The Greene County Family Center is committed to strengthening local families. Those goals are at the heart of everything they do. This year, they introduced their Passion Projects, which according to the Center’s Administrator, Michael Holloway, have brought fresh perspective and creative solutions to address the unique needs of many local families. Holloway continued, “These initiatives are a testament to the innovative spirit of our team and the unwavering support of our community partners. We’ve also forged impactful partnerships with organizations like Growing Up Greene and the United Way. Together, we are expanding access to essential resources, creating opportunities for growth, and building a stronger foundation for every family in Greene County.”
The Center has many programs, services, and opportunities designed with your family’s well-being in mind. From evidence-based parenting programs to community-driven activities, they support and empower you every step of the way.
The Center is committed to the Parents as Teachers (PAT) model which is dedicated to early childhood development and parent education. The vision of Parents as Teachers is that all children will grow and develop to reach their full potential.
PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROVIDES:• FREE services for expectant parents with children up to kindergarten age
• Home visits twice a month (for one hour each) to track developmental milestones, promote school readiness, and teach effective parenting techniques
• Appropriate child development and parenting information provided by PAT certified staff, help your child learn and succeed at their current level of development
• Hearing, vision and developmental screenings for early detection
• Resource referrals to help families overcome barriers and access vital county services
• Group play sessions in two county locations to build social skills, literacy, and problem-solving
Their Kindergarten Club eases the transition to school. The Center partners with all five local school districts, to help ease the transition by introducing children to classroom routines, early learning concepts, and social skills—all while supporting parents with valuable resources to make the first school experience a success.
Library Story Time is a collaboration with the Flenniken Library offering interactive story sessions, engaging activities, and early learning strategies that help parents nurture a love of reading. Other events such as such as Touch-A-Truck, Night at the Barnyard, Community Baby Shower, Sensory Santa, and more, offer families exciting hands-on experiences, allowing children to explore and learn in a fun, interactive settings.
Parenting classes are also offered. Class scheduling is flexible and offered in-home to parents. Each class has 5 sessions covering areas from prenatal to 12 years old.
New parents learn about infant development and practical day-to-day questions. Some of the topics covered are bonding, handling stress, babies’ cues, safety/nutrition, swaddling, second-hand smoke, pets, choking hazards, and car seat safety. The classes also cover helping children develop self-esteem, responsibility, and cooperation. Parents will learn techniques for positive discipline. Other topics covered are parenting styles, stages of development, dad’s role, temper tantrums, anger/aggression, and immunizations.
There are also sessions for active parenting for teens. Discussions focus on current topics that teens face and how to address these problems with your teen. Topics covered are drugs/sexuality/violence, self- esteem, peer influence, mutual respect/responsibility, consequences, and detecting drug use.
Parenting for teens who are expecting can feel overwhelming, but the Center offers confidential and complimentary parenting classes to provide the support and guidance needed to navigate this journey. These classes offer a judgment-free environment where teens can ask questions, connect with others in similar situations, and gain practical tools for raising a healthy, happy child.
For more information or if interested in these classes please call: 724-852-5276 Ext: 503.
