Crossroads October Newsletter

OCTOBER 2021

Crossroads ALL ROADS LEAD TO HOME We support the healthy lifestyles and emotional well-being of children, youth and families through the provision of effective, community-based programs.

03

All Roads Unite Us

05

Head Start Highlights

06

Shawnee HS Updates

07

Seminole is Finished!

08

Bosses' Day

11

EPIC Program Update

13

Partnership with NPS

14

Partnership with Norman Central

15

ERC Remodel

16

Staff Shoutouts

17

Birthday Wishes

18

Workiversary

19

Community Partners

ALL ROADS UNITE US

October represents many celebrations.

From Hispanic Heritage Month to World Mental Health Day, there are plenty of things to celebrate. The contributions of leaders of LatinX descent and people pioneering mental health continue to impact the world for generations.

The impact on the lives of youth & families in our counties will also be felt for many generations thanks to our founders, staff, families, board members, and community leaders.

We want to share your stories, successes, and connections with the community. If you have a specific person who helps connect families, fellow staff or the community send them my way. We know how much impact you all make and want to share it with others.

Simply send the stories, pictures, or jenniferp@crossroadsyfs.com or text to 405-922-7093.

shoutouts

to

JAY ASHER

NO ONE KNOWS FOR CERTAIN HOW MUCH IMPACT THEY HAVE ON THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE. OFTENTIMES, WE HAVE NO CLUE. YET WE PUSH IT JUST THE SAME.

"ARR"

Above Shawnee Fire Department

SHAWNEE FIREFIGHTERS VISIT HEAD START CENTERS

By Dava P

Arrrrr they pirates or firefighters?

The Shawnee Fire Department performed a hilarious skit for the children, teachers, and parents.

Between laughs, they covered everything from water safety to escape routes.

They also explained how to identify dangerous materials, how to give them to an adult, and how to stop, drop and roll.

The Shawnee Fire Department continues to be a great resource for our community and a wonderful partner.

The Shawnee Fire Department continues to be a great resources for our community and a wonderful partner.

SEMINOLE HS We've all waited for it. We've seen some of the updates. We are now happy to update everyone that the Seminole Head Start building is finally complete.

These walls will be filled with laughter and memories soon.

We will keep you updated on the wonderful experiences of our families at this new site.

Seminole Head Start Update Pictures Mike T.

Happy BOSSES'

Day

Thank you, Wendy, for your leadership and for keeping the mission of Crossroads at the forefront of decisionmaking. Here are some little notes to let you know you are appreciated.

Bright Future AHead

Fighting on a legislative level for more pay for our professionals.

Creating Lasting Community Partnerships.

Leading through the pandemic and [National] Great Resignation of 2021."

"the

PAULO COELHO:

ANXIETY WAS BORN IN THE VERY SAME MOMENT AS MANKIND. AND SINCE WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO MASTER IT, WE WILL HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT— JUST AS WE HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH STORMS.

Therapy Dough

Magnetic Pen

Zen Garden

Galaxy worry stone

Thinking putty

Warmie

Liquid Timer

Chewelry

Infinity Chain

Can you match these tools to the proper box?

A Project of EPIC Proportions

As many of you know, we have a new program that is running for students in Oklahoma. This program provides resources to homes for students dealing with high stress, moderate anxiety, or beginning signs of depression.

After some feedback from students and parents, we are pleased to provide the following boxes to meet the needs of different kinds of students.

1. Fidget Widget Box for those with a little anxious energy.

2. Warm and Fuzzy Box for those wanting a little warmth and comfort.

3. Galaxy Box for the dreamers, star gazers, and doodlers 4. Zen Box for the natural, calm seekers.

These

groups

are

running

in

Norman Public Schools to assist with

the

growing

mental wellness tools.

Partnership with Norman Public Schools HELPING AND

STUDENTS

SOCIAL

NAVIGATE

STRESS,

ANXIETY,

SKILLS.

BY KAYLEE M.

This

Semester,

Schools

to

elementary

we

provide and

stress

and

these

classes.

are

middle

anxiety

partnering

with

Psychoeducational

and

Students

school social will

students. skills

be

will

able

to

Norman

classes Subjects

be

Public

to

such

covered

learn

their

about

as

during stress

and anxiety and how to manage it, they will learn how to build a positive self-concept, how to get along with others, how skills.

to

continually

We

are

improve

excited

about

themselves, this

and

opportunity

positive difference in our Norman Community.

many to

other

make

a

need

of

Partnership with Norman Public Library

WITHIN

THE

SANCTUARY FOR

GLASS

WALLS

COMES

A

OF

NEW

A

NEW

WORKSHOP

TEENS.

