ParentWISE
ParentWISE, Inc. Joins with
Family Services of Western
by Karen Fetter
ParentWISE, Inc. of Westmoreland County has been acquired by Family Services
of Western Pennsylvania (FSWP). As a part of the Community Partnership
division of FSWP, ParentWISE offers the same quality workshops and programs for
families throughout Southwestern PA. ParentWISEs new location is 211 Huff
Avenue in Greensburg, PA.
According to Julie Cawoski, Program Coordinator of FSWP, ParentWISE started 30
years ago as a parent support group in Latrobe. It had a volunteer board
and a volunteer staff for 10 years. The original group grew to an agency
with many groups and programs for families. It also grew from having no
funding to a budget of $300,000 per year.
After a third of their funding was cut in 2005, ParentWISE began looking for an
organization to partner with. The partnership with FSWP is a perfect
match. ParentWISEs parent and community programs are a great benefit for
the clients of Family Services of Western Pennsylvania. Therefore, the
entire staff of five from ParentWISE joined with over 400 employees of FSWP.
The mission of ParentWISE has been preserved and one person from its board of
directors is on the FSWP board. The original ParentWISE board will be
dissolved and become an advisory committee of FSWP.
The ParentWISE program of FSWP offers a wide range of services and classes that
revolve around family issues including parenting, fatherhood, and new dad
classes. FSWP has partnered with Excela Health to provide six birthing and
infant classes for new parents in 2008. However, infants and
toddlers are not the only focus for the programs. There are classes for
understanding the youth of today that include help with social networking, local
drug use, sex, teens rights, and school success. There are also classes
focused on neglect and abuse and dealing with children with ADHD or other
special needs. Furthermore, there are classes for grandparents who are
primary caregivers to help them understand the changing world around them with
their grandchildren.
FSWP also has workshops for PTAs, church groups, and school districts. One
program that is extremely helpful is the Bee Kind program. This program
started 12 years ago and teaches preschoolers about kindness.
People can call 1-800-544-0227 to get help with any questions they may,
especially if they cannot make it to a class. Classes change periodically
and cover over 40 topics. To learn more information about a class or to
register, please call 724-837-5410.
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In addition to the ParentWISE division, Family Services of Western
Pennsylvania (FSWP) offers a wide range of programs, supports, and services to
children, adults, and families in Allegheny and Westmoreland County.
Counseling Services help people with emotional problems, mental illness, mental
retardation, or drug and alcohol problems. Included are outpatient
services, life skill education, crisis intervention, individual and family
counseling, and marital counseling.
The Foster Care program offers 24 hour, 7-day-per-week care in the homes of
approved and supervised foster families for children unable to live with their
birth parents. Prevention services are for those at risk of emotional,
social, or substance abuse problems through school systems and at community
locations.
Specialized support groups for people who need transportation and emotional
support for people who are in prison, intensive therapy for children with mental
health and behavioral problems, and even low interest loans for automobiles.
Rehabilitation and training services provide vocational evaluations,
rehabilitative training, work skills, home and community skills, education, and
job coaching, as well as supporting people with mental illness and/or mental
retardation.
FSWP also partners with organizations, local agencies, government bodies, health
care facilities, businesses, and schools to help build stronger and healthier
communities. Employee assistance programs provide help for business,
industry, and government employees and their families. The disaster and
crisis services provide emergency counseling for disaster relief or crisis
management situations. And lastly, the supportive living service assists
people in controlling their daily lives through supportive housing.
In order to help raise money for these programs there are two major fundraisers
held each year. The Family Theater Event will take place Friday, April 4
at the Garden Civic Center in Greensburg. The Grease Paint Players, a
childrens production company, will perform the Emperors New Clothes for
families. Tickets are $10.00 and show time is 6 p.m. There will be
games, activities, and a party before the play begins.
Another event is the Ice Cream Blast that takes place at the Kirk S. Nevin
Recreation Center in July. Approximately 80 booths are
arranged indoors to provide entertainment, games, crafts, cake and ice cream.
The cost is $3.00 per person.
For further questions or to schedule a class, please call FSWP at 724-837-5410
or the Help Line at 1-800-544-0227.
Supporting Families in Westmoreland County
FSWP at 724-837-5410 or the
Help Line at 1-800-544-0227.
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