Parent A Special Publication of
Resource Guide Sunday, April 26, 2015
Read to them every day.
TRIPLE THEIR CHANCES OF GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
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Look inside to find out how to win $100 to shop at
United Way of Central Florida
highlandstoday.com
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UNITED WAY SUCCESS BY 6 PARENT RESOURCE GUIDE
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What is United Way Success By 6? Success By 6 is an initiative to make early childhood development a top priority in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. Success By 6 is mobilizing communities to ensure that all children, by the age of 6, have the physical, emotional, social, and mental foundation to succeed in school and life. The Hardee/Highlands/Polk initiative, founded in 1995 by Carol Jenkins Barnett of Publix Super Markets Charities and spearheaded by United Way of Central Florida, brings together resources from a partnership of private businesses, government, religious groups, educators, and health and human service organizations. These organizations are working together to improve our communities and give all children the chance to succeed in school and life. Why do we need Success By 6? A critical path is laid in the first few years of life. Children who start behind usually stay behind.
could generate a 12 percent public rate of return. If children don’t develop properly when they are young, they are more likely to drop out of school, go to jail, become a teen parent and/or require government assistance. This results in higher taxes and less personal safety. If we don’t take action now, we will continue to create a permanent segment of society who cannot participate fully in community life. Success By 6 is people in business, government, labor, education, and health and human services agencies and individuals working together to make sure kids get what they need to succeed. The common goal is to create a community where all children have the mental, physical, social and emotional foundation to grow into healthy, productive members of the community.
For more information on how you can help, contact Jodi Miller at 863-648-1500 Ext.265 Why should I care? U.S. Federal Reserve Bank research found early learning programs or email successby6@uwcf.org.
Enter to Win!
Beds 4 Babies
A big thank you to the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Avon Park for their generous donation to the Beds 4 Babies Project!
nents: a public awareness campaign and distribution of portable cribs to eligible families to provide a safe place for babies to sleep. For more information on “Safe Sleep PracticThe Beds 4 Babies Project began es” and the “Beds 4 Babies Project” due to an alarming increase in contact the Healthy Start Coalition accidental infant suffocation deaths. of Hardee, Highlands and Polk The project consists of two compo- counties at 863-534-9224.
Send this coupon to Success By 6 and you could win a $100 gift certificate to ... All blanks must be completed to be eligible: Name _____________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________________ City _______________________ Zip Code ______________ Birthdate __________________________________________ Phone _____________________________________________ Email address ___________________________________________________________________ I found the Parent Resource Guide helpful. YES _____ NO _____ Children’s ages ___________________________________________ Where did you get your copy of the Parent Resource Guide? __________________________________________________________________________________ What would you like to see added to the Parent Resource Guide? __________________________________________________________________________________ Mail to Success By 6, P.O. Box 1357, Highland City, FL 33846-1357 Or go to www.uwcf.org/EntryForm
Congratulations Phillips family
RYAN PELHAM/STAFF
Congratulations to Tommy and Amber Phillips, parents of 2 1/2-yearold Anistyn, who won the $100 Publix gift card drawing from the last issue of the Success By 6 Parent Resource Guide.
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RESOURCES FOR PARENTS ADOPTIONS Catholic Charities of Central Florida
highlandstoday.com
CHILD RECREATION/EDUCATION Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast
Avon Park Church Service Center
www.bbbssun.org 863-402-9001
Bartow Church Service Center
www.chsfl.org 863-413-3126
863-385-2782
Florida Baptist Children’s Homes
www.highlandsbgc.com Avon Park 863-452-9700 Sebring 863-385-9652
Heartland for Children
www.ccfhighlands.org 863-382-2905
Little Angels Adoption Agency
www.childrensmuseumhighlands.com 863-385-5437
Children’s Home Society
www.fbchomes.org 863-688-4981
www.heartlandforchildren.com 863-519-8900
www.littleangelsadoption.net 800-279-8498 863-657-2428
A Safe Haven for Newborns
www.asafehavenfornewborns.com 877-767-2229
BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT
WIC Avon Park 863-382-7351 Lake Placid 863-382-7317 Sebring 863-382-7216 Florida Hospital
www.floridahospital.com/heartland 863-402-3258
Boys and Girls Club of Highlands County
Champion for Children Circle Theatre Children’s Museum of the Highlands Gulf Ridge Council Boy Scouts of America www.gulfridgecouncil.org 813-872-2691
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida
www.gsgcf.org 800-232-4475 Ext. 312
Highlands County YMCA
www.highlandsymca.com 863-382-9622
Highlands Little Theatre www.highlandslittletheatre.org 863-385-2175
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER Peace River Center
For additional resources or referrals, dial 2-1-1 or call 863-648-1515
863-452-6464
www.cflcc.org 863-686-7153
863-533-5822
Frostproof Care Center Inc. 863-635-5555
Hardee Help Center,Wauchula 863-773-0034
Help of Fort Meade 863-285-6600
Manna Ministries of Lake Placid Inc.
