Attending the JumpStart Gala recently were (kneeling) Niquita Davis, (front, l-r) Gail Woods, Nikita Smith, Vicki Wilburn, Farrah Binns, Maria Ortega, Peggy Mahoney, (back) Natasha Davis, Taquilla Davis, Kareemah Terrell, Marquita Robinson, Murteas Davis, Kim Spence, Marcia Delany, (not pictured) Tammey Hilliard, Lakia Wylie, Roxanne Cobb, Lucille Lawrence, Angelia Hearst, Minnie Evans, LaShaunder Lee, Beverly Falaise, and Amethyst Wynn. On Saturday evening, September 26 at six o'clock, the JumpStart ladies were honored with a Gala Affair at the Woman's Club hosted by the JumpStart staff, Beverly Falaise, LaShaunder Elam-Lee, and Amethyst D. Wynn, Executive Director. Special guests were former Even Start Coordinator Marcia Delany, and retired Home Parent Educator Minnie Evans.

"The JumpStart Gala was a great success, even in the midst of 'a rainy night in Georgia' filled with resplendent lightning and roaring thunder," Wynn said. The theme was "Empowerment and Making Changes." Other topics of discussion were: "Taking Time for Myself," "I'm Worth It," beauty tips, and National Breast Cancer Awareness. The JumpStart ladies were introduced to a Stress Survival Kit: toothpick, eraser, rubber band, Band-aid, sticky note, and Hershey's Kiss. These items, each with a special significance, will remind the ladies to continue to press toward their goals and accomplishments, and overall self-sufficiency.

The JumpStart ladies were "dressed up," Wynn said. "They were 'JumpStart Divas.' The decorations, floral and table décor were exemplary, compliments of Beverly, assisted by LaShaunder, and the food was delicious and nutritious." On the menu was roast beef, honey baked ham, fried chicken, rice, green beans, rolls, various cakes, and sweet tea.

The Woman's Club building rental fee was paid by Transforming Life Ministries; two door prize gifts were donated by Joyce Williams, WCCP Board Member and Retired Superintendent of Wilkes County Schools; one door prize gift was donated by Carolyn Reynolds, Retired Executive Director and WCCP Board Member; along with other donations of food and service from the parents, friends, and volunteers.

"The focus was completely on our JumpStart mothers, who usually wear many hats for their families," Wynn said "This event was held to celebrate their efforts, give them an opportunity to enjoy themselves

without the children), and to present themselves to each other and the community in a new and positive light. The rationale for making changes in their lives is to become women who can sustain, nourish, and educate themselves and their families, as well as bolster their children into becoming productive citizens of the Washington-Wilkes community."

The Wilkes County JumpStart Program is a multi-faceted homebased education and preventive health program serving 32 lowincome families with children ages 0-36 months. The JumpStart Home Parent Educators work with parents to become their child's first teacher, preparing them to enter school healthy and ready to learn. Home visits focus on parenting skills, child development, the importance of routine preventive health care, and nutrition education.

Home Parent Educators form partnerships with parents to develop a plan to move the family to self-sufficiency. Parents are offered the opportunity to form supportive networks with community resources along with other parents through community-based parent education classes, parent support and networking sessions, and other informal gatherings. JumpStart offers a comprehensive approach to strengthening families, improving overall health, preventing potential problems such as child abuse and neglect through a proactive approach to early learning and selfsufficiency.

The Wilkes County JumpStart Program is sponsored by the Wilkes County Community Partnership (WCCP). The major funding source is Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF), along with substantial donations from our local Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, the Episcopal Church, and the Episcopal Church Charities. Generous in-kind contributions are received from the City of Washington and the Housing Authority of the City of Washington.

The mission of the Wilkes County Community Partnership is to improve conditions and results for Wilkes County children and families. The three result areas which the Partnership has determined to focus on are: 1) children will be born healthy and be ready for school; 2) all youth will make positive life choices and graduate from high school; and 3) all families will be economically self-sufficient. The JumpStart initiative supports each one of those goals.

JumpStart advocates that the women become empowered to achieve their goals by supporting and honoring them, helping them to evolve into virtuous women who are willing to be assertive, confident, and secure. The JumpStart Home Parent Educators work with each enrolled family to develop and update an Individualized Service Plan (ISP). The ISP includes longterm and short-term goals, referral strategies and action steps, and anticipated dates of completion. This ISP is formally reviewed and signed every six months by the parent and home parent educator.

If you are interested in supporting this program, volunteering, or sharing in this initiative in some way, please contact Amethyst Wynn, Executive Director, Wilkes County Community Partnership at 706-678- 7570. The JumpStart Home Parent Educators are located in the Family Resource Center at 600 Lincoln Circle.