STRENGTHENING FAMILIES
STAND FOR CHILDREN

The Strengthening Families/Stand For Children Council of HCI works in many ways to bring attention to the issues of families and children. Our HCI Day will bring many of our community resources together so families can learn more about the services and opportunities.

We are very excited to be the first in the country to introduce The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families as a community. John Covey was here, Saturday, May 27th, 2000 to introduce theses workshops. We are brought Mr. McFeely from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood to help the younger members of our community realize that each person is a unique and precious part of the world.

Stand for Children is a national organization that encourages individuals to improve children's lives and ensure that every child has a healthy start. Healthy Communities Initiative of St. Joseph County established a Stand for Children Chapter in St. Joseph County after the rally on June 1, 1999. The local community members and chapters work to raise awareness about challenges facing children and families and encourage their community to take action.

The Stand for Children Backpack Project began last year at the rally where a booth was setup to solicit donations to purchase backpacks for needy children who meet the poverty level at local elementary schools. The response was terrific! There were 16 elementary schools that received a total of 79 backpacks for children in grades kindergarten through third grade.

The Healthy Communities Initiative is again planning to provide backpacks with school supplies to children who otherwise would not be prepared for school in the fall. Social workers from area elementary schools have been contacted and currently are requesting 70 backpacks.

HCI would like to surpass this goal and reach out to all families with children who are unable to meet their childrens' need. Our project is only successful with your generous donation. Please be a part of this Stand for Children campaign. You may enter your contact info here and an HCI representative will contact you; or you can send donations to Healthy Communities Initiative, 401 E. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46634 or call (219) 234-0051 ext. 346.

40 Developmental Assets

Search Institute* has identified 40 factors in young people's lives that increase the likelihood that a child will grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. The family's supportive involvement is considered an important contributor to a child's successful development.

*Search Institute: Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth is a national initiative to bring Search Institute's new paradigm for positive youth development to communities across the country. The initiative, rooted in the institute's framework of developmental assets, provides communities, schools, organizations and families with resources, technical assistance and training to launch and sustain long-term efforts to promote the positive development of youth.