863-699-0093
Parkway Food Ministry, Sebring
HEALTH INSURANCE ACA Marketplace
www.healthcare.gov 800-318-2596
Florida KidCare
www.floridakidcare.org 888-540-5437
MomCare
www.healthystarthhp.org 866-796-0871
HEALTH SERVICES Central Florida Health Care
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION Champion for Children Advocacy Center
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT/TUTORING Champion for Children Foundation of South Florida State College Highlands County www.southflorida.edu Vision Quest
www.championforchildren.org 863-402-6845
Florida Abuse Hotline
www.myflfamilies.com 800-96-ABUSE
Heartland for Children
www.heartlandforchildren.com 863-519-8900
A Safe Haven for Newborns
www.asafehavenfornewborns.com 877-767-2229
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION Barefoot Baby’s
www.barefootbabys.com 863-382-9789
Florida Hospital
www.floridahospital.com/heartland 863-402-3258
Highlands Regional Medical Center www.highlandsregional.com 863-471-5807
CHILD CARE/EARLY LEARNING Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Heartland www.elcfloridasheartland.org Highlands County 863-314-9213 Hardee County 863-494-5233
RCMA
www.rcma.org 800-282-6540
Ridge Area ARC
www.ridgeareaarc.org 863-452-1295
863-453-6661
Webber International University www.webber.edu 800-741-1844
EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING Career Source Heartland
www.careersourceheartland.com 863-385-3672
Job Corps
www.jobcorps.gov 800-733-5627
Al-Anon
FAMILY SUPPORT
www.nofldist9.org 863-678-3800
Emergency Rescue Fund www.championforchildren.org 863-402-6845
Healthy Families Highlands
www.healthyfamiliesfla.org/highlands.asp 863-402-6628
Healthy Start
www.cfhconline.org 863-452-3000
www.ccfhighlands.org 863-402-6845
Highlands County Health Department
www.highlands.floridahealth.gov 863-386-6040
HEARTLAND LIBRARY COOPERATIVE
LITERACY ORGANIZATIONS Highlands County schools www.highlands.k12.fl.us 863-471-5555
Al-Anon
MENTAL HEALTH
www.nofldist9.org 863-678-3800
Alcoholic Anonymous 863-382-2694
Bethany Center (Good Shepherd)
www.chaptershealth.org 800-464-3994
Drug Free Highlands
www.drugfreehighlands.org 863-382-2138
Healthy Families of Highlands County
www.healthyfamiliesfla.org/highlands.asp 863-402-6628
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency www.ncadd.org 800-622-2255
Peace River Center
peace-river.com 800-627-5906 Domestic Violence Services 863-386-1167
A Safe Haven for Newborns
www.asafehavenfornewborns.com 877-767-2229
863-452-3803
Tri-County Human Services
DeSoto County Public Library
863-993-4851
Glades County Public Library
863-946-0744
Hardee County Public Library
863-386-1167
www.tchsonline.com 863-452-0106
MENTORING Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast
863-773-6438
www.bbbssun.org 863-402-9001
863-699-3705
PARKS Highlands County Parks and Recreations Department
Lake Placid Memorial Library Okeechobee County Public Library
863-763-3536
Sebring Public Library 863-402-6716
www.asafehavenfornewborns.com 877-767-2229
Habitat for Humanity
www.agapefeeds.com 863-665-7074 Ext. 0
Florida Rural Legal Services
www.frls.org 800-277-7680
Sebring Safe House
Avon Park Public Library
HOUSING Affordable Housing
FOOD BANKS Agape Food Bank
www.hofla.org 863-402-6983
www.myhlc.org
www.highlands.floridahealth.gov 863-382-7233
A Safe Haven for Newborns
www.myflorida.com/dor/childsupport 800-622-5437
863-382-3552
www.peace-river.com 863-386-1167
863-655-6617
LEGAL SERVICES Child Support Enforcement
Faith Lutheran Church Food Bank,Sebring Heart of Florida Legal Aid Society
La Leche League
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www.affordablehousingonline.com
www.habitathighlands.org 863-385-7156
Highlands County Housing Office
863-402-6648
www.hcbcc.net 863-402-6812
Highlands Hammock State Park
5931 Hammock Road, Sebring www.floridastateparks.org/highlandshammock 863-386-6094
Jack Creek
4501 Grand Concourse Road, Sebring www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/jackcreek. html
