In this issue:
Welcoming Eduardo and Tami! Meet our new Family Engagement Program Manager and Family Support Specialist.
Meet Juliane Veselik, Cope's newest Board member.
Thank you to our business partners!
Factor de Protección: Conexiones Sociales
Los días de Juego Arcoíris comenzaron en 2019 a través de un proyecto de First 5 Napa County que buscaba ayudar a nuestres families LGBTQ a sentirse seguras, visibles y conectadas. En los últimos 4 años, las reuniones han crecido para incluir horas de cuentos virtuales (como una forma de mantenerse conectado durante la pandemia de COVID 19), manualidades y desfiles infantiles. Se han expandido más allá de los patios de recreo para reunirse en pistas de boliche y caminatas por los preciados espacios al aire libre de nuestro condado. Son un espacio donde les families LGBTQ y les families aliades pueden construir comunidad.
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Welcoming Eduardo and Tami to the Cope Team!
Supporting family mental health protects children
It is particularly difficult to be a parent in the U.S. right now; attacks on reproductive rights, a lack of affordable childcare, inadequate parental leave, and the fear and uncertainty around children’s safety in school make this a stressful time to raise a child.
These factors, as well as inadequate and inequitable medical care for many pregnant people and a lack of affordable mental health care overall can make the stress overwhelming for some parents. This stress can have a negative effect on children, making it particularly important to establish a solid support system for struggling parents.
Welcoming Veselik to Cope's Board
Cope Family Center has elected Juliane Veselik to the Board of Directors.
Veselik has fourteen years of experience in banking, specializing in Wealth management and Trust, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Management from University of Portland. She currently serves as Vice President, Senior Trust Officer at Bank of Marin and will bring her robust wealth management and private banking experience to the Board.
Factor de Protección: Resiliencia de los Padres
Puertas Abiertas cree que todo adulto y padre tiene derecho a recibir servicios que fortalezcan las habilidades emocionales para funcionar mejor en diferentes áreas de su vida, satisfacer las necesidades básicas y crear un entorno saludable para un niño. Por esta razón, ofrecemos a nuestra comunidad latina el programa “La Cultura Cura”, que ha sido diseñado para fomentar el crecimiento y desarrollo personal, la fortaleza y la resiliencia.
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Kids Day a Hit Yet Again!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Kids Day earlier this month and helped make it a hit once again! We are so grateful for all of the families who attended, the over 40 community partners who participated, the event performers, food vendors, and DJ, and our sponsors PG&E and City of Napa for helping make this event possible.
April 2023 Proclaimed Child Abuse Prevention Month in Napa County
Cope Family Center and the Napa County Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) announced that April 2023 has been proclaimed Child Abuse Prevention Month by the Napa County Board of Supervisors. The proclamation highlights the role the community plays in supporting Napa County families and preventing child abuse and neglect.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Here's why that matters.
Every child deserves a healthy and happy childhood, which is why every April, The Child Abuse Prevention Council, led by Cope Family Center, commemorates Blue Ribbon Month by raising awareness and funds to prevent child abuse and neglect.
From our work over the past 50 years, we know that even the most well-intentioned parents struggle to provide a safe and nurturing home for their children. It is important that, as a community, we increase our awareness and understanding of child maltreatment, so we can work together to keep children safe and create brighter futures for Napa’s children and families.
Bay Area CAPC Chapters Band Together for Child Abuse Prevention Month
The Greater Bay Area Child Abuse Prevention Council (GBACAPC), comprised of local chapters, have banded together to make a larger impact for Child Abuse Prevention Month. The new normal of virtual events and meeting through screens has made it possible for smaller communities to reach the wider region to engage people in joining this important cause.
GBACAPC has listed all of the events, trainings, activities and opportunities to get involved regionally on their website. Find out what you can do in your area to strengthen families and protect children.
Letter from Board Chair: Cope's Next Phase of Growth
On behalf of the entire board of Cope Family Center, I want to thank Michele Grupe for her dedicated leadership as she prepares to step away from the organization after 19 years of service. I have had the privilege of working with Michele since 2014 and have been a board member for the past six years working with Michele since she began her role as Executive Director. Michele has been an asset beyond all expectations for Cope and the community at large.
