Caring Parents

Mission
To engage the entire community so that parents in Bartholomew County are supported by another caring parent, working together to promote healthy relationships between parents and children.

What is Caring Parents?
Caring Parents is a free home visit program offering Bartholomew County's new parents:

    Emotional support and encouragement
    Promotion of strong parent-child bonds
    Education on the stages of child development
    Tips on stress reduction and parenting skills
    The latest news in infant care and safety
    Resource referral

Volunteers present a pediatrician-designed curriculum at ages 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Topics include infant care, nutrition, crying, home safety, child development and activities. They reinforce the curriculum by taking health and safety gifts to each visit.

Caring Parents has helped new parents with information and support since 1995. Any parent in Bartholomew County with a child under age 1 may participate in the program by calling Caring Parents at 375-6748.

Participant Response
The letter to Caring Parents explains the impact the program makes on families in our community:

“My other children are older and this program has really helped me keep on track with my son’s development. It was very nice to have something like this since I did not have this with my other children.

My home visitor was very friendly, understanding, and supportive. It was really fun and helpful having her come visit with us. Anytime I needed something, she knew exactly where to find it, or what community resources to refer me to. I am originally from Trinidad, so I am not very familiar with the community, and I have very little family support here. Knowing that I had someone to turn to was a relief.

Thank you to the Caring Parents Program for all of the help and information that you shared with my children and me. It has really helped to make Shemar’s (my son’s) first year special.”

How You Can Help
Become a Caring Parents Volunteer Home Visitor
If you have just 1-2 hours per month to volunteer, you can make a difference by helping families grow together in healthy ways. Volunteers learn new skills and how to handle challenges during the two 3-hour training sessions. If you would like to give back to the community and feel a sense of accomplishment by working with babies and new parents, please contact Carol Dingledy for additional information. Information and application forms are also available on-line.

Join the Caring Parents Action Team
Do you enjoy advocating for something you believe in? The Action Team provides Caring Parents with leadership and guidance, promotes the mission of the program, and assists with fundraising. Meetings are at noon on the second Friday of each month and last about an hour. For more information, please contact Carol Dingledy or click here for on-line materials.

Current Action Team members are:
Carol Dingledy, Program Coordinator
Erin Hawkins, Parent Education Specialist
Natasha Brockhaus
Janice Bullman
Denise Burbrink
Anita Burton
Margie Campbell
Mary Canaday
Kristy Carmichael
Margaret Dawson
Ben Gilmore, M.D.
Rebekah Harrison
Jim Holland
Tami Iorio, M.D.
Bill Lentz
Shelley McAlister
Beth Morris
Cathy Shehan
Audrey Tyree

Help Our Special Events Committee
All of the money raised directly supports the Caring Parents Program and its families. Annual events include the Caring Parents 10K Run & 5K Run/Walk presented by Northwestern Mutual Financial Network; bracelet, earring and blanket sales, and the Store of Dreams. The Healthy Communities Mill Race Race also benefits Caring Parents. For information on volunteer jobs, time commitment and dates of events, please contact Cathy Shehan .

Volunteer As Your Schedule Permits
Sign up as a one-time or as-needed volunteer. Share your talents as time permits for periodic tasks and office work. Please contact Cathy Shehan for more information.

Arrange Speaking Engagements
Caring Parents offers a presentation on Crying Education that is adaptable for babysitting clubs, community groups, businesses, scout troops, school classes, and other organizations. The presentation focuses on how parents can cope with infant crying and how other community members can help. If you are interested in hosting a presentation, please contact Carol Dingledy .

Caring Parents Merchandise
The ABC: All Babies Cry book is given to all mothers who give birth at Columbus Regional Hospital and is available for purchase at the following locations:

Viewpoint Books
548 Washington Street
Columbus, IN 47201
812-376-0778
(must visit store to purchase book)www.viewpointbooks.com

Cookies, Baskets & More
407 Washington Street
Columbus, IN 47201
1-877-599-4438
http://www.cookiesbasketsandmore.com/

The book cost $7.00 and is available in English or Spanish. If you know of a business that would like to advertise in the ABC: All Babies Cry book or make them available at their business, please contact Cathy Shehan.

Hand Made Bracelets and Earrings Available at:

Cookies, Baskets & More
www.cookiesbasketsandmore.com
Innovations Hair Salon
www.getinnovations.com/hair.html
Children, Inc.
www.childreninc.com
Jody's Gymnastics Zone
www.jodysgymzone.com
Silver Oak Health Campus
2011 Chapa Drive, Columbus, IN 812-373-0787

Bracelets are $5 and $8
Earrings are $4
Great for volunteer appreciation month, secret pal, appreciation, birthdays, and much more. Sets and special orders are available in many color combinations: Colts, Pacers, IU, Purdue, CEHS, CNHS, Hauser Jets Jr. High and elementary school colors too!

Upcoming Events and Volunteering Opportunities!

Family Service Annual Breakfast with the Community
Family Service will be celebrating 40 years of strengthening families!
Thursday, March 27, 2008

Caring Parents 10K/5K Run and 5K Walk
5th Annual Caring Parents 10K, 5K run and 5K walk presented by Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. New this year is a 5K run and a free kids run!
Saturday, April 12, 2008

Partnering with WKKG's Country in the Park we will double the fun!
August 23, 2008

Mill Race Race and Mayor's Walk
Official hotel for 2008 is the new Hotel Indigo! Enjoy early registration and packet pick up on Friday followed by a complementary pasta dinner (for participants) right in the hotel!
September 22, 2008

Financial Support
The average cost of a family participating in the Caring Parents program is $311 from the virth of their child through 12 months of age. Financial support is essential for the success of the Caring Parents program bringing resources to parents raising children in Bartholomew County.

Contribution may be made in the following ways:
- A gift to the Columbus Regional Hospital Foundation's endowment to ensure long-term financial support for the Caring Parents program.
- A gift to the Family Service Endowment made through the Heritage Fund, the community foundation of Bartholomew county, will also ensure long-term financial support for the Caring Parents program.
- Mail your check today to Caring Parents/Family Service, 1531 13th Street, Suite 2540, Columbus, IN 47201
- In-kind contributions are accepted! Please call the office to make arrangements.

Your contribution will make a huge impact in the Caring Parents program and the resoucres it brings to families.
Contact: cshehan@familyservicebc.org

Caring Parents accepts monetary donations and much, much more. Ink cartridges and cell phones are recycled for cash. Homemakers clubs donate handmade burp cloths. New baby items can be given to families who need them; other new items can be used for door prizes and gifts at conferences and meetings. If you aren’t sure if we can use something, just call (314-2953) or email Cathy Shehan . Thank you for your support of Caring Parents!

Contact Information
To become a Caring Parents Volunteer, refer a family and baby to Caring Parents, join the program, or to make a donation, please contact:

Carol Dingledy, Caring Parents Program Coordinator
2400 East 17^th Street
Columbus, IN 47201
cdingledy@familyservicebc.org
(812) 375-6748-office
(812) 372-5367-fax