Join Us April 11th!

Week of the Young Child is a national celebration April 11-15 and is held each year to honor young children and thank teachers and all those who make a difference in young children’s lives. Alexander County Partnership for Children will hold a Week of the Young Child Kick Off and Open House Breakfast April 11th from 7:30am to 9am. Stop by and view children’s art work, book projects and recycled art.

Is Your Car Seat Properly Installed?

9 out of 10 car seats are improperly installed. Could yours be one of them? Come talk with a certified technician to learn more about safely installing your seat every time. Stop by the Alexander County Partnership for Children on Mon, April 11th
from 2pm to 4pm to have a certified technician check your child’s seat. Appointments are available at other times. Call 632-3799 Extension 11 for more information.

Come Read With Rudy!!!

In recognition of Week of the Young Child come join the Alexander County Partnership for Children on Wednesday, April 13th from 12:15pm to 1:15pm for Reading with Rudy at Matheson Park, Taylorsville. Children can come and listen to stories, receive a take home book, and learn about Rudy a certified Therapy Dog through Therapy Dogs International. Rudy is a Tail Waggin' Tutor at the Alexander County Public Library and is owned by Susan Cogdill, Executive Director of the Alexander County Partnership for Children.

Celebrate Week of the Young Child!!!

Week of the Young Child is a national celebration April 11-15. Week of the Young Child is held each year to honor young children and thank teachers and all those who make a difference in young children’s lives. Alexander County Partnership for Children will hold a Week of the Young Child Kick Off and Open House Breakfast April 11th from 7:30am to 9am. Stop by and view children’s art work, book projects and recycled art.

Other special activities for this week include:
Monday, April 11
Car Seat Check
ACPC
2pm to 4pm
Car seats that are inappropriate will be replaced. No appointment needed.
April 12
Story Hour at Library with Ms. Mel
10am
Children attending will receive a free book to take home and read.
April 13
Reading With Rudy
Matheson Park
12:15-1:15
Join Rudy, the Black Lab from the Alexander County Public Library’s "Reading with Rudy", under the canopy at the park. Children attending will receive a free book to take home and read.
April 14
Spring Art Extravaganza
ACPC
10:30-Noon
Parents, grandparents and children are invited to attend an art session designed with the child in mind. Children will participate in art projects to take home.
April 15
Story Hour at Library
10am
Children attending will receive a free book to take home and read.

"Stewards For Children" Community Program

As part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 2011, Alexander County Partnership for Children is presenting
“Stewards of Children”- A program to empower Alexander County in the prevention of child sexual abuse.

“Stewards of Children” is proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and change child-protective behaviors. This revolutionary program is for any responsible adult who cares about the welfare of children including sports leagues, child care centers, after school programs, children’s clubs, church groups and more. Parents will also benefit from the program. Join us and learn:
• Facts about the problem of child sexual abuse
• The types of situations in which child sexual abuse might occur
• Simple, effective strategies for protecting children from sexual abuse
• The importance of talking about the prevention of sexual abuse with children and other adults
• Plus much, much more!

This powerful program will be presented on Thursday, April 28, 2011, 10:30am to 2pm at Taylorsville Presbyterian Fellowship Hall with lunch included and Thursday, April 28, 2011, 5:30pm to 9pm at Alexander Head Start with dinner included and child care available.

The real prevalence of child sexual abuse is not known because so many victims do not disclose or report their abuse. Researchers have suggested rates varying from 1% to 35%. Most professionals in the field of abuse use rates from 8% to 20%. Even if the true prevalence of child sexual abuse is not known, most will agree that there will be 500,000 babies born in the US this year that will be sexually abused before they turn 18 if we do not prevent it-1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls will be abused before their 18th birthdays.

Adult retrospective studies show that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men were sexually abused before the age of 18 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006). This means there are more than 42 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the U.S.

The primary reason that the public is not sufficiently aware of child sexual abuse as a problem is that 73% of child victims do not tell anyone about the abuse for at least a year. 45% of victims do not tell anyone for at least 5 years. Some never disclose (Smith et al., 2000; Broman-Fulks et al., 2007).
Think about it – attend “Stewards of Children” and in just 3 hours, you’ll have the information you need to better protect every child you know including your own. How can you say no? Sign up today! Space is limited and is available on a first come first serve basis.

1,002 Pledges Presented!

An Alexander County delegation traveled to Raleigh on March 23rd to meet with local legislators to discuss the importance of services for young children. Pictured are L-R Bonnie Canter, Director of Millersville Child Development Center; Kim Draughn, Director of Lulus Child Enrichment Center; Representative Mark Hollo; and Dale Clary, General Manager of Carris Reels and Board Chair of the Alexander County Partnership for Children. Not pictured Susan Cogdill, Executive Director of Alexander County Partnership for Children. 1,002 people who work & live in Alexander Co signed the Pledge to Protect the Children. This pledge acknowledges that communities thrive when children thrive. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, ministers, business professionals, doctors, social workers, nurses, and retirees are just a few of the folks who took the time to say children are important in Alexander County. This effort was led by the Alexander County Partnership for Children Board of Directors and assisted by the Chamber of Commerce. Signed pledges were presented to Representative Mark Hollo and Senator Dan Soucek. Alexander County Partnership for Children is a United Way agency.