Kids on the Block educating the community

Kids can learn about people with differences in a fun setting! The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is offering free performances of the educational puppet program, Kids on the Block. Puppeteers travel to elementary schools, colleges/universities, and other local venues across Western New York to promote awareness, education, and acceptance of individuals with disabilities through the use of large and life-like puppets. The performances are designed for third and fourth graders. Each performance includes a question and answer period during which members of the audience ask questions directly to the puppet characters about disabilities. Kids on the Block relays the message that being different is a universal condition that should be celebrated! There are two ways you could become involved! You could recommend that Kids on the Block perform at schools, your community center, or even for a scout troop. The other way to become involved is to become a puppeteer. No prior puppeteering/acting experience is necessary. Qualified applicants will have a willingness to learn puppeteering techniques, be enthusiastic, and dedicated to the future development of the Kids on the Block program! Hours are flexible but commitment to training and learning puppetry skills and scripts is a must. If you are interested in scheduling a performance or becoming a puppeteer, contact 716.629.3626. Learn more about Kids on the block, by visiting www.kidsontheblockwny.org

The Incredible Years Program

Because these should be incredible years for your child People Inc. is offering a free training program, The Incredible Years, to help improve your child's self-image and decrease negative behaviors. This free 12-week program begins soon! Help your child to develop: Improved self-esteem Improved self-concept Decreased negative behaviors at home Decreased peer aggression and disruptive behaviors in the classroom The Incredible Years Program offers research-based, proven effective programs for reducing children's aggression and behavior problems and increasing social competence at home and at school. The Incredible Years Program will teach you how to cope with the stresses of parenthood, avoid power struggles, determine appropriate consequences and develop creative and imaginative play with your child. The 12-week training will begin soon at People Inc.'s Elmwood Health Center, 2128 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo. For more information or to register, call Joann Fall at 716.874-4500, ext. 212. This free training is made possible through a grant by The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation.

Attend Conference - Creating Family and Professional Partnerships in Schools and Community Agencies: It Works Both Ways

Creating Family and Professional Partnerships in Schools and Community agencies: It Works Both Ways Conference for educators, clinicians (OT, PT, ST), agency providers, administrators, and parents People Inc.'s 6th Annual Drive Fore Disabilities Golf Tournament will be held Monday, August 27, 2007 at the East Aurora Country Club. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. In-kind donations and auction items are greatly appreciated. To reserve your foursome or to make a donation, contact Foundation Director Denise M. Paszkiewicz at 716.817-7470. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Joyce Epstein Thursday, November 15, 2007 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Lucarelli's Banquet Center 1830 Abbott Road Lackawanna, NY 14218 (716) 824-8711 See the brochure for more information and cost details The conference will focus on how collaboration between schools and community agencies supports learning from preschool through adulthood. Keynote speaker Dr. Joyce Epstein will present the six keys of parent involvement to help educators and community organizations think systematically and take action to improve family and community involvement. Research shows that leadership must value the collaboration of schools, families, and community agencies to improve learning. Following the six keys result in inclusive, well implemented and goal oriented programs. These practices take time and effort to develop excellent programs. Dr. Joyce Epstein is the Director of the National Network of Partnership Schools and the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships. Dr. Epstein is the research professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University. She has written over 100 publications on parent involvement. In 1996, Dr. Epstein established the National Network of Partnership Schools to connect research, policy and practice for school improvement. Dr. Epstein was a recipient of the Academy for Educational Development's Alvin C. Eurich Education Award and also received an award in 1997 from Working Mother magazine for her work on school-family partnerships.

Home Health Care: A Viable Alternative

Has a loved one recently been discharged from the hospital from having a major surgery? Is a family member in need of a nurse, therapist, social worker or personal care aide? Whether there is a need for professional care or assistance with daily living, People Home Health Care can help. Although People Home Health Care is the only provider in Western New York specializing in services for individuals with developmental disabilities, services are available to individuals of all ages and abilities. Services include: skilled nursing; personal care; physical, speech and occupational therapies; nutrition and social work. The ultimate goal is to reduce hospitalizations and help prevent episodes of acute illness by providing medically prescribed services and assistance. A further benefit of the program is that services are provided in an environment that is familiar and comfortable. Families and caregivers sometimes find themselves facing decisions that are difficult and may involve moving family members into more restrictive environments. Families may access home healthcare services through a variety of payer sources including Medicaid, Medicare, commercial health or long-term care insurance and private payment. For more information, call 716.874-5600.