|
|||
|
|||
|
New Community Impact Programs to Launch in the Fall!Highbanks Society and the MUM ProgramHighbanks Society is a residential agency that offers single teen mothers, between the ages of 16-24, a temporary safe home with their children for up to two years. Highbanks has seven units with subsidized rent for young mothers who are looking for support while finishing their education by attending high school or post-secondary programs and creating a career path. Former Highbanks Executive Director Bette Mitchell was one of the twelve participants at our June 2009 Forum entitled "Exploring Issues Impacting Calgary Youth."This forum gave us direction to explore and identify new program possibilities that would fall under our Issue Area of "Healthy and Active Living." |
|
|
The JLC's Program Planning Group for Highbanks
Society has developed a program that will benefit the mothers and
children residing at Highbanks
The pilot session of the MUM program held on May 25 was a
huge success. The program was introduced by working with the
mothers to prepare a "Cinco de Mayo" themed meal of chicken
quesadillas, guacamole, bean salad and non-alcoholic Margaritas.
Each mother received her MUM Binder with the Canada Food
Guide, healthy food handling tips and the recipes they learned to
prepare. The moms also received a gift of a kitchen utensil. At e The JLC presented various kitchen items such as a rice cooker, Panini grill, chopping board, knife set, storage containers, measuring cups and spoons, utensils and a BBQ to Highbanks to start up their new kitchen and get the mothers cooking the recipes that were taught to them at the Pilot program. We also presented a donation cheque for $1,000 to Executive Director Cecilia de la Rocha at the Celebration Dinner to celebrate our successful partnership and the launch of the MUM program. We look forward to offering this MUM program on a monthly basis starting in September. |
|
Brenda‘s House and the Brenda‘s House Tickle Trunk
Through discussions with the staff, it was identified that they wanted help with designing and implementing a program tool that staff could turn to when offering programs to the frequently changing clientele in Brenda‘s House. The Program Planning Group for Brenda‘s House are developing a program that will benefit the children and parents at Brenda‘s House. The program will target key issues of nutrition and healthy eating (or Kids in the Kitchen - KITK), literacy (or Kids in the Story - KITS), music and movement (or Kids in Motion and Music - KIMM) and the arts (or Kids in the Arts - KARTS). We are developing a resource tool that staff will be able to use to implement developmentally appropriate activities with the ever-changing residents in the home.
The JLC has presented various growth and developmental toys such as a play house, sand pit, small basketball hoop, baseball mitts and balls, soccer balls, tricycle, books, games, arts and crafts items, baby stimulation toys, sidewalk chalk, Playdough, bubbles, toy cars, pretend food items, a multicultural rhythm set and musical CD‘s to Brenda‘s House. All these items will promote our Issue Area of "Healthy and Active Living" and lay the groundwork for implementing our Tickle Trunk program ideas. The JLC also presented a donation cheque for $1,000 at the Celebration Dinner to Brenda‘s House Manager Angela Hutchinson and Team Leader of Child Care Carrie Grummett to celebrate our successful partnership and the launch of the Brenda‘s House Tickle Trunk program. We are looking forward to offering this program two or three times a month starting in September.
|
||
|
|
Teen Christmas Totes
In 2004, we became aware teenagers were being missed through regular Christmas giving programs within the city. In the first year, we provided gifts for 100 teenagers and thanks to generous community donations, the project grew to 300 Teen Christmas Totes in 2008 and 2009. These totes were filled with hygiene items, movie passes, playing cards, magazines, gloves, toques, food coupons and Hitmen hockey passes. They were distributed to teenage clients of community resource centres and at other holiday events for teens.
|
|
|
|
Kids In The Kitchen
Since its creation in 2006, the JLC has participated in this annual education initiative on childhood obesity and nutrition. Junior Leagues in four countries unite in March and April to make an impact by educating the public regarding solutions for the growing problem of childhood obesity. The JLC focuses on the importance of nutrition, fitness and healthy lifestyles. In 2009, Kids in the Kitchen Day was held at Ranchlands School, providing education and interactive stations for 210 children in Grades 4 – 6.
For more information, check out our Kids In The Kitchen Fact Sheet. This article appeared in the Canadian Press, Prince George Citizen, Telegraph Journal, and The Record.com.
|
|
Done in a Day (DIAD)The JLC holds Done in a Day (DIAD) mini projects that benefit our
current and past projects or fill an immediate need within the Calgary
community.
|
.jpg)
Society.
The program will target key issues such as food preparation, meal
planning, healthy eating, kitchen safety, and food budgeting. The
name of the program will be MUM which stands for "Moms U
Matter".
ach
future session, new recipes will be added to this binder along with
another kitchen utensil for their personal kitchens. 
Brenda‘s
House is a re-housing program with a sheltering component aimed at
supporting families toward independence and their own sustainable
housing. It is a safe place where up to 14 families are given their
own private and lockable room complete with furnishings and private
bathroom. Families reach out to Brenda‘s House when they have
exhausted all options for housing and are now homeless. Brenda‘s
House opened on February 1, 2009 and has served over 175 families
since that time. The average stay for a family is one month. The
clients receive nutritious meals, week-day child care, access to
many community agencies and programs to support the growth and
development of the children.
The
name of the program will be "Brenda‘s House Tickle Trunk". The
Tickle Trunk concept comes from a former Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation children‘s show which featured "Mr. Dressup" reaching
into his Tickle Trunk to find costumes and items for stimulating
stories. The Brenda‘s House Tickle Trunk will contain "program
ideas" in Ziploc bags that are appropriate for the various age
groups that may be in residence. 
