Attending the JumpStart Parent Education Workshop recently are (l-r) Beverly Falaise, Home Parent Educator, Natasha Davis, Audrey Anna Davis, Murteas Davis, Lillie Crowe, Brionna Davis, Chacho Santiago, Deago Santiago, Maria Ortega, and Jordan Ortega. Not pictured: LaShaunder Lee (Home Parent Educator), and several other parents. Lillie Crowe, Director of the Bartram Trail Regional Library System, was the guest speaker for the Wilkes County Community Partnership (WCCP) JumpStart Program’s February 18 Parent Education Workshop. Crowe is a volunteer who is also a member of the Washington Kiwanis Club, which is a partner in the WCCP collaborative service network of community organizations.

A dozen JumpStart parents, and the Home Parent Educators, Beverly Falaise and LaShaunder Lee, listened as Crowe shared about the exciting things going on at the Mary Willis Library. She was delighted to discover that all of the parents have library cards, and frequent the library often. They were familiar with the computer and internet service, however, she informed them that they could access the internet at any library in Georgia with their library cards.

Crowe informed them about the “Kill-a-Watt” (Kilowatt) Detector, and demonstrated its usage. She further explained that it could help them reduce energy consumption by 15 percent and it is available for check-out at the Mary Willis Library. She discussed the availability of day passes to parks in the area, and she distributed handouts from the American Heart Association on health improvement tips for African- American men and women.

She explained that the library is an information hub for the entire family. It provides special accommodations for parents and students who have homework questions. And, instead of dialing 411 for a phone number that seems impossible to find, the library will help you find numbers.

The workshop concluded with a tasty lunch, as the discussions and information sharing continued. The JumpStart parents left the workshop armed with information to help them get the greatest benefit from our wonderful and historic Mary Willis Library.

The Wilkes County JumpStart Program is a multi-faceted homebased education and preventive health program serving 32 low income families with children ages 0-36 months.

During weekly home visits, Jump- Start Home 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 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 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 self-sufficiency.

The Wilkes County Community Partnership invites you to join in its mission to serve as a catalyst for improving results for Wilkes County children, families and communities, and the vision that all families in Wilkes County will reach their optimal social, cultural, educational and economic potential.

If you are interested in donating your time, talent, or resources to the JumpStart Program, or any of the other WCCP programs and initiatives, please contact the Executive Director Amethyst Wynn at the courthouse room 302 or call 706- 678-7570.