The facts don't lie: School attendance is a critical issue for students and schools everywhere, particularly since the pandemic. Elkhart County is no exception. Triple P was part of a community presentation on the issue at the Children's Summit gathering in August, where partners of the local Child Dashboard identified falling attendance rates as a serious problem for our youth.

Triple P has been working with local school and nonprofit partners to support parents in encouraging their children to attend school consistently for some time now, but the data show that more focused effort is needed on behalf of the whole community. As part of the countywide Child Dashboard partnership, we at Triple P are offering Positive Parenting resources on school attendance -- Supporting School Attendance for parents of children in elementary school and for parents of pre-teens and teens in later grades in both English and Spanish -- intended to help parents identify barriers to school attendance and develop strategies to keep their students in school and learning!

Triple P has started offering monthly virtual workshops in both languages for parents of younger and older children on the first Thursday of each month. For December, these sessions will happen the evening of the 7th, with the English and Spanish workshops for parents of younger students starting at 6 p.m. and the English and Spanish workshops for parents of pre-teens and teens starting at 7:30 p.m.

While we invite school personnel and other professionals in the community to refer parents of children with attendance problems to these workshops, they are also open to the community. You can click on either of the images below to download a PDF copy of the information for December's sessions in English and in Spanish:

As always, you can find more information about these and other upcoming Triple P workshops and group sessions in the community at TriplePElkhartCounty.org. Read on for more Triple P updates!

Watch TriplePElkhartCounty.org for the latest events!

• Advocacy Links for parents of children with disabilities (and parents with disabilities): Advocacy Links is an Elkhart-based organization "dedicated to finding resources and filling the gaps in or between services for individuals with varying levels of ability, regardless of age or funding stream." Visit and bookmark the Advocacy Links website for resources, upcoming events, and more.

• Beacon Health & Fitness community calendar: You don't need a membership to take advantage of open gym, pickleball, swimming, and other activities for community members at The Commons at the health and aquatics center in downtown Elkhart. Check their online calendar for an always-updated list of upcoming fitness and wellness options. And don't forget to check our calendar for details about the next monthly Triple P workshop in English and Spanish at the center.

• Body safety for children: CAPS offers resources for teaching children body safety. Click here to visit their resource page.

• Brighter Futures Indiana: Check out this resource to find social, economic, educational, career training, and health resources in your area and across the State of Indiana (available in English and Spanish). Click here to visit.

• Elkhart County Blue Sheet: Download this PDF with useful community resources for families, available in English and Spanish. Click here to view or download it.

• Public gym hours at Grace Community Church: Looking for a place to work out for free? Grace Community Church offers free use of their exercise facility at their Goshen campus, 20076 C.R. 36, to the public. Options include gym (evening basketball: 6-6:30 p.m. parent/child shootaround; 6:30-8:30 p.m. pick-up games), ladies fitness room, cardio equipment, walking track, weight room, and locker rooms for your convenience. Open gym hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday each week, 6-8:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and 6-8:30 p.m. Children 13 and younger must be accompanied by an adult to open gym.

• InSource Special Education Parent Support: This PDF sheet contains links to numerous resources and contacts for parents of school-age children with disabilities, including videos, newsletters, translation and interpretation services, help with school case conference meetings and more.

• Monique Burr Foundation: This organization offers free anti-bullying resources for parents, caregivers, educators and others. Click here to visit their resource page.

• Pro-bono mental health counseling available: Mental Health Awareness of Michiana coordinates a network of mental health professionals who offer free counseling services for individuals, couples, and families who do not have insurance and cannot otherwise afford mental health care. Click here to view an informational flyer about how to qualify, or how to volunteer for the network if you are a mental health professional.

• Resources for parents of children with disabilities: Elkhart Community Schools has resources for parents and caregivers of school-age children with developmental disabilities. Click here to view or download an informational flyer in English. Click here for the same information in Spanish.

• Resources for LGBTQ parents and parents of LGBTQ children: The LGBTQ Center offers parent support groups, PFLAG, and other resources to help LGBTQ families connect, learn from one another, and grow. The center's purpose is to see a community where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered.

• Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana: S-HC is built to help individuals, families, organizations, and communities understand how mental health and brain development creates the foundation for resilience when times are tough throughout people's lives. Learn more at the organization's new website.

• The United Village/Village Empowerment Center G.A.U.G.E. Program: The United Village Inc. launches its G.A.U.G.E. (Grow As U Go Enrichment) Referral Program on November 13, 2023! This 6-month Enrichment Program provides resources, opportunities and love for those children that many have left behind. They address child safety and equip our youth with conflict resolution and alternative to violence techniques. They have partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide background checks and trauma-informed training for all mentors, the Parent Coalition for Child Safety and Wellness, Triple P, local Mental Health Specialists, and many more to ensure ALL kids, regardless of their status, are receiving an empowering experience and opportunities to thrive! Through these partnerships, they provide mental health treatment, advocacy for parents, academic excellence, and personal and professional development. Click here to register your child today! Volunteers needed - Click here to send an email sharing your interest.

We have an online library of Triple P tip videos in English and Spanish! Subscribe to our YouTube channel and our Facebook to see the latest.

¡Hemos comenzado nuestra serie de videos de consejos de Triple P en línea en español! Suscríbete a nuestro canal de YouTube y a nuestro Facebook para ver las últimas novedades.

Contact Triple P: info@triplepelkhartcounty.org or call at (574) 226-0160.