Issuu

JypbLAÇHj^

Stewardship Service S pirit

In this issue. Family Literacy

CAP Peace Aw ard

T he OUNTAIN PIRIT

March - April 1997 Vol. XVI, No. 2

Family Literacy: A New Take on Education CAP’s programs have traditionally taken a family focus. Children’s programs involve input from parents;

The Magazine of the Christian Appalachian Project

programs for adults are often intended to help parents with the challenges of raising a family. CAP child development centers have taken that family focus a step further by adding family literacy to

The Candy Man

their curriculum. Called “Families Growing Together,” the programs

by Amy E. Stevens

enable the parents to pursue their

CAP Peace Award

with CAP staff to provide early

own educational goals as they work

by Margaret Gabriel

STEP Up To Better Parenting by Beth Dotson The Candy Man, page four.

24 Reading As A Family Affair by Jim Trammel

childhood development for their pre schoolers. Read more about this program on page twenty-four. Communication, an integral ingredient for any family, is also an integral part of CAP programs. On page sixteen, Beth Dotson tells of the STEP program (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting). This program, which teaches children to take responsibility for their actions, is used as a discipline model in CAP programs and parenting classes. On page nine you’ll meeting the recipient of the Christian Appalachian

Departments 3 Random Thoughts 10 Around the Project 16 The CAP Closeup 23 Letters to the Editor Family Literacy, page twenty-four.

Project Peace Award, given in honor of the mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Racism and Diversity Committee of the Berea Community School. This courageous group of parents, teachers and administrators is working to teach the community to “undo racism.” On the cover, the Family Literacy program at Children’s Discovery Center (photo by Karen Spivey).

Published by the Christian Appalachian Project. Editor: Margaret Gabriel. Graphic Design: Karen Frances Spivey. Circulation: Linda Grider East. Advisory Board' Father Ralph W Beiting, Mike McLaughlin, Bill Begley, Carla Durand, Teresa McAnly. The Mountain Spirit is published six times a year. The annual subscription price is $8.00. Subscriptions and other correspondence should be sent to The Mountain Spirit Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, KY 40446. Copyright, 1996, The Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Member, Catholic Press Association. The Christian Appalachian Project is a non-profit Christian service organization operating throughout Appalachia. The project operates on the philosophy that helping people help themselves is the best approach to Appalachian poverty. A summary of the registration and financial documents filed by this organization can be obtained by contacting: in New York, Secretary of State, Office of Charities Registration, 162 Washington Ave.. Albany, NY 12231; In Maryland, for the cost of copies and postage, the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401; in NEW JERSEY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, 202-626-4380; In NORTH CAROLINA, A COPY OF THE LICENSE TO SOLICIT CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION OR SPONSOR AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, SOLICITATION LICENSING BRANCH, BY CALLING (919) 733-4510; in Pennsylvania, residents may call the Pennsylvania Department of State at 1-800-732-0999; for West Virginia residents, the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305' In Virginia, the State Division of Consumer Affairs, PO Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23209; Washington State residents may obtain a copy of the last report filed with the Washington Secretary of State by calling toll free within Washington, 1-800-332-4483; IN FLORIDA, RESIDENTS MAY CALL THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES AT 1-800-HELP FLA or by writing to Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, KY 40446. Our license number in Michigan is MICS 9933. Registration with any of the above government agencies does not imply endorsement by the state.

The M ountain Spirit

Garry Barker 11 the West Coast educational flap about teaching “Ebonics” as a second language reminds me of all the years I spent in school translating eastern Kentucky dialect into standard English. Our teachers, from the first grade through high school, subtly but firmly pointed out the differences, but never, ever, put down our everyday language as inferior. I didn’t get that unpleasantness until I was a sophomore at Berea College. I learned to write in standard English from the very beginning. I totally agree that I needed to learn standard English, and I eventually trained myself to shift automatically back and forth between four or five levels of spoken English. It’s something I still do unconsciously, as I’m sure many African-Americans also do, but to this day I consider standard English to be the “second language” I had to learn. We didn’t, and still don’t, rate a politically correct new language label, but maybe what we speak could be called “Appalonics” or “Hillbonics.” College speech professors gave a radically mixed message about my spoken language. The first said, bluntly and righteously, that no “educated person speaks like you.” The second professor, in a course deliberately delayed until my final semester, was a pleasant surprise, a 180-degree reversal, a supportive and understanding soul who told me to stop worrying about the accent. She also cast me as another skinny, tall Kentuckian, Abraham Lincoln, when we performed “John Brown’s Body.”

