By Stu Salkeld The Stettler Independent
Parents have some great resources available to them in Stettler and area, and two coordinators dropped by The Stettler Independent Sept. 15 to let readers know a bit more about them.
McMan Child, Youth, Family and Community Services Association offers many programs in Stettler and region to support parents in their goal of raising healthy children.
One program, Connections, works with parents from pre-natal up to age 6 and has the goal of supporting and encouraging individuals and families to achieve their full potential as members of their community. Child and family development worker Eloise Dickie said Connections has two home visiting programs, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and the Community Action Program for Children.
She said the first program offers regular home visits, access to a registered dietician, access to monthly workshops and much more.
The second program is aimed at families raising kids with disabilities. Parents have access to assessments on children, connections to resources in the community and much more.
This program covers a massive region stretching from Alix in the west to the Saskatchewan border in the east, including Stettler, Castor, Coronation and many more communities.
“We’ve got a huge area,” said Dickie.
She said Connections is a very positive program that is non-judgmental and non-intrusive. Dickie said there is help available for parents who are looking for it.
Call her at 403-742-3606 or cell 403-741-7180 for more information.
Evergreen Parent Link
The Evergreen Parent ink Centre in Stettler offers parenting programs five to six days a week, including weekends and evenings noted Parent Link coordinator Catherine Robinson.
Programs such as music and movement encourage parents to come and play with their kids or Ages and Stages, which includes a questionnaire to ensure your child is on track developmentally.
Coming up in October is a program called SuperDads, SuperKids where fathers play the lead role in a fun, interactive learning program for kids 0 to 5 years.
More information on Parent Link programs is available online at www.mcmancentral.ca. Programming is also available in castor and Donalda, and coming soon to Big Valley. The McMan office is located on the north side of the shopping mall parking lot; drive around the east or west sides of the mall to access it.
Dickie said every parent could benefit from a helping hand. “We’re there to help parents,” she said. “It takes a village to raise a child.”