CHILD & FAMILY

	OUR VISION
	We envision a regional community where children and individuals working with and raising children, have a loving, safe, and healthy environment that promotes their well-being.

 

	GOALS
	The KEYS region has sufficient family support and education services, including a Family Resource Center, to offer parents and other caregivers (including adoptive parents, step parents, foster parents, child care professionals and extended families) opportunities for parent education, parent support, and child care provider trainings and support. KEYS children are educated at home and in school with the attitudes and skills needed to become successful parents, if they choose that role in the future. The KEYS region has sufficient, affordable, and high quality early childhood experiences, including preschool age childcare and high quality before and after school care for school aged children.

	NEXT STEPS
	Continue to provide parenting/caregiver education – adding additional topics and expanding locations Work with Children’s Leadership Councils to meet the needs of families in each town Continue to add to early childhood experiences in the KEYS towns including programming and childcare.

	REGIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
	Family Resource Center opened at Landmark Hill in 2003 Shoe Town Playground built in South Berwick in 2003. Children’s Leadership Councils formed in Kittery, Eliot, York, and South Berwick. Expansion of Recreation Programs for younger kids. Increased cultural opportunities for young children. Parenting programs offered. Read more

 

Resources

• Family Resource Centers
  • Kittery, ME (The Family Resource Center has closed due to lack of funding.)
  • Portsmouth, NH www.familiesfirstseacoast.org
  • Dover, NH www.hubfamilies.org
  • Springvale, ME http://www.parentresourcecenter.info/
• Child Care Services of York County www.ccsyc.com
• Headstart www.yccac.org
• Communities for Children & Youth www.communitiesforchildren.org
• Kids Count www.mekids.org
• Parenting Teens - PERC Program
• Family Mediation  Youth Alternatives
• More Resources

 

Community indicators

What "numbers" can we use to measure progress toward our vision and goals? (Numbers coming soon)

1. Parent and Caregiver Education and Support

• Number of low birth weight babies born each year. A “low birth-weight infant” is defined as a live birth weighing under 5.5 pounds. ~ Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
• Number of child abuse and neglect cases in KEYS towns opened with DHHS  ~ Bureau of Child and Family Services, Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
• Number of parent education programs in the KEYS Schools

 

2. Child Care (Preschool and Before and After School)

• Number of children needing care vs availability (Child Care Services of York County)

 

Read More about the indicators.

 

citizens say...

 

“This has become a dream place to bring the kids.  It’s a bright and cheerful with wonderful activities and programs continually planned.”

~ a local parent, speaking about the Family Resource Center

Link to all citizen comments about children and families

It's all connected

Child and Family goals plans are closely connected to youth and education goals and plans, and adequate income is closely associated with reduced parenting stress.