Kids Day is Back: Cope's Beloved Family-Fun Event Returns in April
Cope Family Center is bringing back Kids Day, a favorite community-wide event, for the second year in a row. This free family-fun event was held annually from 2001-2013 and was revived last year after a nine-year hiatus. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, April 1st from 11:00am-3:00pm at Oxbow Commons Park on McKinstry Street. There will be resources for parents, activities and games for children, food, music, entertainment, and live performances.
Letter from Executive Director Michele Grupe
After 19 fulfilling years as part of the Cope family, I am stepping away from my role as Executive Director. The decision to leave after nearly two decades has not been an easy one. I am sad to be leaving this organization that I love so much, and to leave behind an incredible team of Cope staff, families, volunteers, donors, and partner agencies. Being a part of this Cope family has been such a joy and comfort, and I will miss this important work, but I am eager for the possibilities ahead, for both myself and for Cope as a whole.
Factor de Protección: Cariño y Vínculos
Aunque todas las familias son vulnerables debido al estrés de ser padres y por tener que cuidar de sus hijos, algunas familias son más vulnerables que otras. La inestabilidad financiera y la pobreza pueden provocar altos niveles de estrés y trauma, lo cual puede interferir con la habilidad de los padres y cuidadores de formar vínculos de conexión y seguridad con los niños.
¿Por qué son importantes los vínculos de seguridad?
Las conexiones sólidas y los vínculos con los padres y los cuidadores son de suma importancia para el desarrollo general de los niños y su bienestar, ya que son fundamentales para las relaciones futuras de los niños y su éxito en la vida. Las conexiones sólidas ayudan al desarrollo de seguridad emocional, al desarrollo cognitivo, y a las destrezas sociales.
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Factor de Protección: Capacidad Social y Emocional de los Niños
Me encontré con un meme que decía: "La peor parte de crecer es que ya nadie pregunta cuál es tu dinosaurio favorito". Si bien me hizo reír, también me recordó que listos están los niños pequeños para compartir sobre sí mismos y aprender sobre los demás. Aprender unos de otros apoya el desarrollo social y emocional de un niño y los estudios muestran que desarrollar estas habilidades hace una gran diferencia en la vida de los niños.
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Cope's February 2023 Newsletter
In this issue:
"I let them know that there’s help available, and that gives them hope.” Read how a school social worker is helping students thrive by supporting parents.
January was Positive Parenting Awareness Month. Learn what this month is all about, and how you can use positive parenting tools to create a stronger bond with your child.
Cope's client holiday party made December extra special for the parents and kids in our programs! See some photos from the gathering.
Letter from Christie Johnston: Normalize the fear of parenting
As a Social Worker for Napa Valley Unified School District, I get an intimate look at the role parents and caregivers play in preparing their children for the classroom. In supporting students through various challenges that prevent them from learning, I have seen firsthand how struggles in the home affect a child’s success in school. Parents play a vital role in their child’s academic success, and stressors in the home, such as divorce, mental health problems, insecure housing, and other economic instability can take a toll on students.
Letter from Eric Notson: Thank You Cope Family Center
In honor of Positive Parenting Awareness Month, I want to share my story about how Cope Family Center’s parenting classes have helped transform my relationship with my daughter. Ten years ago, I was divorced and battling addiction, and I struggled to be present and committed in my daughter’s life. In fact, there were long periods when I wasn’t in contact with my daughter at all.
January 2023 Proclaimed Positive Parenting Awareness Month in Napa County
Napa, CA – Cope Family Center, which leads the Napa County Triple P (NCTP) Collaborative, announced that January 2023 has been proclaimed Positive Parenting Awareness Month by the Napa County Board of Supervisors. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) offers proven strategies that strengthen relationships with children and prevent and manage a full range of parenting challenges.
Factor de Protección: Conocimiento sobre la Crianza y el Desarrollo Infantil
Los niños no vienen con manual de instrucciones. Puede ser difícil, incluso abrumador a veces, saber cómo manejar el comportamiento de nuestros hijos. A menudo, nuestro estilo de crianza está influenciado por nuestras propias experiencias infantiles; criamos a nuestros hijos de la manera en que fuimos criados. Algunos de estos hábitos pueden ser beneficiosos, mientras que otros pueden ser menos efectivos, incluso dañinos.
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