The Eastern Shore Exchange Club will sponsor the 2nd Annual Field of Valor in honor of veterans this year. Proceeds will support the child abuse prevention programs of the Exchange Club Family Center of Mobile and Care House of Baldwin County.  Go to http://valorfield.org for more information.

Child Abuse Prevention Month is observed during April in the United States.

Eight nonprofit agencies in Mobile are grantees of the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/Children’s Trust Fund. This state agency is responsible for granting close to a half-million dollars annually in Mobile County.

The services provided by these agencies include parenting classes, home visitation for parents, supervised visitation for non-custodial parents and their children; a support group for parents of sensory-impaired children; training for child-care providers; training for parents of special-needs children; advocates for children who are involved in court cases; respite care; and mentors for children from single-parent families.

Many of these agencies collaborate in order to provide a full array of services to families, offering the best possible programs that ensure that children remain safe in their homes.

People who suspect that a child is at risk for abuse or neglect based on behavioral or physical signs can call the Department of Human Resources at 450-9100. For more information and research regarding signs and symptoms of child maltreatment, visit www.preventchildabuse.org.

LYDIA PETTIJOHN

Executive Director

Exchange Club Family Center

Mobile

©2009 Mobile © 2009 al.com All Rights Reserved.

On March 31, 2009 seven organizations representing the Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama were presented a proclamation at the Mobile City Council meeting recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Those present included: Mr. Mac Otts, CTF board member for District 1, Kelly Warren and Felecia Allen – Mobile County Health Department’s Teen Center,  Monica Byrd and Leslie Largue- United Cerebral Palsy, Jennifer Moran and Michelle Jones – Preschool for the Sensory Impaired, Theresa Whelan – CASA, Aimee Risser and Roslyn Spencer – Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Cheryl Gwin – Early Childhood Directions, and Lydia Pettijohn, Exchange Club Family Center.

Mr. Otts accepted the proclamation on behalf of these CTF grantees who work tirelessly every month of the year to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. The Children’s Trust Fund provides almost one-half million dollars in grants to Mobile each year.  These agencies work collaboratively so that every family has the needed services to ensure the safety of their children.

Mac Otts, CTF Board Member, and CTF grantees with CAP month proclamation

 Stephanie Wilson and Lova deCasa chose to do their senior projects at the Exchange Club Family Center this year. Stephanie’s project was a children’s emotion chart for use in parenting classes while Lova created a time-out chair and decorative mirror for dress up play in our visitation rooms.  Both of these young ladies were interested in parenting and participated in several different activities as they completed their 20 hours of volunteerism.

The seniors presented their projects and a 10-minute talk about their experiences to a four-judge panel the night before the Senior Breakfast. Everyone was ready to celebrate with their mentors after completing their wonderful projects.  We wish Stephanie and Lova the best  as they complete high school and choose a college.

Students and interns are always welcome at the Family Center. Call Lydia Pettijohn at 251-479-5700 for more information.

The Board of Directors recently elected the following new members to the board:

Karlos Finley – Moore and Wolfe, Attorneys at Law and Leadership Mobile graduate

Michelle Jones -Regional Director, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and Leadership Mobile graduate

Carla Longmire – Captain, Mobile Police Department and Leadership Mobile graduate

Paul White – President, Eastern Shore Exchange Club and IT Department, Mobile Press Register

These folks bring a fresh perspective to our board which will help to attain the far reaching goals we have set for the Family Center.   The experience of the seasoned members coupled with the energy of the newcomers will no doubt create the perfect climate to support our growth.  Our goal to expand our services to more families and children in our community is underscored by our desire to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect before it has the chance to occur.  Our board plays a crucial role in the successes of the Family Center programs.  Their vision and dedication provide stability and support to the staff and volunteers.

REAL MOTHERS
Author unknown

Real Mothers don’t eat quiche; they don’t have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn’t come out of shag carpets.

Real Mothers don’t want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask ‘Why me?’ and get their answer when

a little voice says, ‘Because I love you best.’

Real Mothers know that a child’s growth is not measured by height or years or grade…

It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mama to Mom.

Share your ideas about real mothers below.

Most folks who are not members of the Exchange Club do not understand the difference between the Exchange Club and the Exchange Club Family Center.  Many professionals who work with us simply refer to the “center” as “the Exchange Club.”   This is much shorter, but confusing to say the least.

The Exchange Club is a service organization that was established in Mobile over 65 years ago by Joseph (Joe) Langan, former mayor of Mobile.  Currently, this organization has about 35 members who meet for lunch every week like Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs.  Guest speakers are invited to address the club each week. Exchange is a national organization that chose Child Abuse Prevention as a national project in 1979. Exchange has nothing to do with the monitored exchanges we now offer, but rather, the clubs were formed for citizens to exchange ideas about how to improve the communities in which they lived.

The Exchange Club of Mobile opened up the Family Center in 1991 and continues to support it with annual fundraisers and board members. Therefore, the center is called the Exchange Club Family Center.  Members of the club refer to their project as “the center” or “the family center.”   I would venture to say that every one of them is proud of the services the Family Center provides to the community in their name.  A link to the club website is available on our home page.

For the children,

Lydia

I can’t believe it’s finally done. The new website is done, open, up? I don’t even know what you call it. It’s a new adventure for me as I become the editor of the site. Is that the proper term? Something I’ve needed to do for years. I wonder if my brain can hold all the information I’ll need to learn this new skill. They tell me it’s easy – just like word processing. So I can’t wait to get my class from Jason Stewart on Word Press. Then the OCD will kick in as I search for missing commas, apostrophes and dangling participles. I have to remember not to trust spell check too.

I’ll have something new to do when insomnia strikes. That might be the only time I have to work on it. I welcome your suggestions for content and assistant editor positions are open!

Before I forget, I want to thank Jason Stewart and Gerardo Cantu’ for building the website. Professional guys who are a pleasure to work with as well. So many good ideas like putting the German translation for the Thyssen-Krupp people that are heading to Mobile! Who’d a thunk it? Jason, evidently.

I also owe a big Thanks to the Washington County Health Council who made the grant which is funding the creation of the new website. Thank you, Margaret Odom and gang!

The biggest feature of this new website is the PAY PAL function we’ve added. It’s been a long time coming, but I hope it doesn’t take that long for people to start clicking that button and supporting the work of the Exchange Club Family Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The center has been supported since opening by the Exchange Club of Mobile and a few loyal donors who I know I can count on. They give because they believe, not for press or prestige. They are silent partners who join us in prayer for the families we serve and those we cannot reach through our programs. My heartfelt thanks and more to these staunch supporters who believe every child has a right to a happy childhood – free of abuse, neglect and suffering.

I guess blogs are like speeches. Better to be brief than bore your audience. So I’ll close for now and try to get some sleep. Come back often and don’t forget what it’s all about.

For the children,

~Lydia