Closet Fall Festival: Saturday, 10/10 at 1pm. Activities include bounce house, Wii Olympics, bobbing for apples, fire dancer, karaoke, and a hay ride. We will be serving hot dogs with all the fixings. The suggested donation for the event is canned goods or non perishable food items to restock the shelves of Sam's Closet (Sam's provides clothes and food to people in need). Lakeside Community Church, 305 W. 1300 N., Sunset. More info here.
Family Art Saturday: Families can drop-in at the Salt Lake Art Center on the second Saturday of each month for free art activities designed to engage families with artists and current exhibitions. This month, kids can create masks to reflect their alter egos, and also create a print in recognition of Hunger Awareness Month. Ages 3-14, 2pm-4pm Saturday, 10/10. Space is limited; participation is on a first come, first served basis. The center also offers kids' tours of the museum upon request. Located at the Salt Lake Art Center, 20 South West Temple, Salt Lake City. More info here.
Star Party: Weather permitting, the Salt Lake Astronomical Society hosts its last evening of stargazing for 2009 and gives a presentation about the night sky. Stansbury Park Observatory Complex, State Road 138, Tooele. All ages welcome. Stargazing Dusk-11pm (may run later.)

IKEA is offering up FREE breakfast starting this weekend, Saturday, 10/10 through Monday, 10/12! Limit one per customer, while supplies last!

Oct 1 Advanced Training

We had a great Advanced Training on Thursday, Oct 1. We had two presentations, one from Stacy McMeekin from the Promise Program and one from our very own Stevie Howard on education. We also released the protocol for mileage payments and unveiled our new website. Here is the info in case you missed it (this info will be linked in this posting, as well as on the right hand side):

Stacy McMeekin: Presentation on Stages of Recovery of a Substance Abuse User
(links to presentation materials to come)

Stevie Howard: Presentation on Getting Involved in Education
Stevie is a sixth grade teacher (and professional clown), so she has experience with education and getting kids excited to learn. She had great tips on how to encourage learning in our families. These included games and activities for everyday life to get kids excited about learning. I would strongly suggest taking a look at her presentation to use with your clients and your own families!

Education Presentation
Homework Tips- Department of Education
Homework Tips Brochure

Mileage Payments
We are now set up to pay you for mileage. In the past, we paid for time traveled, we now pay for MILES traveled. You start your time with the client, when you arrive at the house. We pay mileage based on the foster care rate ($.36/mile) and you can bill for mileage for case activities including home visits, court, CFTMs, trainings and the SFP. Payment for mileage will come separate from your 520 payment and will be filled out on the following form:

Mileage Form

Print this form off and keep a copy in your car (to track the odometer reading). This form needs to be filled out completely and turned in to the Provo office to me. All of your clients can be put on one form for each month. If you have any questions about this form, please let me know and I can go over this with you.

Happy Fall!

Fall is here and there are a lot of fun things to do! Here are some resources to use for Fun Fall Activities (most are free) for your clients and your own families! Happy Fall Everyone!

List of Free Fall Activities in Utah County (Festivals, Sports, Movies, Shows, etc)

Free Admission to Tracy Aviary Oct 1-4

Thanksgiving Point- $2 Events, Family Farm Nights ($3.50) and More!

Free Night of Theater- The Tell Tale Heart and the Lost Boys- Franklin Covey Center Provo

Monday Night Movies at Movies 8 in Provo- $.50 Admission

**Many Farms and Greenhouses in Utah County have Free Activities, as well as low cost ($1-$3) activities such as hayrides, pumpkin patches and more! Here are a few around the area:

Southridge Farms in Santaquin

Hee Haw Farms in Pleasant Grove
Vineyard Greenhouse (435 S Geneva Rd in Orem)- Maze and Pumpkin Land (free or $2)

**One other suggestion is to check with your client's local library. Many libraries have a new schedule out for fall activities.

Have Fun this Fall and Make Some Great Memories!

Halloween Costume Ideas

Make Your Own Costume (With Stuff You Already Have)

Fast and Simple Costumes

More Ideas to Make Costumes

Flu Season is Here! :(

Pass this along to your clients and/or use it for your own families:

Flu season has come early this year, and is expected to last longer, too. It is more important than ever to make sure you're taking steps to protect your health. Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) include:

*Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
*Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
*Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
*Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
*If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
*Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious
*Looking to get your flu shot? Visit www.immunize-utah.org to find a Flu Vaccine Clinic near you.

Welcome To Our Page!

Welcome to the Western Region Peer Parenting Program's very own website!! This site is meant to be used as a reference for all of the peer parents in our region. This site will always contain links to all of the peer parenting forms and documents (found in the right margin), copies of the newsletters, as well as program updates and announcements. Make sure to bookmark this site and check it often for new information.

This site will also contain resources that you can use to supplement teaching from the STEPS books. If you have any resources or information you would like posted, please email it to me.