Parent Leadership Graduation
 
The graduation of our parent leadership team was bittersweet this month. After three years together, this team of parent leaders has accomplished so much and become like family. Under the guidance of Rena Moran, MCCC’s Director of Parent Leadership, parent leaders gained knowledge and experience for bringing parent voices to decision-making tables in communities and systems.

Thank you and congratulations to all of our parent leaders. While we will miss seeing them every month, we look forward to seeing what these amazing and powerful parents do next!
Meet our new Northern Regional ACE Training Coordinator, Jenna Zmyslony!
Jenna holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership from Stephens College and a Bachelor’s of Arts in English with an emphasis on research. She recently completed a service term with AmeriCorps as a VISTA in Carlton County in August 2019. Here, Jenna was introduced to Restorative Justice, Emergency Preparedness and Volunteer Mobilization. In addition, she has studied Change Management, Resource Development, Grant Writing and is certified in QPR and ASIST (suicide prevention).
Webinar: What to do about ACEs? How building resilience mitigates early trauma
January 15, noon-1:30, Presented by Dr. Dean Grace

Drawing on his extensive experience working with traumatized youth at Northwoods Children's Services, Dr. Dean Grace will explain that traumatization is a sensory experience. Helping people overcome trauma is about helping them change their core feelings and beliefs about self.  This means filling the absence of safety with a reliable assurance of support and replacing a sense of powerlessness with self-efficacy. Once we recognize what is needed the process of building resilience is, as Dr. Ann Masten explains, "simple, not easy". We'll examine an approach successfully implemented in schools and youth serving programs. The model is also easily understood by parents.
Training Series
December 2019 - January 2020

The Minnesota Circle of Parents model is a peer-led, mutual self-help, support group program. At group sessions parents can safely discuss with other parents and caregivers the challenge and success involved in raising children. Implementing a Circle of Parents group increases parent partnership and leadership throughout the community.  Support groups also help create and strengthen prevention initiatives and other local family programs and services.

These trainings are offered online to help reach a wider range of statewide locations and volunteers where they are.   RSVP to see future dates. CEUs available.
Questions about the Training Series? Contact:
Lisa Deputie
651.523.0099
Barb Sorum
507.383.8842
Circle of Parents: Introduction Orientation

 December 10, 2019 
9:00a.m. to 12:00 noon

This orientation is meant to provide an overview of Circle of Parents to prospective Circle of Parents facilitators and advisory committee members. Topics include:
  • Strategic sharing
  • Advocacy
  • Prevention education
  • Resilience
  • Cultural communication
  • Trauma-informed care

Circle of Parents: Facilitation Skills

January 14th, 2020
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Using a combination of hands-on activities, presentation, discussion, resources and stories, this training will give you the basic skills to begin facilitating mutual self-help Circle of Parents groups with confidence. This training builds on the strengths of the past by providing greater opportunity to practice skills, increase knowledge of how groups work and become even more grounded in the values of mutual self-help, shared leadership and family support.   Protective factors are supported naturally through co-learning and empowered leadership. It’s perfect for new facilitators and as a refresher course for current facilitators.
Circle of Parents: Establishing a Children’s Group  

January 28, 2019 
9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Children’s groups are an integral part of Circle of Parents programming. The goal of the children’s group is to provide developmentally appropriate, skill building activities that will increase children’s confidence and self-worth while providing fun and enjoyment. Children’s groups provide an additional incentive for parents to attend Circle of Parents meetings by providing a safe, entertaining, and educational place for their children.
A children’s group helps children build relationships with one another while their parents or caregivers are meeting in a separate group. Volunteers creates many opportunities for children to be nurtured as well as to enhance their self-esteem and further their social skills. Children learn non-violent problem solving through the development of cooperative relationships and practice problem solving and conflict resolution. 
The Reason Children Should Do Chores is Because it’s Good for Them
By Robert Myers, PhD

"For younger children completing simple chores such as folding clothes or help with making their bed can improve coordination and motor skills. Completing chores also enhances a child’s ability to follow directions, helps develop planning and organization skills, and develop time management skills."
What Are You Pointing At, Baby?
By Sarah S. MacLaughlin

"Notice and respond to the other gestures your baby is using to communicate. There are 1 6 communication gestures that usually occur by age 16 months . Cheer your baby on when you see them. Children develop at different speeds. Most children begin to point between 9 and 14 months of age. If your child isn’t pointing by 18 months, let their health care provider know."
Separation and Detention of Migrant Children and Families
By Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D.

"Separating children from their caregivers, holding them in detention centers, and subjecting them to prolonged institutionalization and neglect is a critical issue that transcends political ideology and partisanship and speaks to the heart of what the  mission  of the Center on the Developing Child is all about."
Too Much Structured Playtime
By Child Trends

" We’ve all seen it. Maybe we’re guilty ourselves of being parents who want their kids in every lesson and on every team. But we may not be doing kids any favors, as far as helping them develop what’s called self-directed executive function. That means setting a goal and independently figuring out how to reach it."