Local Group Works to Raise Awareness During Child Abuse Prevention Month

Posted on April 6, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and a local organization is working to raise awareness of the issue.

Annette VanSchoyck with Prevent Child Abuse Starke County and the Starke County Coalition Against Domestic Abuse says there are a few signs to look out for. “The yelling, the screaming, the cursing, the name-calling – if you see that, it’s definitely a red flag that that parent or that person doesn’t have real good impulse control or control of their anger,” she says, “especially if they’re doing it in a public place where other people are seeing that and hearing that and that child is then being publicly humiliated.”

She says sometimes, parents simply don’t know any other way. “It’s the way they were raised, and it’s the parenting skills that they’ve been handed down,” VanSchoyck says. “So once they learn some other more positive, less abusive parenting skills, the better off they’re going to be, and the less child abuse there’s going to be.”

VanSchoyk says there are resources available to help people learn more positive parenting techniques. “Tips for tears, tips for stress, talking about parenting being the most stressful job that you can ever have, and tips for not lashing out in anger and what you can do to stop that and take a timeout yourself as a parent to think about it, take a deep breath, to take a break, to walk out of the room, and then come back and deal with that,” VanSchoyck says.

She adds that organizations like Prevent Child Abuse Starke County seek to educate the public and prevent abuse before it happens. “A lot of programs all over the country are turning funds towards prevention, versus band-aids after the fact, and I think the earlier you start, the better,” she says. “That’s why a lot of the programs are prenatal programs and all those things are starting so much earlier because they’re learning that the sooner you start, the less likely that you are to have a problem later on down the line.”

In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the organization is placing pinwheels at libraries and other public buildings around the area, along with informational packets. The pinwheel is the national symbol of child abuse prevention. Additionally, representatives of Prevent Child Abuse Starke County will be at the Starke County Preschool Fair on Tuesday, April 18.

VanSchoyk encourages anyone who’d like to help raise awareness of child abuse to join the group by calling 574-772-3331.

Families Invited to Starke County Preschool Fair

Posted on March 31, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI

Parents and guardians of preschool age Starke County children can learn about education options during the 4th Annual Starke County Preschool Fair.

The free event will take place Tuesday, April 18 from 4:30 until 6 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox.

Free snacks and activities will be offered for young children, including face painting, ambulance tours and take-home prizes. The Starke County Community Foundation will also be sharing information about preschool scholarships for local youngsters.

Representatives of local preschools, healthcare providers, agencies and other organizations that offer programs to families with young children will also be on hand to share valuable information.

Starke County Early Childhood Education Advisory Council Co-Chair Margaret Dalphond says it’s a great way for parents and grandparents to learn why preschool is important and figure out which one is the best fit for their child.

Preschool helps children to grow and strengthen their abilities physically, emotionally, socially and developmentally. The Preschool Fair coincides with the month of the young child, during which communities and individuals recognize the needs of youngsters and their families.

Preschool is a great way for children to grow and strengthen their abilities physically, emotionally, socially, and developmentally. This event coincides with the month of the young child. Since 1985, April has been celebrated nationally as Month of the Young Child. During this month, communities and individuals recognize the needs and rights of young children and their families. Each week of April celebrates a specific area of focus surrounding the development of the young child.

The Starke County Early Childhood Education Advisory Council is hosting the event, which is sponsored by the Starke County Community Foundation and Moving Starke County Forward.

For more information, contact Sarah Origer at starke@nicf.org or by calling 574-772-3665.

4/18/2017 4th Annual Starke County Preschool Fair

SCCF Encourages Parents to Consider Preschool

April 18, 2016AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

April is the Month of the Young Child, and the Starke County Community Foundation is committed to ensuring local youngsters have every opportunity to succeed. Research indicates development of fine motor skills is critical. Motor skills are the child’s ability to do any activity by using a muscle group. Fine motor skills are small movements of a child’s fingers, toes, wrists and eyes.

Properly developed fine motor skills lay the foundation for common elementary school tasks like holding a pencil, writing and drawing. Other fine motor skills include pinching, squeezing, clipping, using scissors, pushing or pulling objects and linking and stacking objects.

Parents and caregivers should work with young children to develop fine motor skills. They can also be honed in a preschool classroom.

Starke County has nine preschools, all of which are enrolling for the 2016-17 school year. Parents can find more information about various programs during the third annual Starke County Preschool Fair on Tuesday April 26 from 4:30 until 6 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox. Attendees will be able to visit with preschools and other organizations that offer activities for young children. The event is free.

Contact the Starke County Community Foundation at starke@nicf.org or by calling 574-772-3665 for more information.

Starke County preschools include: Foundations Child Care, Knox; Little Lambs Preschool, Knox; Little Lights Preschool, North Judson; Adventure Island Preschool, North Judson, Oregon-Davis Preschool, Hamlet; Knox Elementary Preschools, Knox; and St. Peter Lutheran Preschool, North Judson; and Marshall-Starke Head Start, which has locations in both Knox and North Judson.

The St. Peter Lutheran Preschool is hosting an open house on Thursday, April 21st at 6  p.m., and the Knox Elementary Title I Preschool is hosting preschool screenings on April 15, 22, 29, and May 6 from 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.; call 772-1633, ext. 1761 to schedule an appointment.

4/26/2016 3rd Annual Starke County Preschool Fair