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<div align="justify"><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Thank you
for sharing this information with your colleagues, clients &
community. A PDF poster is attached for your use as well.<br>
<br>
February 19, 2009: </span><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">CONTACT:<span
style=""> </span>Candy Eaton, Program Director<o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Broadway;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><b style=""><u><span
style="font-size: 22pt;">“Positive Parenting –
Nurturing Young Children (Part I)” Series Available<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Hancock County Children’s Council is pleased to announce a new
“Positive
Parenting – Nurturing Young Children” 5-week series beginning Monday,
March 16,
2009, 5:30pm-7:30pm, at Downeast Health Services, 52 Christian Ridge
Road,
Ellsworth, ME.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Linda
Levesque will present this FREE series
designed for parents, guardians and caregivers of young children.<span
style=""> </span>The Nurturing Program® for Parents &
Their Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers Parent Handbook will be
available
for $15.00.<o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This
is a multi-session, group-based program where parents and children
learn about
empathy; appropriate behaviors, brain development; rewards and
punishments,
praise and self-esteem, non-violent discipline and ways to have fun as
a
family.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Register
by
contacting Candy Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 261, or email <a
href="mailto:children@downeasthealth.org">children@downeasthealth.org</a>.<span
style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span><span
style="font-size: 11pt;">Class size will be limited
to 12 participants.<span style=""> </span></span><span
style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Parents
know their children
best – their unique behaviors, interests, and abilities.<span style="">
</span>But it is challenging for any parent to be an
expert on all aspects of infant and child development or the most
effective
ways to support a child at each stage.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
philosophy of <i style="">Nurturing Parenting</i>
emphasizes the importance of raising children in a warm, trusting and
caring
household.<span style=""> </span>Nurturing is a universal
parenting practice.<span style=""> </span>To nurture is to
nourish, to nurse and to promote the positive growth of children’s
physical,
emotional, social and spiritual well-being.<span style="">
</span>It is the one common characteristic all the families of the
world
share.<span style=""> </span>In addition, w</span><span
style="font-size: 11pt;">e will cover topics of
bullying, TV violence, communicating with young children and building
self-esteem in the early years.<span style=""> </span>We will
practice strategies to be effective with discipline, help your child
learn to
cooperate, and increase your enjoyment and effectiveness as a parent.<span
style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">There
is extensive research
linking healthy child development to effective parenting.<span style="">
</span>Children thrive when parents provide not only
affection, but also respectful communication and listening, consistent
rules
and expectations, and safe opportunities that promote independence.<span
style=""> </span>Successful parenting fosters psychological
adjustment, helps children succeed in school, encourages curiosity
about the
world, and motivates children to achieve.<span style="">
</span>Parenting skills cannot be static; as children grow and mature,
parents
need to change the way they respond to their children’s needs.<span
style=""> </span>In addition, parenting styles need to be
adjusted for each child’s individual temperament and unique
circumstances.<a style="" href="#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span
class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span
class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span
style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When
parents share their
concerns and perspectives on their children, there is an opportunity to
explore
solutions and share resources.<span style="">
</span>Information about parenting and child development may help you
assess
your child’s development relative to others of the same age, help you
to have realistic
expectations for your child’s behavior and explore ways to communicate
those
expectations effectively.<span style=""> </span>You will
learn how to guide a child’s behavior and reinforce desired /
appropriate
behavior, ways to model desirable behavior, and non-punitive
disciplinary
techniques, such as setting limits, redirecting attention or behavior,
and
logical consequences for actions.<o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Maine Children’s Trust
has generously contributed to the support of these parenting classes.<span
style=""> </span>The mission of the Maine Children’s Trust is
to prevent the abuse and neglect of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Maine</st1:place></st1:State>’s
children.<span style=""> </span>Visit the Trust’s website at <a
href="http://www.mechildrenstrust.org/">www.mechildrenstrust.org</a>
or call
207-623-5120 for more information.<o:p></o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font>
<br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Downeast
Health Services
Inc provides for the health, safety, and well-being of children and
their
families in Downeast Maine through 10 core program services areas.<span
style=""> </span>Please contact the Hancock County Children’s
Council to learn about other parenting classes and workshops available
in your
community or visit our Parent Resource Library at <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">52 Christian Ridge Road</st1:address></st1:Street>,
Ellsworth.<span style=""> </span>You may visit our website at <a
href="http://www.downeasthealth.org/">www.downeasthealth.org</a> for
additional
information on child safety and family educational resources available
or
contact Candy Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 261 or email <a
href="mailto:children@downeasthealth.org">children@downeasthealth.org</a>.
<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font>
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</div>
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<div style="" id="edn1">
<div align="justify"><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><a
style="" href="#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span
class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span
class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a></font><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><font
face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"> Promoting Healthy Families in
Your
Community, 2007, page 19</font><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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