CCAPT sponsors a number of programs which encourage families to seek support, get accurate information on child development, and learn a variety of parenting techniques. These programs are resident driven and community based. They focus on developing the strengths of families and empowering the involved residents towards their best. Our goals are: 1) To decrease isolation among children and families in the community, 2) To increase support for children and families within that community, 3) To increase knowledge about children and parenting within the community through the use of community mentors, and 4) To strengthen and empower the Communities we serve.
CCAPT sponsors the following programs to give every parent the support they deserve:
Afterschool activity and event programs for school age children - We involved 110 youth in community based activity programs this year. We offered a variety of activity groups, which included Arts/Crafts, Journaling, Quilting, and Martial Arts. We also offered discussion, skill building groups which included “The Future is Yours”, “Circle of Friends” and “Young Women Striving for Success”. Each group serves 10 to 20 children who are divided according to age and gender.
Solid Starts - We facilitated two pre-natal education and support groups for expectant parents at two medical clinics (Green Central Clinic and Southside Clinic). In Solid Starts, we have served over 80 families who are expecting (or just had) a child during the past year. One of our mothers wrote a thank you letter recently and this is part of what she shared; “Everything I learn in this program helps me to be a better mother. I learn how to take care of my daughter. I know it does no good to hit my baby. It is better to talk, so that they can understand. In this program I learn how to talk to her as she is growing up, about sexuality. It is a good program”.
Parents Afternoon Out - We have served a large number of families giving them a needed break from the stress of parenting and offering the children a safe, nurturing environment. There are generally 25 to 40 children attending on these two Saturdays each month. We have served over 50 families in the Parents Afternoon Out Program during the past year. One of the things we heard in our adult focus group was that the parents really appreciated having “a place to bring their children that was run by their own community” and that they felt good about leaving the children because “the children enjoy coming”.
Special Family Events - This year, we have offered Parents Pampering Day 2 times; both were a success. At the fall Parents Pampering Day, we had a speaker from the Family Support Network talk about parent stress and abuse prevention. In the Spring, we had a speaker from Missing Children Minnesota, speak to families about teaching children safe ways to avoid abuse. We did have a trip to Valleyfair and Our Back to School Bash attracted a large number of families with school age children.
One strength of our programming is that it serves the increasingly diverse neighborhood in and surrounding Bryant Neighborhood in South Minneapolis. We have successfully brought together culturally diverse groups to plan and implement a number of family support services. Last year we brought together the Latino and African American communities in the Bryant neighborhood. We served 148 African American, 67 Latino, 12 Caucasians, 6 Native Americans, and 10 Mixed Race families together in joint programming to further the well-being of their children.
Participants who attend programs are asked to evaluate their experience with us. In regard to the impact of our programs 45% of participants report an increase in their community support network, 20% felt a reduction in stress and improved self-care, 12% learned new parenting skills and 10% benefited through a break from parenting.
