MINNESOTA CIRCLE OF PARENTS REGIONAL DIRECTOR ROXY FOSTER

MINNESOTA CIRCLE OF PARENTS® REGIONAL DIRECTOR ROXY FOSTER

Agency Partners ESTABLIS HING A CIRCLE OF PARENTS ® CHAPTER ? Many support group chapters are the result of a collaboration between Circle of Parents® and another agency. Through this partnership, an agency serving families agrees to sponsor the support group as part of its ongoing operation. The agency partner provides: v a place for the parents and children to meet v effective support groups utilizing the “Measures of Quality” quality assurance tool volunteers or releasetime staff to facilitate the parent’s group and lead the children’s program v snacks and materials for the children’s program v a main contact within the sponsoring agency to provide focus and leadership for the partnership and to interact with Circle of Parents® staff vplan for special events (i. e. , Child Abuse Prevention Month activities in April, providing materials to local resource fairs, etc. )

COMMUNIT Y PARTNERS Citizens start a grassroots community movement to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing the momentum needed to start a group. They form an advisory team which provides the leadership, guidance, and community resources to ensure the health and longevity of a chapter. The Advisory Team meets monthly to: vmaintain the Circle of Parents® “Measures of Quality” quality assurance tool ensure that qualified group facilitators and children’s program volunteers are recruited, attend training, and are recognized for their volunteer activities vestablish a budget and fundraising plan so the group has the resources (materials, snacks, etc. ) they need to be successful vnetwork in the community to create parent referral sources for the group vplan for special events (i. e. , Child Abuse Prevention Month activities in April, providing materials to local resource fairs, etc. )

Goals of Circle of Parents® Children’s Program: v. Provide a safe and supportive environment for children v. Provide opportunities for children to develop selfesteem and social skills v. Support children in learning safe and healthy ways to handle feelings v. Model effective problem-solving and conflict resolution techniques v. Support children and parents to establish trust, respect, and positive interactions with each other CIRCLE OF PARENTS ® CONCURRENT CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

CHAPTER ASSISTANCE CHAPTER EVALUATION/SUPPORT STAFF INITIATED CONTACT STATEWIDE NETWORK OF SUPPORT Initial start-up charter paper work Define what kind of chapter they would Connect with other Minnesota and signatures. Schedule trainings like to become and how they will be Communities Caring for to be completed before first meeting. accountable Children Circle of Parents chapters through quarterly calls and e-blasts Electronic Data Collection Annual Re-charter Evaluation of each training Monthly check-in for Chapter support Annual re-charter in insure quality indicators are meet Connection to statewide parent/caregiver network Access to staff for brainstorming, problem solving, encouragement, emotional support, debriefing, and special recognition opportunities Technical Assistance as needed Opportunities for networking meetings via phone, go-tomeeting, videoconference, regional and statewide events

SUPPORT SERVICES Outreach Resources Administrative S Brochures, bookmarks, and posters Prevention materials, brochures, and publications Fiscal Services Liability insurance File 1099 tax forms Assistance in designing customized materials Chapter Operations, Children’s Program and Facilitations Skills Manual (for Circle Parents) Volunteer Accident Insurance MCCC/PCAMN promotions Participation in statewide data Annual Background Check for all collection and outcomes based on Chapter Volunteers best practice and promising practice

TRAINING As Available, training menu varies, in some cases fees may apply Circle of Parents Trainings-facilitator and children’s program Circle of Parents Advisory Team Training Parent/Caregiver Café, Healing Café, Minnesota Café Trauma Informed Care- ACE Interface Leadership training; Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI), Strategic Sharing Webinars and Conferences

PARENT/CAREGIVER/COMMU NITY PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES Supporting parents to become Circle of Parents® group leaders and co-facilitators Opportunities to apply for membership to the statewide Parent Leadership for Child Safety and Permanency Team Co-learning opportunities for parents, caregivers and community members through education and advocacy

CONTACT INFORMATION Minnesota Communities Caring for Children 709 University Ave. St. 234 Saint Paul, MN 55104 Office 651 -523 -0099 Presenter: Roxy Foster, Director of Prevention Initiatives, Central and Northeast MN 9310 Eider Lane Toll Free 800 -244 -5373 Monticello, MN 55632 www. pcamn. org rfoster@pcamn. org 651 -442 -8914