The Wilkes County Community Partnership (WCCP) A-STAR (After School Tutorial and Recreation) Program has launched the A-STAR Parent University Program, under the direction of Dorothy Jordan, facilitator and youth coordinator.

Workshop, meeting, and network sessions began on October 8 at the Reese Booker Center and at the Tignall site on October 22. Each session began by affirming the purpose of WCCP A-STAR Parent University, which is:

l To build parents' confidence, and extend their "comfort zones" in supporting their children in school, and helping them accomplish their goals

l To promote parent involvement in the school, after-school, and extracurricular activities

l To help parents make a positive impact on children's lives, especially social-emotionally, physically, and academically

l To create a parent support network

l To improve parenting skills, provide parent education information and other helpful data, updates, and resources

During these initial sessions, Jordan said that she discovered that the parents love their children and are concerned about them; want their children to succeed; want to support their children; want to build a relationship with administrators and teachers; and want to be welcomed at the school, after-school centers, and extra-curricular activities.

Parents were asked to make a commitment to the program by completing registration, goal-setting, and parent feedback forms.

The participants were presented with personal notebooks and a copy of the book, "Questions Kids Ask about Sex" by Melissa R. Cox (the launching of our Parent Book Club). Participants agreed to read and discuss the content of this book with their boys and girls.

The A-STAR Parent University will work to foster joint efforts between parents, educators, and community leaders; increase awareness and understanding of the educational process and community resources in Wilkes County; and, promote preventative strategies and increase our youth's affinity for an education.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Prevention Services and Programs is the major funding source for the A-STAR Program. The Regional Prevention Specialist is Kristie Burchett.