By Dr. Ferrell Miller, JC Breakfast Optimist Club Secretary/Programs Chairperson
Rachel Richmond and Sue Gwaltney with the Parents As Teachers program were guest speakers at the October 11 JC Breakfast Optimist Club Celebration of Optimism. Rachel has been the Department Head for three years having been supervised by Sue Gwaltney. Soon after Sue retired, she returned as a part time employee and is now supervised by Rachel.
US 475 and the Junction City Family YMCA have joined together to provide FREE Parents as Teachers services to families of children birth to 5 years old in Geary County. They also provide additional parent education through Triple P (Positive Parenting Program).
The purpose of the program is to fill the gap of available home visiting and parent education services to underserved families with children birth to 5 years old. The gap disproportionately effects vulnerable and at-risk populations.
Rachel stated that “through Parents As Teachers and Triple Programs, 260 children are enrolled and over 2,000 additional children are served within the community through outreach. Parents are their child’s first teachers, and parent educators help parents develop the skills needed to promote Strong Families, Healthy Development, Early Learning and Kindergarten Readiness.”
She also shared that “nearly all children or families served (99%) have one or more risk factors. Those may include 14% of the children who were in foster care, custody of a relative, out-of-home placement or referred to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Forty percent of families do not have English as their primary language spoken at home as compared to 27% in Kansas for similar programs. Eighty-eight percent of the children receive free and reduced-price lunches as compared to the 69% statewide average. This data is taken from the fiscal year 2023.
There are nine staff members who work with parents in the home or at a neutral site in the community to teach the parents how to work with their young child/children to meet or exceed developmental milestones based on a prescribed curriculum and evidence-based information for the young child to be ready for school.
For more information contact may be made by calling 785-717-6900. The Parents As Teachers and Triple P Programs are located at 300 W. 9th Street in Junction City.
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club will also be participating in Match Day on October 17. For every $25.00 up to $1,000 donated that day, the Optimist Club will receive a match from the Greater Geary Community Foundation. Donors may mail checks postmarked on or before October 17 to P.O. Box 411, Junction City, KS 66441 or come to the event on October 17 between the hours of 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM at the Municipal Auditorium. Donors who come to the event will receive a free baked good made by World Famous Baker, Nita Miller. The JC Breakfast Optimist Club supports 18 different youth organizations in Geary County.