Families Support Project honors lead agents in two counties

The Families Support Project (FSP) recently recognized lead agents including FSP Coordinator Beverly Wilburn, Mabeline Woods, Lynette Cruz, and Buddy James, during a monthly meeting.

The FSP serves families in Dunklin and Pemiscot Counties, according to Wilburn.

She added that the project is a community-based, child abuse prevention program, funded by the Missouri Children's Trust Fund. The Pemiscot County Initiative Network (PIN) administers the project and partners with the Dunklin County Caring Council (DCCC) to cover services in the two-county area, according to Wilburn.

She noted that the State of Missouri currently ranks fifth in the number of child deaths related to abuse or neglect. The FSP strives to create a community awareness and to educate families about how to prevent child abuse and neglect, Wilburn explained.

Wilburn added that 19 parents and 16 children in the FSP attended the "Protecting Children in Pemiscot County" program held in Braggadocio, Mo., on November 4, 2009.

The FSP assists families in accessing services to help reduce the risks of Child Abuse and Neglect, Wilburn said, adding that the project uses a "Lead Agent" model.

In this model, each family is assigned a lead agent from a network of service providers who keep in contact with the family and guide the services the family receives, according to Wilburn.

She explained that the families are encouraged to set three goals and to work with service providers to get the resources necessary to meet their goals.

The provider network meets monthly at the Pemiscot County Career & Technology Center to monitor the families' progress and to develop new strategies for helping families meet their goal, Wilburn said.

According to Wilburn, families also attend monthly Family Advisory Council Meetings and help plan and participate in events that raise funds to help with basic needs such as diapers, gas money, and utilities.

The project strengthens families through education to build parental resilience, knowledge of child development, the social and emotional competence of children, by building the families social connections and by providing concrete support in times of need.

The program also provides safe cribs, child safety seats, and supportive services on an as needed basis to families.

The program has many success stories, according to Wilburn, including those from parents who have earned a GED to families that have been able to move into housing after being homeless.

"One particular success stands out," Wilburn said. "Earlier this year, a Home Safety Seminar was presented to FSP parents in each county. Charlie Jones, Caruthersville Fire Chief presented in Pemiscot County families and Scott Tutor, Kennett Fire Marshall, presented in Dunklin County. Parents learned the importance of working smoke detectors, how and when to use a fire extinguisher, how to teach their children about getting out of a burning house and information on disaster preparedness.

"Shortly after attending the presentation, a family of nine had a home fire around 11:45 p.m., that completely destroyed their home, but the mother heard the smoke detectors and was able to get all seven children out of bed and out of the home safely."

For further information on the FSP contact Beverly Wilburn, Collaborative Coordinator at (573) 333-5301 ext. 227.