FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           Contact:  Rosalind Richardson, Early Literacy Specialist, Community Outreach Coordinator,

Date: February 7, 2022                              Partnership for Children of Lincoln & Gaston Counties This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 704-922-0900

February is Family Support Awareness Month

Dallas, NC – The Partnership for Children of Lincoln & Gaston Counties (Partnership) is pleased to announce that February is Family Support Awareness Month, as proclaimed by Governor Cooper. The Partnership uses Smart Start funding to support programs serving children and families in Lincoln & Gaston Counties. Their impact on each of our communities has been remarkable.

The Lincoln County Child Advocacy Center (LCCAC) at the Lincoln County Coalition Against Child Abuse supports children who have experienced abuse and neglect along with their non-offending family members. Against the backdrop of a home-like setting, child victims experience the LCCAC as a safe space where they along with their families receive support to navigate the system and access the professionals and services they need in one place.  Smart Start funds pay for a forensic interviewer and victim advocacy and counseling services for children birth to age five and their families. The LCCAC has both transformed the way our community responds to child abuse and neglect, and helped victims experience safety and healing. To find out more about the LCCAC, visit https://cac-lincolncounty.org. View a powerful video here to learn more about the impact of this program.

“It is so important to all of our children who fall victim that we have the types of support that children receive in a child advocacy center.” ~ A grateful parent

In Gaston County, the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), operated by the NC Cooperative Extension, Gaston County Center, is a collaboration among county organizations to support all parents and families. Through individual support and group training, the Triple P approach promotes children’s development and behavior management based on positive attention and communication. Priority is given to parents or caregivers of children birth to age five, and those who have been identified as being at high risk for child abuse or neglect. Research shows that many parents and caregivers who have successfully completed the program develop critical skills to be positive and effective parents for the long term. To find out more about the Gaston County Triple P Program, visit https://gaston.ces.ncsu.edu/family-consumer-science-program/gaston-county-triple-p/.

Upon completion, one parent shared, “This [Triple P] program is a huge help…it has helped me realize many different skills to use in my everyday life, as well as helping me and my son grow together!”

To learn more about the Partnership for Children of Lincoln & Gaston Counties and NC Smart Start, visit https://pfclg.org and https://smartstart.org.