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Joshua Center NEWSLETTER

December, 2007

www.joshuacenter.com        7611 State Line Road, Suite 142, KCMO 64114        816-763-7605

 

Social Skills

 

Social Skills classes are THIS Saturday. In December we will meet the 8th and 15th, 9:30-11am for 3rd – 5th graders; 12:30-2pm for middle school kids. In January we will start a K-2nd grade class the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month and an additional middle school class from 12:30-2pm the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month. All classes are $30 each. Just email Becky at beckyjc@kc.rr.com or call the Joshua Center 816-763-7605.

 

 

Thank You

 

Who would have known that after 11 years the Joshua Center would have such an impact on children with neurological with disorders. I remember the Christmas of 1988 I was at one of my lowest points. Josh was having such a difficult time, people were not treating him well and I was so poor I didn’t have money to give the kids presents. Jack Southwick, the social worker who helped me start the Joshua Center, encouraged me to take the kids to visit my brother’s house for the holidays. I trusted Jack and did just that. It changed my life. Sometimes it’s the baby steps we take to get through things. I knew after doing that I was going to be ok. That’s why I started the Joshua Center – to make sure you and your family will be ok. The reality of a non-profit is that it does take a village to keep the Joshua Center alive. We depend on fundraising activities and donations to provide programs and services for the community. For those who can, please consider making a donation to the Joshua Center so we can continue helping all the kids and families living with neurological disorders. Donations can be made on the website www.joshuacenter.com, a secure site. Thank you and Happy Holidays to all.

 

 

Empowering Our Children Fashion Show

 

Empowering Our Children presents Runway To Your Heart Fashion Show - featuring exceptional children with exceptional style!! Children and adolescents who would like to model can participate for a special day to strut their stuff!! The event is on Sunday, February 10, 2008 from 1-3pm, at the Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS. To register, or to find additional information, visit www.empoweringourchildren.com or call 913.219.8767. The participants will wear their “fashion statement” that they are comfortable in and feel successful in. The mission of Empowering our Children, Inc. is to provide education and advice to parents of children and adolescents who are affected by behavioral, emotional, neurological, or social disabilities. The main medium for delivery of this mission is a one hour, interactive, weekly radio program now broadcast in three markets: KCTE 1510 in the Kansas City metro, KFNX 1100 in the Phoenix metro, and KVTA 1520 on the central coast of California (Ventura). Empowering Our Children is hosted by Dr. Stephen Blum, a leading psychologist, who interviews child mental health experts from throughout the country with the goal of helping our listeners better understand the nature, causes, and treatment of these disabilities. These experts will provide advice, education, and consultation in response to listener’s questions. In addition to the radio program, the mission will be further accomplished through educational and resource materials developed by Empowering Our Children, Inc.

 

 

Camp

 

Save the date for June 12th – 16th for camp. When our new website launches you will be able to register online and submit your Camper Profile. To make arrangements for paying camp fees contact Sarah at the Joshua Center.                                                                                   

 

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities

 

To sign up for one of these opportunities or for more information on volunteering at the Joshua Child and Family Development Center, please call (816) 763-7605 or visit our website at www.joshuacenter.com.

 

·        Call potential Bowl-a-thon participants for annual Bowl-a-thon on January 26th.

·        Serve as our Ebay Facilitator. Duties include entering all items on eBay, monitoring sales and prepare all items for shipping.

·        Assist with Social Skills. Duties include assisting with social skills classes on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month for 1, 2 or 3 sessions (3rd-5th graders 9:30-11am; Middle School, 12:30-2pm, and High School, 2:30-4pm) and on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month for K-2nd grade at 10-11am and 12:30-2pm. Volunteers must complete an application, interview with the Executive Director and complete a Background Check.

·        Do you enjoy interacting with kids? Become a volunteer at our annual American Camping Association 5 day/4 night camp at the Rotary Club Youth Camp in Lee’s Summit, MO. Camps dates are June 12-16th with training on June 11th. Opportunities include providing program support, serving as a Camp Counselor and providing administrative support. Program planning includes soliciting and obtaining camp supplies and developing programs. Volunteers must have good listening skills, patience with kids and have a desire to help others. Must complete Background Check. Attendance at training the day before camp is required. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old.

·        Copy, fold and then deliver Joshua Center brochures to schools, doctors and hospitals. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and enjoy people. Flexible schedules. Must complete a Background Check.

·        Calling all grant writers! Research and develop prospective grants for children with neurological disorders. Duties include placing phone calls, researching the Internet and using other creative methods to seek out the most up-to-date resources for funding the Joshua Center.

·        Serve as the 2008 Golf Event Chairman. The event is held annually in May. Duties include soliciting sponsors and golfers and overseeing the event.

·        Assist with event planning for the annual Pork Out held at the Airline Museum September 13th.  Duties include soliciting sponsors, sending requests to potential auction donors and meeting monthly with committee.

·        Are there any carpenters out there?

·        Upholster furniture J

 

 

Autism Research – The Ian Project

 

The IAN Project is a groundbreaking online autism project that was launched on April 2, 2007: IAN, the Interactive Autism Network. Visit today at http://www.IANproject.org .  This project was mentioned frequently throughout the Missouri Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism hearings.  Missouri is the second state in the nation with the most entries to date.  IAN aims to link researchers, families, and the entire autism community to accelerate the pace of autism research.  It's a great opportunity to get involved! IAN consists of two complementary parts: IAN Research and the IAN Community.
IAN Research is the nation's largest online autism research effort.  Via secure online questionnaires, and from the comfort of their own home, parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can share valuable information about their child's diagnosis, behavior, family, environment, and services received. IAN Research aims to collect the largest ever data set on children with ASDs ­ an accomplishment that should help researchers find causes, treatments, and, hopefully, a cure.
The IAN Community, a comprehensive online library and meeting place focused on autism research, is open to families, researchers, and anyone impacted by an ASD. You can participate in the IAN Community to learn about the latest research, become a more informed consumer of research, and join in a worldwide collaboration of people dedicated to finding answers.  On the Community site, there is a great deal of information both for beginners and for the more advanced, plus the initial results from the IAN data collected so far. Come see what they've found!

Please check it out at www.IANproject.org, and help spread the word to others you know who might be interested. For more information about IAN Research, go to: www.kennedykrieger.org/pdf/IANResearch.pdf

 

STICKER CARDS make collecting FUN for 2008 Bowl-a-thon – It’s Party Time J

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Joshua Center has Sticker Cards to help you collect for the Bowl-a-thon on January 26th. Scratched amounts vary from $3 to $10. All you do is ask your friends, neighbors and family members to commit to donating whatever dollar amount is hiding under the bowling ball sticker before they remove any stickers. Of course, you want them to encourage them to uncover more than one sticker. J This is fun and makes asking easy. Each card is worth $160 of donations for the Joshua Center. We will all have an incredible time at the great AMF College Lanes in Overland Park on January 26th. Bowling is a sport anyone can participate in from ages of 1 - 100. Form your team TODAY by registering ONLINE on the website, www.joshuacenter.com. This is a great opportunity to have all the campers return and renew friendships. Parents, grandparents and friends come together to have one GREAT afternoon and raise funds for the Joshua Center. THERE IS ONLY ROOM FOR 160 BOWLERS. EACH TEAM HAS 5 BOWLERS.