Paul Szmal: It is 8.15 on FLX Morning here on Finger Lakes News Radio, and I am happy to be joined by Julie Champion from Child and Family Resources. Julie, good morning. How are you?
Julie Champion: Good morning, Paul. I'm well.
Paul Szmal: Wonderful. Excellent. Glad to hear it. There's a bunch of activities that Child and Family Resources have coming up here over the next couple of months, so let's go ahead and tackle them one by one here. I wanted to start with the Flip It Parenting Class. This is going to be Thursdays starting April the 3rd. What is this class all about, Julie?
Julie Champion: The Flip It Parenting Class is a method of helping parents deal with some negative or disruptive behaviors in young children. So it helps parents develop a skill set that looks at the child's feelings, setting limitations, and it really gives it an opportunity to practice it and learn together with other parents.
Paul Szmal: And this is a multiple session class, correct?
Julie Champion: Yes, it is.
Paul Szmal: Alright. Let's see. And it's happening at the Naples Library?
Julie Champion: Yep. We're partnering with Naples Library on this one. It's Thursdays starting April 3rd from 4 to 5.30 p.m. And what's really nice is that the library has a lovely space that we can use for parents and we're hoping to connect with that community a little bit more.
Paul Szmal: Do you find that this is one of the bigger issues that parents are dealing with is that children sometimes develop what we call that challenging behavior that needs to be kind of turned around?
Julie Champion: Yes. It's common. It's common and normal. And it's not that there's any bad children. It's just a matter of helping parents recognize where their child is at developmentally and helping give them the tools so that they can then help their child process whatever their anger or frustration they're having in the moment. And by the way, the class is made possible by a grant from what's called the OCFS Trust Fund. What is that organization?
Paul Szmal: It's the Office for Children and Family Services. We receive quite a bit of funding. And the Trust Fund is a preventive program. It funds numerous activities like family resource centers, parenting programs across the state. It really is a great resource for helping parents do better. And who are the instructors, if you will, that are going to be part of this class?
Julie Champion: For the Flip It program in Naples, it'll be Natalie Poore. She's one of our experienced family educators who will be working through that group.
Paul Szmal: Fantastic. That's one of the events that is coming up. One that's coming up a little bit sooner is on March the 22nd. What can you tell us about the Kids Paint and Sip program?
Julie Champion: Well, the Paint and Sip is kind of a fun little twist on an activity that adults do, but we're going to have some juice and some snacks and an opportunity for kids to be creative, get messy with some paint. What's nice about this is, again, it's at the Naples Library, and it's a wide range of kids welcome. If you have preschoolers on up to school-agers, that's great.
Paul Szmal: Well, it appears that we may have lost Julie for a second here, so we'll pause for this moment. Julie, are you back with us?
Julie Champion: I'm still here. Can you hear me?
Paul Szmal: Yeah, we lost you there for a second, but go ahead. You were talking about having kids painting a winter owl and an activity that's patterned after the adult Paint and Sip programs that we hear about.
Julie Champion: Yes. Thanks. It's really a relaxed atmosphere where kids can be creative and get a little messy with paint. It helps ease the senses, and it gives them an opportunity to do something together with their parents or siblings. And I know a lot of folks don't like to paint at home, and this is an opportunity for kids to experience paint.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, and have a little fun while they're doing it as well. And they're also provided something to take home. I imagine they get to take home the pictures that they've painted, but do they get anything else to go along with that?
Julie Champion: Yes, definitely. We have a cup provided for each of the kids for their sipping, and they get to take that home. And we'll have plenty of snacks for adults and kids available as well. And it's free, so it's a great opportunity.
Paul Szmal: And by the way, this is again, as Julie mentioned, at the Naples Library on March the 22nd from 1030 to 1230. Now that's not everything that is going on. Your office is busy because you're going to be out at a couple of different locations for some events coming up.
Julie Champion: Yes, and quite soon actually. The 22nd this weekend, we will be having a table at the Penny and Winter Fest, which is a program or an event sponsored by the Penny and Rotary. That's going to be held at the Penny and Middle School Gym from 10 to 4. And what are you going to have for offer on the table there? Just a listing of programs, resources for parents that they can utilize as part of the Child and Family Resources programs?
Paul Szmal: Yes, they'll be able to take a look at some of our programs, talk to staff if they're interested in anything, or look to learn more about the programs. And we usually have some sort of craft or art experience for the kids who want to stop by the table as well.
Julie Champion: And again, that's coming up on Saturday.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, it's coming up on Saturday. I had to do the math in my head there to count the days, Julie. It's okay. This month is flying by.
Julie Champion: Yeah, absolutely it is. That's 10 to 4 at the Penny and Middle School Gym. Then you're also going to be a part of an event at the Geneva Public Library on March 1st.
Paul Szmal: Yes, the following weekend, the Geneva Public Library is kicking off with their Read Across America event. And we're happy to be there to help with the festivities, provide activities, and again, have our resources available for any parent that is interested in any of the programs.
Julie Champion: How important is it to you to do this sort of outreach and go to a lot of these community events?
Paul Szmal: Well, it's very important, Paul. We've been around for almost 50 years, and we still hear people who say, oh, I've never heard of you. So the outreach events are really crucial for us to get out into the community, connect with families, whether they've been in the community for years or if they're new to the community. It's really important that we connect so that they can see what we have to offer, how we can support them in their journey as parents. And we're really hoping that now that the events are picking up again and as the weather turns nice, we'll be out in the community a lot more.
Julie Champion: We're talking with Julie Champion from Child and Family Resources here on FLX Morning. Let's recap the couple of big events that are coming up, starting again with the Kids Paint and Sip. That's March 22nd?
Paul Szmal: Yes, that is March 22nd, 1030 to 1230 at the Naples Library. And this is where kids are going to have a chance to do what the adults do, except it'll be juice instead of an adult beverage, snack and refreshments provided. And the kids get to not only bring home the winter owl painting that they do, but the sipping cup that they utilize while they're painting and sipping gets to come home with them as well. Now, there is limited space available for this one. How do people register for this?
Julie Champion: Well, they would go ahead and call Natalie Poore and her direct line is 315-956-9903. And then the Flip It Parenting class coming up starting April the 3rd. And the Flip It class again is also at the Naples Library. And they can call Natalie at the same number, 315-956-9903, to sign up for that. And if people want to find out more about Child and Family Resources in general and the variety of programs and services that you offer, how do they go about doing that, Julie?
Paul Szmal: They can stop by our offices at any time. They can visit us at the Pennion Rotary Winterfest piece at the Pennion Middle School, at the Geneva Public Library, Read Across America event, or they can just call us at 1-800-881-5786 and just speak to the office manager and she can connect them with whatever kind of information they need.
Julie Champion: All right. And that number one more time if people were writing it down?
Paul Szmal: It's 1-800-881-5786. All right. Thank you so much, Julie. Much appreciated. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Julie Champion: Thank you, Paul. Thank you, Paul. You too. It is 824 on FLX Morning.
