Brian McNary is the Chief of Police in Hailey, Idaho, who is taking up blogging.
One of the problems we deal with in the police department is broken families and runaway kids. Twice already this week. These are common people with problems searching for answers. Now I am always trying to find ways to help these folks. To be honest, the problems are so deep rooted, that often it takes hours of history to unmask the problem and devise some sort of action plan. In one instance this week, a business owner in our office offered a runaway kid a job after listening to one of those “front-of-the-desk” brainstorming sessions. That was very impressive. Some frustrated folks left a little happier than they had been when they first arrived.
I knew a lot of the people that attended Dr. Covey’s lecture. Many of them are successful, community leaders. They have raised good children and apparently have some sort of skill set that works. But I can’t help thinking that we missed our target audience. The people I deal with, those folks at the front desk. Perhaps the next time someone like Dr. Covey comes to town, we ought to take a day or two and ask those folks that could use a little help if they would like to attend.
Excellent post, chief. Here are some programs that have been effective elsewhere.
Arizona resources
http://www.azdes.gov/dcyf/opfs/
Casey Family Programs:
Established by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey, we are a Seattle-based national operating foundation that has served children, youth, and families in the child welfare system since 1966.
We operate in two ways. We provide direct services, and we promote advances in child-welfare practice and policy.
http://www.casey.org/OurWork/PreventionAndFamilySupport/PowerfulFamilies.htm
Powerful Families workshops
Staying strong, staying together
Powerful Families promotes family stability and security. Recognizing that poverty is one of the root causes of family instability, we help strengthen the ability of low-income parents to sustain healthy families.
There are resources in Idaho
The Family Advocate Program works to keep abused children out of danger and in safe homes, while partnering with parents to build strong families.
Family Advocate Program
3010 W State Street Ste 104 Boise, ID 83703
(208) 345-3344
[email protected]
Family Service Alliance of Southeast Idaho
454 North Garfield
Pocatello ID 83204
(208) 232-0742
Parent Center: (208) 226-1836
Advocate Services: (208) 251-8569
24-Hour Crisis Assistance: (208) 251-HELP (251-4357)
The Family Services Alliance of Southeast Idaho, Inc., is committed to promoting the activities which enrich the lives and address the needs, issues, and concerns of women, men and their families by providing community leadership, advocacy, education, vital social services, and opportunities for individual development. Any pregnant woman or any parent of a child or children who are under twelve years of age are eligible for the following services. There is no cost to the parent for these programs.
Parent Group Meetings are offered every third Wednesday in Pocatello and the second Wednesday of each month in American Falls. Contact the Parent Center (number above) for times and specific locations.
Safe & Secure, Inc.
Jason Cameron- Director
P.O. Box 1596
Caldwell, ID 83606
(208) 459-6330
(208) 459-6279
Maybe the Wood River basin has matured to the point that one of these organizaitons can help.
We are a private, independent non-profit agency located in Boise,Idaho. Founded in 1978, the Family Advocate Program is the parent agency for two programs:
* Families First is a voluntary home-based parent education program. The primary goal of Families First is to help parents keep their families whole and healthy and give their children the best possible start in life. Parent educators visit families at home with lessons on child development, nutrition, health care, and effective parenting skills.
* The CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program provides the court with trained volunteers who act as Guardians ad Litem. A Guardian ad Litem is an independent third party advocate, matched with an abused or neglected child who has come under the protective custody of the Department of Health and Welfare. A CASA volunteer provides a judge with a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about that child’s future.
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