RESOURCES, Page 7
President Barack Obama White House 1600 Pennsylvannia Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 202-456-1111 www.whitehouse.gov
U.S. Senate
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson 801 N. Florida Ave., 4th Floor Tampa, FL 33602 Phone – 813-225-7040 Fax – 813-225-7050 www.billnelson.senate.gov
Gov. Rick Scott 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399 850-488-7146
Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399 850-717-9331
State Rep. Cary Pigman District 55 205 S. Commerce Ave., Suite B Sebring, FL 33870 386-6000
Lake Placid town officials
District 2 – Sebring
Vice Mayor Raymond Royce 381-8551
Jim Brooks office – 402-6500 cell – 443-1226
District 2 – Lorida Don Elwell office – 402-6515 cell – 381-5622
District 3 – Sebring
Charlene Edwards 443-1992 Donna Howerton 655-0282
District 3 – Sebring Jan Shoop 381-4338
Mayor John Holbrook 381-0451
Councilman Steve Bastardi 465-4076 Councilman Arlene Tuck 465-3234
Ron Handley office – 402-6840 cell – 381-2842
District 4 – Lake Placid Bill Brantley 465-0881
Councilwoman Debra Ann Worley 441-1935
District 4 – Lake Placid
District 5 – Sebring
Town Administrator Phil Williams 699-3747
Avon Park City Hall
368 S. Commerce Ave. 471-5100
Jack Richie office – 402-6840 cell – 464-0026
District 5 – Sebring
Greg Harris office – 402-6840 cell – 381-8201
County Administrator June Fisher 402-6517
Sheriff
Jill Compton 441-2806
110 East Main St. 452-4400
Avon Park city officials Mayor Sharon Shuler 452-4403
Deputy Mayor Brenda Giles 873-1138
Susan Benton 402-7213
Councilman Parke Sutherland 452-6900
Tax Collector
Councilman Terry Heston 443-1635
Eric Zwayer 402-6685
Property Appraiser
Raymond McIntyre 402-6659
Clerk of Courts Bob Germaine 402-6565
Councilman Garrett Anderson 443-0608 City Manager Julian Deleon 452-4403
Sebring City Hall
Sebring city officials Mayor John Shoop 385-8700
Councilman, President, John Griffin 385-4796 Councilman Lenard Carlisle 471-5100 Councilman, Pro-tempore, Scott Stanley 385-8242 Councilman Mark Stewart 385-9403 Councilman Bud Whitlock 471-1900 City Administrator Scott Noethlich 471-5100
Supervisor of Elections Penny Ogg 402-6655
Highlands County School Board
426 School St. Sebring, FL 33870 471-5555
“C
hildren need models rather than critics.” — Joseph Joubert
highlandstoday.com
State Sen. Bill Galvano District 26 1023 Manatee Ave. W., Suite 201 Bradenton, FL 34205 941-741-3401
District 1 – Avon Park
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State Sen. Denise Grimsley District 21 205 S. Commerce Ave., Suite A Sebring, FL 33870 386-6016
Highlands County Commissioners District 1 – Avon Park
311 W. Interlake Blvd. 699-3747
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Florida officials
Lake Placid Town Hall
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U.S. Rep Tom Rooney District 17 226 Taylor St., Suite 230 Punta Gorda, FL 33950 Phone – 941-575-9101 Fax – 941-575-9103
Superintendent of Schools
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015
U.S. Representative
Wally Cox 471-5565
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U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio 3802 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 106 Tampa, FL 33612 Phone – 813-977-6450 Fax – 813-977-6593 www.rubio.senate.gov
600 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring FL 33870 402-6500
Highlands County Commission Office
UNITED WAY SUCCESS BY 6 PARENT RESOURCE GUIDE
President
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CONTACT YOUR ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS
Happy children learn better! Watermelon season is here!
Forget the chips. Kids want to dip watermelon! Take 8 ounces of sour cream, mix in ¼ cup of sugar and one teaspoon vanilla extract. Cut your melon into sticks or small wedges and you are ready to start dipping!
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Understand and respond to your child’s needs.
