LAKE COUNTY — New Beginnings” is appreciating the community”s support in its “Million Dollar Baby Drive.” As Lake County”s sole state-licensed intensive perinatal program providing drug and alcohol education, treatment, parenting skills, domestic violence and anger management classes and a transitional living center (TLC), New Beginnings would like to commend the public for taking action in raising awareness and much needed funds to continue the program.
“The support and encouragement from many members of the community is greatly appreciated from all of us here at New Beginnings. Our babies get a clean start. The ?Million Dollar Baby Drive” is our effort to raise awareness and much needed funds as well as to celebrate the successes of the program,” Janet Thomson, outreach provider said. “We thank everyone for their support in our fund-raising efforts. We have received many donations.”
The program would like to recognize Jeannie Hagberg, Patricia Larson, Debi Sally, April Lynn, Debbie Hart, Rene Gear, Ruth Corwin, United Methodist Church and Clearlake Automotive for their donations. Thomson said that Mark Rudiger at web@lakecountywebsites deserves special recognition for creating a new Web site for the program, www.newbeginningslake.com.
“If you see one of our donation containers at one of the many area merchants, please contribute,” Thomson said. “With every $100 donation you will receive a certificate of caring.”
New Beginnings is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and would like to take this opportunity to remind citizens that April has been declared National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“National Child Abuse Prevention Month was first declared in 1981. Since then, child abuse and neglect awareness activities have emerged engaging the public in efforts to strengthen and support families and enhance parenting skills,” Thomson said. “New Beginnings is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Our program is committed to creating a healthier community, working closely with Lake County”s First Five Commission, which is dedicated to improving the lives of California”s young children and their families through a comprehensive system of education, health services, childcare and other crucial programs such as Mother-Wise and nurturing parenting program funded by First Five.”
Judy Carroll, a parenting and alcohol and other drug (AOD) counselor, who works closely with the mothers and their children coming through the New Beginnings program, said that through education and creative programming, most women are learning to embrace the joys of motherhood and give birth to tox-negative babies.
She said the women continue to benefit from the therapeutic services offered such as nurturing parenting classes, couples” therapy, child play therapy and re-parenting programs for mothers who are part of a reunification process through Child Protective Services.
According to Stephen J. Bavolek, Ph.D, a recognized leader in the fields of child abuse and neglect treatment and prevention and parenting education, “Nurturing parenting is based on a defined set of proven principles and practices that form a non-violent philosophy of parenting that promotes self-worth, empathy, discipline with dignity, self-awareness and cooperation. The nurturing philosophy helps families replace old, unwanted abusive and neglecting parenting patterns with newer, healthier nurturing patterns.”
Carroll said that nearly 100 percent of new clients need to be admonished from hitting, spanking, yanking, smacking or screaming at their children. “Most mothers seem to adjust to their treatment of the children after two or three play therapy session and/or parenting classes,” she said. “Most mothers who have been in the program at least one month seem to use a neutral tone of voice quite consistently.”
Carroll said that passive mothers can be observed setting boundaries. She said all the mothers learn to engage in play. “Showing affection seems to be the hardest lesson to teach,” she said. “However, at least by the time the mothers graduate, 100 percent of them appear more demonstrative with affection. Some take longer than others, but all mothers have eventually been observed hugging, kissing and praising their children.”
For more information regarding New Beginnings and/or the “Million Dollar Baby Drive,” please contact Janet Thomson at 995-3235 or by e-mail at janet@nblakeco.org.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
