New Resource Library

I was able to order several copies of 9 different books for our new Resource Library. You will be able to check books out to use in your lessons as a supplement to the STEPS books. The plan is to add to the library over time, but this is what we will start with. I should get most of the books tomorrow, so you can start checking them out now!

I am willing to give you up to 5 hours paid time each month for reading these books. This should be documented in the daily doc form as prep time. List which book you read and for how long.

If you would like to check out one of these books, please let me know by Tuesday (June 29). I will figure out a way to get them to you while I am on leave.

Available Titles:

1) How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish- 12 Copies

2) Parenting With Love And Logic (Updated and Expanded Edition) by Foster Cline and Jim Fay- 12 copies

3) Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years by Jim Fay and Charles Fay- 5 copies

4) Parenting Teens With Love And Logic (Updated and Expanded Edition) by Foster Cline and Jim Fay- 5 copies

5) How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too! by Sal Severe- 5 copies

6) How to Behave So Your Preschooler Will, Too! by Sal Severe- 5 copies

7) Help! for Parents: Through the First Twelve Years [Paperback]
Anthony J. Lapray (Author), Bob Greer (Author)- 5 copies

8) For Love and Money: How to Share the Same Checkbook and Still Love Each Other [Paperback]
Bernard E. Poduska - 5 copies

9) What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids by Peter L. Benson Ph.D., Judy Galbraith M.A., and Pamela Espeland- 5 copies

June Advanced Training Info- PLEASE READ

Thanks so much to those who attended our Advanced Training last Thursday night. We had a great night and we walked away with some really great ideas to spice up our lessons with clients.

First, we talked about the final plans for my maternity leave coverage. Jeannie Warner, who will be taking over, was at the training and got to meet everyone. I will be out on leave from July 1- Oct 1. I have updated my coverage information, including some peer parents who are willing to help answer any questions while I am gone:

Updated Maternity Leave Coverage Information

Elizabeth Drew gave a great presentation on Family Stress Management. I will post her handouts as soon as I get those. During this discussion, Priscilla said that she has a "time out drawer", which is where she keeps all of her favorite things that she can pull out when she is stressed and have a "time out." Her drawer includes things like her favorite candies, magazines, music and various other things that soothe her.

We then had a discussion about activities and hands on lessons to use with your clients. I presented a few ideas:

Talking Stick

How to Make a Talking Stick

Compliment Circle

Conversation Starters

Nutrition Activities:

Four Food Groups Mobile

Nutrition Coloring Book Pages

Nutrition (or you can make your own theme) Bingo

Nutrition (or make your own theme) Memory Card Game

Some of the peer parents at the training shared some really great ideas. Here are those ideas:

*For nutrition, you could do a tasting game. This would involve you bringing several different healthy foods and blindfolding the kids and parents and having them taste them and guess what they are. They might get to eat foods that they have never tried and discover they aren't too bad!

*For nutrition, you could bring different fruits and vegetables and have the family guess what each one is.

*Pam says that she always takes her families to play frisbee golf (at various parks in the area). This teaches them patience and taking turns with each other.

*Kevin said that he always gives out additional information on child development to his clients (to supplement the STEPS book, which focuses mostly on younger children). Here are the websites that he provided:

School Age Children (5, 6-8, 9-11)

Tweens and Teens (12-14, 15-17, 18-20)

It was a great night! I will keep you all updated on my baby status (I will post some pictures on this blog for you to see) and I hope you all have a great summer! :)

PAYMENT INFO!! (and a little more)

I wanted to make sure that everyone was aware that you need to get all documentation and 520/ mileage forms in for the past year (Jul 09-Jun 10) by July 15, 2010. Our fiscal year ends on June 30 and you will have to get all forms in by July 15 or YOU WILL NOT BE PAID. And, remember this means that you have to have all your documentation in as well to be paid. The sooner you can get everything in before that deadline, the better.

Remember that you are still directing all payments to me (and my box here in the Provo office) now and while I am on leave. Documentation should be sent to me, caseworker, Jeannie (twarner@utah.gov) and Cassie (for SFP cases). I will be sending emails to those individuals who I am missing 520s/mileage forms/ documentation from for past months.

Other important info:
*If you have a case, you should have just gotten an email from me with your case information and the closure dates. Please monitor this and contact caseworker if you feel the caseworker needs an extension. Otherwise, just send in the case closure paperwork when you are finished.

*I am in the process of putting all of the information from the training last Thursday on the website. Please check that over the next few days to get that information (ESPECIALLY IF YOU DIDN'T ATTEND!!!).

*I have attached the most updated copy of my maternity leave coverage (also given at the training). Please read through it so you understand how things will work.

June 17 Advanced Training

Our next Advanced Training will be on Thursday June 17 from 5:30-7:30 pm in the DCFS Provo office. I wanted to get this scheduled so we can have one more training before I go on maternity leave on July 1. This training will focus on two things: exactly how things will run while I am on maternity leave and some great ideas for you to use with clients, as well as a presentation on a Skill from the STEPS book.

Part 1- We briefly addressed what my coverage will look like at the last training, but at this training we will cover every last detail. :) This will include how cases will be assigned, how payments will be processed, who you can go to with questions or for support, and every other thing I can think of before this training. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFO!!

Part 2- I will present on some fun object lessons to use with our families. If you have some fun lessons that you like to use, please bring an explanation of the lesson and any handouts or objects you use for that lesson. I am hoping we can leave with some great ideas to spice things up!

Also, Elizabeth Drew will be presenting on Stress and Anger Management.

Do you want to miss this training?? I don't think so! I hope to see you all there. Please confirm that you are attending by clickng YES at the right side of the page, or let me know if you won't be able to. (Remember if you don't attend, you will be completely responsible to read through everything we cover, which will be posted after the training!)