Strengthening Families, Building Community
Strengthening Families, Building Community, A Project of the North Chapel
Vision: One community where all can thrive.
Mission: To provide experiences, relationships, and resources that advance equal access to holistic wellness for all within the broader Woodstock community–especially children, youth, and families–by working in collaboration with partner organizations and networks.
NOTE:
Since Geraldine’s departure the Ottauquechee Health Foundation in conjunction with Mount Ascutney Hospital have worked to keep many of the programs started at North Chapel alive for the wider community.
Strengthening Families/ Building Community Monthly Reports can be found here.
Strengthening Families, Building Community Brochure
From Geraldine Fowler - Outreach Coordinator - retired
In my 10 plus years of working closely with children and families in our community, what is clear to me is that in order to support our children as they learn and grow it is important that we look to the whole family. The idea behind the Strengthening Families framework, is to increase family strengths, enhance child development and at the very minimum reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect but with a goal of children and youth growing to be thriving, healthy young adults.
We can do this by Building on 5 Protective Factors. While the North Chapel Outreach Program may not be able to directly implement programing across all of these protective factors, it is important that we understand them and are aware of what is being offered in our community, help families access these resources and where applicable work with the community in filling any needs that arise.
The 5 Protective Factors include
Parent Resilience: Helping parents find ways to manage stress and function well when faced with challenges, adversity and trauma
Social Connections: Assist families in creating positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, instrumental and spiritual support
Knowledge of parenting and child development: Ensure that parents understand child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development
Concrete support in times of need: Does the family have access to concrete support and services that address their needs and help minimize stress caused by challenges
Social and emotional competence of children: Can we assist families in making use of opportunities for family and child interactions that help children develop the ability to communicate clearly, recognize and regulate their emotions and establish and maintain relationships
At its heart, Strengthening Families is about how families are supported to build key protective factors that enable children to thrive.
Over the last 2 years, we have been getting to know the community and looking to see what is already being offered and where the needs and gaps may be. Essentially we have been planting seeds and seeing what takes root.
A few of our programs include:
Weekly after school arts and crafts at the Norman Williams Public Library
Afterschool Snacks at the Library
Summer in your Backyard at Safford Commons
Coed Separation and Divorce Support Group
“The Stocking Project”: Holiday gifts for children in need
FREE the Coats! A Woodstock Community Coat Swap
In addition to programing, we have been committed to understanding the needs, resources within the community and working closely with community partners. This is done through representation on the following groups and networks:
Health & Wellness Network (Windsor Central Supervisory Union area)
We are a collaborative network that takes action to address the needs, health, and well-being [of people who live, work, and receive services] in the greater WCSU area.WCSU Youth Risk Prevention Network: project BEST SELF – Strengthening youth through community collaboration.
Woodstock Visioning: Steering Task Force
As an essentially only parent of two younger children, I know first hand both how isolating and stressful it is to bring up children in this community, but I am also aware that the needs of many are not always visible. Families who need support are not only the ones who live in poverty but also are possibly the families who are new to the area and looking for friends and peer interaction, or families who are separated during the week due to out of town work obligations, single parent households, those struggling with aging parents or going through a divorce and many who are affected by the opiod crisis. I am also acutely aware of how blessed we are to live in a community that does offer so many opportunities for children and families. Thank you for supporting our Strengthening Families Program!
Our Supporters
Thank you to the following organizations and people who have helped us along the way, in various forms!
ArtisTree Community Arts Center
Norman Williams Public Library
MBR National Historical Park
Woodstock Athletic Center – Carly Pizzani
Plymouth Cheese Company
Woodstock Community Food Shelf
Twin Pines Housing Authority
Woodstock Farmers Market
