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Parents are crucial to the learning success of their children and of SMDCC, Inc. Several initiatives of The Center are focused on Parents.
The Parents’ Advisory Board: meets monthly to discuss issues and concerns relating to The Center. The Advisory board coordinates the Annual Family Day and Multicultural Celebration, which has been held in September since 1998. In addition, the Advisory Board elects a member to The Center’s Board of Directors.
Information Distribution: The Center circulates information of interest to parents. Some items recently distributed refer to Playground Safety, Car Seat Awareness, Child Development, Husky Insurance, and Childhood Immunization. Information about important adult health issues such as breast and prostate cancer are also distributed.
The Center sponsors health screening for children (lead, vision, hearing, and dental) and adults (mammography). In 2006 we began distributing information about prostate health by inviting a representative of the Hartford Hospital Cancer Center to be part of our Father’s Day program.
Social Service Referrals: Are provided both for children in need and their families. Ranging from child care assistance (Care 4 Kids) to Literacy, Domestic Violence, Work Readiness services and Husky Health Care referrals, The Center is open to outside community resources that support and help the child’s emotional and physical growth & development. For example, Birth-to-Three and Child Guidance Services work with children at the Center, as needed.
Other: Parents are encouraged to participate in daily activities as they are able, always with the understanding that more than 95% of the parents are working people. Parents may accompany children on field trips, volunteer to read in classrooms, and help in a variety of other ways. Parents are also encouraged to participate on the Board of Directors and Parent Activity Committee. Some parents have made the choice of Early Child Education as a career, and have been employed by SMDCC.
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