Posted 10:08 pm Sunday, February 10, 2013
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Community Appreciation Dinner set for February 22
Staff Reports
The Parent Services Center will begin the celebration of 25 years of service with a Community Appreciation Dinner on Feb. 22 at The Cascades in Tyler.
The Parent Services Center will begin the celebration of 25 years of service with a Community Appreciation Dinner on Feb. 22 at The Cascades in Tyler.
“We have been so fortunate to have the loyal support of donors and volunteers throughout our history,” Parent Services Center Executive Director Shelley Judd said in a prepared statement. “We want to honor and recognize as many of those individuals who were with us at the start up as well as those who volunteer their time and resources to keep our programs running today.”
The organization was founded by the late Judy Grindstaff and Susan Donaldson.
“Judy realized the importance of strong families and saw the need in our community,” Ms. Donaldson said. “We worked together to get the organization started. We had no idea how; we just reached out to friends, made contacts, wrote grants and moved forward.”
Ms. Donaldson will be recognized and will share memories of the early years, the announcement said.
A Silver Anniversary Memory Book will be presented to all founding board members, past presidents, six volunteer instructors who have taught parenting classes for 10 years or more, and the past executive director.
Awards will also be presented to 2012 donors and volunteers, the announcement said.
“I believe we have truly carried out our mission of providing parent education, support and resources to prevent family breakdown and to promote family resilience,” Ms Judd said.
“Attendance for our classes, conferences and support groups since 1989 is over 30,000. Research documents that there is nothing more effective than parent education in preventing youth drug abuse, crime, school drop-out, teen pregnancy and other challenges,” she continued.
Educational services consist of Tuesday and Thursday evening parenting classes, the annual parenting conference, an annual symposium and off-site training. PSC provides support for parents through parent support groups and limited financial aid for services to parents of autistic children.
“Judy realized the importance of strong families and saw the need in our community,” Ms. Donaldson said. “We worked together to get the organization started. We had no idea how; we just reached out to friends, made contacts, wrote grants and moved forward.”
Ms. Donaldson will be recognized and will share memories of the early years, the announcement said.
A Silver Anniversary Memory Book will be presented to all founding board members, past presidents, six volunteer instructors who have taught parenting classes for 10 years or more, and the past executive director.
Awards will also be presented to 2012 donors and volunteers, the announcement said.
“I believe we have truly carried out our mission of providing parent education, support and resources to prevent family breakdown and to promote family resilience,” Ms Judd said.
“Attendance for our classes, conferences and support groups since 1989 is over 30,000. Research documents that there is nothing more effective than parent education in preventing youth drug abuse, crime, school drop-out, teen pregnancy and other challenges,” she continued.
Educational services consist of Tuesday and Thursday evening parenting classes, the annual parenting conference, an annual symposium and off-site training. PSC provides support for parents through parent support groups and limited financial aid for services to parents of autistic children.
Resources provided include hosting the Partners Resource Network Clinics for free consultations about advocating with the school districts for special needs children, a lending library and resource and referral services as well as The Autism Network.
“The network provides free or low-cost, multi-disciplinary assessments for children ages 1 to 6 years who may have autism,” Ms. Judd said. “After the multidisciplinary assessments are completed, a staffing is conducted, during which parents receive reports from each professional with their treatment recommendations.”
Volunteers who are interested in joining the Parent Services Center’s Ambassa-dors’ Club will have the opportunity to enroll at the Feb. 22 celebration.
“Members of the Ambassador’s Club will provide information about the agency to their colleagues, business associates and friends,” Ms. Judd said. “In addition, they will help with special events such as our Gigantic Garage Sale, the annual conference and symposium and the annual Dodgeball Tournament.”
The Celebration Dinner is set from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person or $240 for a table for eight. Entertainment will be provided by Tyler’s Noteworthy Quartet. The public is invited.
For more information, visit www.parentservicescenter.org or call 903-595-2235.
“The network provides free or low-cost, multi-disciplinary assessments for children ages 1 to 6 years who may have autism,” Ms. Judd said. “After the multidisciplinary assessments are completed, a staffing is conducted, during which parents receive reports from each professional with their treatment recommendations.”
Volunteers who are interested in joining the Parent Services Center’s Ambassa-dors’ Club will have the opportunity to enroll at the Feb. 22 celebration.
“Members of the Ambassador’s Club will provide information about the agency to their colleagues, business associates and friends,” Ms. Judd said. “In addition, they will help with special events such as our Gigantic Garage Sale, the annual conference and symposium and the annual Dodgeball Tournament.”
The Celebration Dinner is set from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person or $240 for a table for eight. Entertainment will be provided by Tyler’s Noteworthy Quartet. The public is invited.
For more information, visit www.parentservicescenter.org or call 903-595-2235.