Punching a little positivity into our lives during

I Never “Felt” Better: Techniques to handle

the month of November is just the beginning.

feelings even in difficult times

Loren Hinton, Information Services Librarian/

Leave

Teen Services created a space for Crossroads

techniques to manage feelings even in stressful

Counseling Team to meet more young people in

times.

the community. These workshops are informal

Cells,

workshops that helps students begin to

loneliness,

understand different aspects of mental health.

dealing with anxiety. Each participant creates a

this

workshop

Loosely we

“Felt

Friend”

The City of Norman in partnership with Norman

their

own

Library Central sponsored these workshops for

relief tool.

teens.

Check out our November workshop:

based

will the

with

on

discuss power

using

felting

to

the

“Felt

Friend”

Webtoon,

mental

created

needle

kit

a

Yumi’s

preparation, by

felting

take

and

Pain,

and

home

as

and

receives a

stress

Updates for the ERC remodel

Norman

North

donated

$75,000

THE IT

IS

SEEMS

LIKE

BATHROOM BEING

PUT

ONLY WAS

BACK

YESTERDAY

RIPPED

OUT.

TOGETHER

THAT NOW,

AGAIN.

to

School

help

generously

remodel

the

youth

shelter during their yearly SPUD campaign in early 2021. Yes, during a pandemic!

Ideal Homes joined in the effort and provided volunteers

IT

High

from

all

over

the

metro

area

earning them the much-deserved award from the

United

Way

of

Norman

for

community

impact.

The

concepts

create

an

people

are

now

even

more

call

home

to

coming

cozy

together

place

while

for

awaiting

to

young more

permanent placement.

Here are the latest updates.

Stay

tuned

to

more

details

of

the

grand

reveal and a virtual tour option.

Thank

you

again,

Norman

North

SPUD,

Homes, and United Way of Norman.

Ideal

Staff/ Board Member Shoutouts!

I didn't want to list names due to privacy purposes, but Crossroads is a part of United Way of Norman.

Collectively, our staff raised $1530 which is roughly 30% of our goal of $5000. If you still want to donate, check out the link to United Way and select Crossroads as your organization. We appreciate them for funding the EPIC program, introducing us to Ideal Homes, and all the community development opportunities they offer. Thank you!

Kaylee, Thank you for your efforts getting Crossroads back into Norman Public Schools. Your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed. Once the foundation is laid, the rest of the road can be built.

Thank you again!

Staff Birthdays!

10/01 SHAYE B 10/03 AMBER C 10/04 DEANNA G 10/07 MARIE M 10/09 DEBBIE C STACIE C 10/10 SHANNON 10/12 DIANA M 10/13 NADIUSKA R 10/21 JENNIFER F FRANCIS G 10/22 CHARNELLE W

10/24 LEXUS P CARRIE A 10/25 SARAH H 10/28 TOWANDA R LORETTA C

It's your Workiversary

Katelyn C. Ty L. Malissa R Alicia R Ulma M

Darlene C

Yareli L Amber M Lori P

16

4

1 Deanna G

2

Lisa B Kimberly B

3

Tiffany A Wendy M

7

14

Community Partner Highlight We are hosting some of the best workshops for teens in Cleveland County thanks to our collaboration with Pioneer Library System's Norman- Central campus. Loren, the Technology Specialist for teens, is an invaluable resource for the community. We look forward to many more partnerships.

Also, to the team in the Makerspace, you all went out of your way to bring our shelter youth 3d creations while we were unable to visit due to COVID-19.

Thank you for your impact on the Norman Community.

The City of Norman awarded Crossroads Youth & Family Service $5000 to make EPIC Camps come to life. The vision is to get young people the resources they need throughout the year to help with stress and anxiety. This funding covers the cost of the monthly workshops held at Norman- Central Library.

Thank you for all you do for the City of Norman!

It makes it easy to sleep well at night knowing our families are safe-guarded by the firefighters in Shawnee. They take care of the community so well and still make time to perform skits for our families to learn more about safety protocols. Thank you for always taking care of us!