Take care of yourself so you can take care of your child.
Watch your child. When she cries, go to her. Try things like feeding, holding and hugging or singing. This teaches her that you care about her and that she can trust you.
Being a parent can be very tiring. Do not be afraid to ask for help. You can get support from friends, family or community groups.
Create regular routines for your child.
Teach kids about money
Preschoolers are ready to learn the difference between wants and needs and the idea of pricing. At the grocery store look at what the same dollar can buy. Which is a want? Which is a need? At the grocery store play “I Spy.” Ask your child what food you are looking at. Say: “I spy something small, red and sweet to eat.” Then let her give clues and you guess.
Sing and play during bath time. Tell stories before bed. Talk with your child during meal times. Routines give your child a sense that the world is safe and that he can depend on you.
Children are born learning. Together, we shape their learning.
Born Learning SM is a public engagement campaign helping parents, caregivers and communities create early learning opportunities for young children. Designed to support you in your critical role as a child’s first teacher, Born Learning educational materials are made available through the efforts of United Way, United Way Success By 6 and Civitas. For more information, visit us online at www.bornlearning.org. Civitas thanks Parents as Teachers, an international early childhood parent education and family support program, for their ongoing support. This Civitas tool was adapted for the Born Learning campaign. © 2006 Civitas
Talk, sing and read with your child. Let your child hear your voice as much as possible. Share books every day. Point out words and letters. Words and sounds are the basis of language and learning.
Make a warm and loving home. Spend time with your child. Hold and hug her. Listen to her. When you make a child feel safe and secure, you help her grow and develop. A child who feels loved has an easier time learning.
M ar k J o s ep h p h o t o gr a p h y / C h i C ag o
Every child is born learning. Here are five ways you can help them learn better.
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From Page 4
POISON INFORMATION Florida Poison Information Center – Tampa www.poisoncentertampa.org 877-252-6094
SMOKING CESSATION Florida Hospital
www.floridahospital.com/heartland 877-252-6094
SPECIAL NEEDS Central Florida Speech and Hearing
Florida Division of Blind Services
www.dbs.myflorida.com 800-500-6412
Heartland Horses & Handicapped www.heartlandhorses.org 863-452-0006
Kinsley L. Cox Living Memorial Fund
Air Conditioning & Heating
Serving Highlands, Polk & Hardee Counties y ur famil Keep yo h Clean Air! wit e healthy ive Maintenanc t g a t in Preven our unit work keeps y -top shape! in tip
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Sales, Service, Repairs & Replacement Factory Trained Technicians NOW Over 20 Years Experience OFFERING Preventative Maintenance FINAN CIN CALL FOR G Heat Pumps DETAILS Duct Cleaning Commercial & Residential
www.ccfhighlands.org 863-381-4040
Ridge Area ARC
www.ridgeareaarc.org 863-452-1295 www.ccfhighlands.org 863-382-2905
QUALITY WORK AT A FAIR PRICE GUARANTEED!
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Vision Quest
highlandstoday.com
www.heartlanded.org/fdlrs 863-531-0444 Ext. 234
America First
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Florida Diagnostic Learning and Resources System
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800-222-1222
www.epilepsyservices.com 863-686-5880
28 percent say cell phones 25 percent say siblings
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Poison Control
Epilepsy Services of West Central Florida
62 percent of kids asked say their parents are sometimes distracted when they are trying to talk to them. By what?
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015
800-423-1476
www.cfshc.org 863-686-3189
According to a survey by Highlights magazine:
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Jack Creek (continued)
UNITED WAY SUCCESS BY 6 PARENT RESOURCE GUIDE
There are many activities to improve your child’s fine motor skills, but the main key to success is still all about practice, practice, practice and… make it fun! Use paper with different texture and thickness, newspaper, typing paper, thin cardboard, etc. Let your child tear or cut them into strips. You can also use children’s craft scissors that cut different patterns. Draw outlines in various shapes with a thick magic marker and let them tear or cut out the different shapes. Use these shapes to make a picture, and glue them onto a different piece of paper. Choose a topic and find pictures in magazines to tear or cut out, stick them onto another piece of paper as a collage.
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Fun for special needs children — and all children: tearing and cutting!
Thank you Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation for your support of early childhood literacy!
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Hand In Hand, We Can Help Them Succeed. .
Publix Super Markets Charities is proud to join hands with United Way and Success By 6 in their campaign to build a brighter future for children everywhere.
PUBLIX S UPER MARKETS
CHARITIES
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