In a past article I told you about the United Methodist Economic Ministry and the services they provide to the people of Franklin County. Now I would like to tell you about the Franklin County Children’s Task Force.

The FCCTF is a private, not-for-profit corporation committed to strengthening families and preventing child abuse and neglect through mobilizing community resources and advocating for and providing services that promote healthy children and families. They offer programs for families, kids and schools. Their many programs, support groups and events spread the word in our community on how to prevent child abuse and raise healthy families. FCCTF is a group of parents, professionals, volunteers, donors and friends who are working together to prevent child abuse and neglect.

One of the programs offered is Growing Healthy Families. This program promotes healthy family care and relationships from prenatal months through early childhood. The program goal is that parents everywhere work with supportive providers, feel confident in their parenting role, and form strong resilient attachments with their children.

A home visitor meets with you in your home to talk with you about your interests and needs as parents. During the first meeting, the parent educator talks about what services will be available to you. If you decide to become part of the Home Visitation program, you may be offered books, educational materials, videos and other tools that may be borrowed for use with your child and family.

Another program is Baby Think It Over. This is a program using infant simulators that are lifelike and life-sized with realistic computerized responses, which allow teens to experience some of the demands of infant care. It is being used by schools and other organizations to help adolescents appreciate the responsibilities involved with parenthood. The infant simulators are used not only in the schools but by community members, hospitals and teen parents. Let me tell you these simulators are really “LIFE LIKE”!

Bullying and Teasing Prevention is another program offered by the FCCTF. This program is a school-based violence prevention program. For years, we have accepted childhood bullying as a normal part of growing up. However, recent research indicates that children who bully are likely to get into trouble with the law when they become teenagers. Children who are bullied are likely to do less well in school and do become depressed or even suicidal. The Children’s Task Force sees the prevention of bullying as an important step in preventing child abuse and neglect.

Parent education is also offered by the FCCTF. “1,2,3,4 Parents!” is just one example of programs offered for parents. 1,2,3,4 Parents is a great program for a new parent or a parent who would like additional information about what expectations are reasonable to have of a child from birth to 4 years old. This program also offers ideas for parents regarding disciplining a young child while sorting through fact and old wives tales. There are other programs too including one for just fathers.

The Franklin County Children’s Task Force also offers a Clothing Exchange with a bring-a-bag, get-a-bag policy. Donations of gently worn washed clothes are welcome. Clothing is available for children sizes newborn through 4T, with some maternity items available.

To learn more abut the Franklin County Children’s Task Force and the programs they offer you can go to www.fcctf.org or you can call them at 778-6960.

This is another great example of an organization in our area providing valuable service to Franklin County residents. If you have questions about this or anything else fell free to give me a call at 645-3420 or e-mail me at drtom16@hotmail.com. As always thank you for the pleasure to serve the people of District 90.

Tom Saviello of Wilton represents House District 90: the towns of Avon, New Vineyard, Phillips, Strong, Temple and Wilton, plus the unorganized territories of East Central Franklin and Perkins and Washington townships.