2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT in Memoriam

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2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT in Memoriam The Children’s Center 2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT In Memoriam The Children’s Center family mourns the passing of Bob ber for the Franklin City Educa- Petty. Bob was the president of our Board of Directors and was tional Foundation, and a board a board member for a number of years, also serving as trea- member for the Franklin-South- surer. ampton Area United Way. He Bob had a soft spot in his heart for the Children’s Center also served as a board member and many times shared his testimony about our programs. He for the Franklin Housing and first came to us 28 years ago as a parent of a child in our pro- Redevelopment Authority and grams. He never left us from that time. He was an advocate, a the Village at Woods Edge. believer, and a leader. Robert Tucker Petty died on Bob served the community of Franklin as a volunteer. He August 26, 2017 after a long was a Book Buddy for Franklin Public Schools, a board mem- and quiet battle with cancer. Bob Petty We nurture andMISSION educate children and their families The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. - Mahatma Gandhi Rosalind Cutchins The annual report gives a chance to look back and see how the Executive Director agency served the community. It also gives the opportunity to look forward toward improvement and opportunities of service. We nurture and educate children and their families. Nurture is to care for and encourage the growth of children and families. Educate is to give instruction or training to children and their families. Nurture comes first. Children and families can’t learn if they do not feel safe and cherished. And being cherished is united with education. This is Jennifer R. Spencer a powerful combination of service! Come join the Children’s Center in mission. There is a place for you to make a difference! Board President Thank you! 1 Layla gets into a rhythm with EI and childcare services Michelle Raffone-Lopez and her hus- she also received two band Rick have loads of activity in their days a week in a child- household. The Franklin couple has three care classroom. rescue dogs and four children, including “Physical therapy twins, and a special little girl named Layla, helped a lot. It has who charmed the staff at the Texie Camp helped her go up and Marks Children’s Center. down the stairs inde- Layla, who was diagnosed with Wil- pendently,” Michelle liams Syndrome when the family lived in said. Connecticut, received Early Intervention Layla is in a second and childcare services through the Chil- grade classroom at dren’s Center. Riverdale Elementary According to the Willams Syndrome As- School. sociation, WS is a genetic condition that is As is the case with present at birth and can affect anyone. It is many with Williams characterized by medical problems, includ- Syndrome, she loves ing cardiovascular disease, developmental music. The household delays, and learning challenges. These has various musical Michelle Raffone-Lopez with her children (l-r) Lola, Camilla, Layla, and R.J. often occur side by side with striking verbal instruments, which all Layla, who was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome, received services from abilities, highly social personalities and an the children play. Layla the Children’s Center’s Early Intervention program and community childcare affinity for music. enjoys playing the program. WS affects 1 in 10,000 people world- drums. “She can listen wide – an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 to a song once and she people in the United States. It is known to will know it right after that,” Michelle said. she was my first child. You get frustrated occur equally in both males and females “She learns better with music.” because you hear what she is supposed and in every culture. A component of Early Intervention is to to be doing. But you have these wonderful Layla began in the Early Intervention coach parents as they are the best teach- people that are there saying, ‘it’s okay. She program at 12 months. The family had a ers of their children. Michelle said everyone will do it in her time, just give her a chance.’ Service Coordinator that helped to arrange involved helped her have more confidence And she did every time.” her speech, occupational, and physical as a parent of a child with special needs. therapies. From 18 months to age three, “This was important, especially since 2 Carol proves that Head Start works Carol Dodson is soft spoken, but don’t “It was my first time let that fool you. The Head Start graduate is understanding just how Summary of the 2017-2018 a powerful advocate for families, something rough some kids had it and Western Tidewater she learned at a young age. how delayed some of them Community Assessment Carol, a family advocate for the Head actually were. I felt compas- • Slow and steady growth in the number of Hispanic Start and Early Head Start programs at sion for them,” she said. “In Dodson children in Isle of Wight and Suffolk. the Children’s Center, was raised in a poor first grade, there were a few • The continued difference in household income between whites and blacks. county in Kentucky and attended Head kids not from our Head Start group and I • Median household income in Franklin is well behind other Start, which was a summer program back remember them having a terrible time trying localities. then. to adjust. • The cost of living in Western Tidewater has decreased. “I was the little advocate in the room. • Poverty continues at historic levels in Franklin. Other “My parents were considered poor, localities have dropped. but as children, we didn’t know we were Anyone who had a problem, I felt the need • Childhood poverty has decreased with the exception of poor because so many other people had it to take care of them,” she added. “There Franklin. worse,” she said. was a girl who was in the Head Start class • TANF cases have dropped with the exception of Southampton County. Looking back, Carol sees the benefits of who came in with no shoes on. I felt so bad • Health outcomes in general have not improved. Head Start for her. for her. I asked the teacher if I could bring • Over 63 percent of births in Franklin are to single mothers “My mother taught us to read before her a pair of my shoes.” and every locality is above the state average. • Southampton, Franklin, and Suffolk continue to be above we went to school. It was interesting. Even Carol drives an hour each way from the state average in low birth-weight babies. though I had been schooled well by my Newport News to work in the Head Start • The teen pregnancy rate has improved in Franklin. mother, I had never been away from my and Early Head Start programs at the It remains three times above the state average. • Franklin is trending down in prenatal care beginning in the parents at six years old. I thought it was Children’s Center. Her compassion as a first trimester. odd not being able to be with my mother. youngster has carried over to a 30-year run • The infant mortality rate is above the state average in I would have been very distracted if I had as volunteer advocate and now her role as Franklin, Southampton, and Suffolk. a paid family advocate. • The child food insecurity rate in Franklin is double the just been dropped off in first grade (Carol’s state average. school did not have kindergarten),” she “I see the importance of Head Start. I • 3rd grade SOL English test scores remained stable. said. have found that some families are like my Franklin continues to be 28 percentage points below the The Head Start experience taught Carol family. All children will benefit. They need state average. • 5th grade SOL Math test scores are all near the state to be an advocate at a young age. that beginning just like I did,” she said. average. Franklin has improved from 26 percent passing “What attracted me to this program is that in 2013-2014 to 77 percent passing in 2016-2017. the Children’s Center really wants to sup- • Accessibility of public transportation in Franklin, Southampton, and Isle of Wight is poor. port families, not just the child. Head Start • Over 90 percent of children in Franklin are eligible for free helped me understand the world around or reduced lunch. me. It was a good spring board.” 3 “Izzy” makes progress through EI program Shawynee Love was concerned about level,” Shawynee said. her young daughter, Isabella. “Izzy”, as she Izzy received services from is known, wasn’t making eye contact nor in- the Children’s Center for a year “Kristie got her to do things teracting with people. Shawynee suspected before transitioning to Suffolk autism. Her instinct was correct - eventu- Public Schools. Shawynee said that we just couldn’t,” Shawyn- ally, Isabella was diagnosed with a mild she sees the results of Early ee noted. “She was caring but case of autism. Intervention. The Children’s Center was able to help “I remember the first day persistent with her. Kristie did Izzy and her family with services through Kristie came. Izzy didn’t want to things by example.” the Early Intervention program. get out of my lap. I have seen a Izzy began to receive services from major transition and a progres- the Children’s Center’s at the age of two.
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