Required registrations for limited seating are being accepted at bps461@msn.com or (484) 435-0503. Walk-ins are welcome but only on a space available basis.
April presentations are designed to help equip parents, caregivers, churches, educators and professionals about the ever-increasing pressures being experienced by children and youth and many of the unrecognized dangers that are prevalent both within homes and the community.
Information will include the impact of childhood trauma on the health of a child, even in adult years, prevalence of drugs, alcohol, vaping, cutting, burning and suicidal thoughts and depression among sixth to 12th grade students in Allegany County, and common dangers that result in over 12,000 unintentional deaths in ages zero to 19 and more than 9.2 million emergency room visits annually in the United States.
The Hope Center is designed as a drop-in, information and referral and education center for individuals who are seeking information or struggling with all types of life issues.
It also is developing a Christian lending library, to include free books, and its ongoing education center schedule to help inform the public and churches about current and new community needs and how to receive help and address them.
It also is developing a Christian lending library, to include free books, and its ongoing education center schedule to help inform the public and churches about current and new community needs and how to receive help and address them.
The facility is a community outreach ministry of the Mission Genesee Valley coalition of churches, other Christian organizations and individuals that are seeking transformation and revival in all sectors of Allegany County communities and beyond.
The Hope Center currently is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays for appointments, assistance, and facility tours and expects to expand its hours as awareness increases and more volunteers are recruited and trained. Assistance also is available by appointment.
The Hope Center currently is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays for appointments, assistance, and facility tours and expects to expand its hours as awareness increases and more volunteers are recruited and trained. Assistance also is available by appointment.
Currently scheduled April topics, coinciding with several national observances, including Alcohol Awareness Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Youth Violence Prevention Week, Every Kid Healthy Week, and National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, are.
-- Childproofing Your Home - Theresa Moore, Allegany County Health Department supervising public health educator, will discuss home situations that can result in sickness, injuries or death, including lead-based paint, radon, food safety, poison control, sunburns and indoor tanning, and more. Presented at 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, and repeated at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 17.
-- Combating Drugs, Alcohol and Vaping – Ann Weaver, Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (ACASA) community educator, and Jon Chaffee, Partners for Prevention in Allegany County (PPAC) coalition coordinator, will provide information on children and youth trends for use of alcohol, drugs and dangers of the increasing vaping epidemic. Ways in which young people disguise substance use in homes, schools, churches and other community settings and responsibilities of parents for such use also will be discussed. Adult only presentations from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Thursday, April 11, and repeated at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 16.
-- Dangers of Early Childhood Trauma as Children Age - Vicki Grant, Allegany County Social Services commissioner. Learn about lasting impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including a 76 percent chance of developmental delays if a child experiences four ACEs between the ages of zero and three and other negative effects at various life stages, including an average 20 years shorter lifespan if six or more ACEs are experienced without mitigation -1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 18; repeated 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 25.
-- Facts and Myths About Child Protective Services – Angela Tinder, Allegany County Social Services Department, will discuss how county Child Protective Services works, the services delivery system, and the role of mandated and permissive reporting to the State Central Register - 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, April 29; repeated 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 30.
In addition, the following popular presentations from last month will be repeated:
-- Help Struggling Readers Read - Kate Rulison, reading assistance lead at the Hope Center will describe how different types of poor reading skills are impacting thousands of children and adults in Allegany County and the Center's work in helping to overcome this issue – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday, April 15.
-- Is It Dyslexia? - Rulison will provide a followup to the reading presentation, highlighting issues specific to identifying and helping those with dyslexia- 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday, April 29.
-- Developing True Communities of Care in Churches - Hope Center volunteers, church leaders and interested community members will gain insight into a System of Care person-centered approach that assists individuals within congregations and communities and makes a church more attractive to newcomers - 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13.
In May, the Hope Center's focus will be on mental health as part of national Mental Health Awareness Month.
Individuals interested in future Hope Center seminars, workshops, and initiatives can receive advance information by sending names, communities of residence and the word "Subscribe - Hope Center" in the subject line to the information and seminar presentation address at bps461@msn.com.
Additions and updates to the April and future schedules will be available at www.facebook.com/
