Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services - Family Resource Center

Miranda is a Grandmother who recently received legal guardianship of her grandson and is feeling overwhelmed with the new challenges of parenting as a grandparent. She is worried that she has out-of-date parenting skills. She says that the Love and Logic parenting class she attended provided her with information that addressed her specific needs and concerns with parenting.  Discipline was at the top of her list.  She acknowledged that she didn’t feel confident, since she previously had the role as a grandparent and that through this parent education class she learned different ways on how to manage her (grand) child in regard to discipline that she feels more comfortable and confident with using.  Miranda said she learned several discipline techniques that she feels are direct, yet nurturing.  In addition, she feels as though she has connected with other parents, including another grandparent in a similar situation who she feels will be a future support.

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services' family resource centers partner with parents and other community resources to strengthen families. Our Family Resource Centers are a place for you to build on your parenting skills.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

A while back, our office decided to order Chinese food for lunch. My favorite part about eating a meal from a Chinese restaurant is the fortune cookie at the end. I, myself, try to always “pick” my fortune from the pile before the last fortune is left to me by process of elimination. The fortune I picked that day is still hanging in my office as a constant reminder. The fortune reads, “The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.” This “fortune” has really affected me, because it is so true. I feel often, in life, we have many great intentions (whatever they may be) that we actually never act upon.

Time seems to be something that we all feel we never have enough and so we find it difficult to give up the time we do have for ourselves to help others. I will be the first to admit that this has been my mindset (excuse) for not acting on some of my greatest intentions. But, once you take the time to help someone else you realize how great it makes you feel, and you may also realize you have more free time than you originally thought.

VolunteerMarshfield.org is a one-stop volunteer opportunity shopping site. Numerous organizations and groups in Marshfield have posted a wide-variety of volunteer opportunities. These opportunities range from asking an hour of your time to opportunities that are on-going over a longer period of time.

My advice to you is to start acting on your greatest intentions and find out how giving just a bit of your time can make such a difference in our community and, more importantly, in your life. Find an organization or a cause you are passionate about; or offer a skill you have that could be beneficial to someone or some organization. Whatever it is, just decide to act.

Next Saturday, October 26, 2013, is National Make A Difference Day. Every year, Marshfield Area United Way organizes volunteers to help rake lawns for local residents whom are physically unable to do so themselves. This is a simple way to give back to our great community in just a few short hours. All it takes is a little bit of muscle and a lot of heart. Please visit VolunteerMarshfield.org and click on “MADD Sign-up” for more information and to register to help for a few hours on this day.

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services - Child and Family Counseling

Sophia (name changed to protect child's identity) is a 6th grade girl that presented with missing school, peer relational issues, deteriorating parental relationships.  Her initial diagnosis was Adjustment Disorder NOS (not otherwise specified).  After meeting her a couple more sessions it was evident that more was going on than what was presented.  She was being solicited by boys at school for physical contact and electronic sexual messages.  Also, an older sibling was struggling with drug and mood issues that led to a physical altercation in the home.

Treatment goals were to improve her relationship with her mother, and to build up healthy boundaries for herself.

Sophia was seen a total of 7 times over 5 months.  She shared openly and was willing to accept feedback.  Sophia was fearful of her brother, felt violated by boys at school, and cried a lot.  The abuse to her by both brother and the boys was reported by the therapist to Social Services.  Her mother was informed about the situation.  The therapist talked about healthy boundaries and appropriate interactions.  Asserting was one of the main things that the therapist taught her.  Sophia shared more about her brother, and that situation improved.  She reported another incident with a boy at school, and it was also reported to social services.  Mother and Sophia reported that their relationship was improving.

Sophia was discharged successfully with goals met.  When I reflect on this client and the progress, I see a tremendous impact on Sophia’s life versus the alternative of no treatment.  I believe that she would have continued to live with distance between her and mother, that peer relationships would have been more important, and that at some point in the future she would be more severely sexually abused.  The gains for her led to stronger ties with mother and assertive skills to stand up to the pressures of adolescence.  Therapy was ended with a very good bond with the therapist that can be relied upon in the future if needed.

The Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Community Service therapists treat children recovering from trauma such as witnessing domestic violence, surviving physical, sexual. or emotional abuse or other life stressors. Therapists help children and their families improve their level of psychosocial functioning by reducing stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns through clinically appropriate therapeutic interventions.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED For Make A Difference Day on October 26th

Marshfield Area United Way is now taking registrations for this year’s Make A Difference Day. On Saturday, October 26, 2013, volunteers will gather to rake lawns for Marshfield residents whom are unable to do so themselves.

Residents in need of assistance with their lawns should call United Way at 715-384-9992 to see if they qualify. For those needing assistance with their lawn, please be aware that based on need and due to the time constraints, and age, of the majority of the volunteers, Marshfield Area United Way cannot guarantee residents with larger than average size city lots or heavily wooded lots can be raked.

Anyone receiving help on this day must be home when the volunteers are there raking. Additionally, residents are responsible for having enough leaf bags available for the volunteers to use. If there aren’t enough bags for the leaves, the leaves will be raked into a pile on the lawn only.

Volunteers helping on this day are asked to register by logging on to www.volunteermarshfield.org and clicking on ‘Make A Difference Day.” Here, you can sign-up individually or as a team. Make A Difference Day is a great group event to help out your community with friends, family, classmates, church groups and/or co-workers. You can also register yourself or group by sending an email to unitedway@tznet.com or calling 715-384-9992.

Volunteers are asked to register in advance so United Way can estimate how many lawns can be raked during the event. Everyone will gather at the Marshfield Senior Center, 111 South Maple Ave (next to the Marshfield Public Library), at 8:30 the morning of the 26th to receive instructions and lawn assignments. United Way asks that volunteers bring their own rakes and have their own transportation. A light snack and water will be provided.

If you have any further questions or are in need of assistance with your lawn, please contact Marshfield Area United Way at 715-384-9992.