March - April 1997

“Co be or not narp be” If Shakespeare were from eastern Kentucky.

“I’ll bet Lincoln sounded more like you,” she added “than he did like some Shakespearean actor.” Louise Scrivner was likely absolutely correct about that. You could not tell Lincoln’s rustic stories in a stage-trained perfect voice and get elected president, not even in 1860. The point is that I totally agree with what Oakland, California, is doing with the Ebonics effort, just as I do with the elementary school teachers who used the same approach on me. My teachers at the Goodard, Tilton, and Hillsboro schools in Fleming County didn’t get any extra funding, or national press, for what they did. About all of us in the school needed help, and we got it with total respect for the languages we had learned at home. I don’t know if that still happens in Kentucky schools, but it should. The only part of Oakland’s new effort that needs clarification, to me, is just which language being taught is as the “second” one. Reprinted with permission o f the (Lexington) HeraldLeader. Garry Barker lives in Madison County. He is the author o f several books on Appalachia, most recently “Notes from a Native Son: Essays on the Appalachian Experience ” (See The Mountain Spirit, May-June, 1996).

Man

bj? A irs E . S te ve n s ^ One could easily call him the sweetest man in Renfro Valley.

But for

“Olde Country Confections” Candy Shop owner C \l' ■

1Dan Spence, sweetness and sharing are all in a day’s work.

The M ountain Spirit

properly. At the age of 11, Dan was placed in the Hershey House, a home for orphaned boys.

Dan Spence, “The Candy M an” o f Renfro Valley, also known as the owner o f ‘‘Olde Country Confections

Fortunately for Christian Appalachian Project programs, Dan Spence’s day often includes sharing his talents and confections with CAP. Dan Spence donates his time and delicious ingredients to benefit CAP programs such as the Rainbow Respite Care Center and the Rockcastle Teen Center. The participants get a chance to have a hands-on experience with making candy during Spence’s visit. Not all business owners make the time to be involved with their community like Dan March - April 1997

does. But Dan learned the art of combining the concoction of tasty chocolate with philanthropic work from one of the finest — Milton Hershey, founder of Hershey Chocolate Company. The spirit and works of Milton Hershey are with Dan because of the way Hershey influenced Dan’s growing-up years. Dan lost his father when he was two years old. The loss left a big strain on his mother and she was eventually unable to care for him

Milton Hershey and his wife, Kathryn, were unable to have children of their own. To make up for this loss in their lives they began to take orphaned boys into their home. Eventually the number grew so large that they created several new homes for the boys. By the time Dan went to the Hershey House, the famous candy-maker had passed away but his dream was still going strong. At that time, the Hershey House offered a home to nearly 1300 boys. Each home held 15 or 16 boys and was headed by a couple that served as their parents. The residents at the Hershey House receive an education and learn valuable life skills at the facility. Although the program remains large, the residents still feel a strong sense of family. This idea was something that Hershey created to benefit the residents. While living at the Hershey House, Dan learned several methods of candy-making while he worked in the experimental candy shop for new product development. The experience gave him a clear understanding of the candy business. In this position, Dan worked closely with John Kish, the right-hand man of Milton Hershey. Kish had learned the art of fine chocolate in the “old country.” Kish and his father came to the United States from Germany in 1920. With them they brought European techniques and tools to help with the production of Hershey chocolate. Dan currently uses tools that Kish’s father used in

after became pastor of a church in the county. Although he was paid very little for his work as a minister he “loved every minute of it.”

chocolate is much healthier than one would think,” Dan said.

Dan always felt a need to be involved with the community in more than just his work. Dan decided to focus his efforts on education after learning that many people were having a difficult time because the methods of the Jackson County public school system conflicted with their Christian viewpoints. Dan saw this conflict as a chance to bring a positive change to the area. He introduced a program called Accelerated Christian Education (ACE), which offers an alternative Christian way to educate the youth of Jackson County. Dan worked to gain support and interest from the community. He proudly states that a majority of the students who attend this private school find themselves several grades ahead of students who attend public schools.

Dan’s upbringing was a major factor in his dedication and charitable work today, but another influence was his faith in God. Dan’s faith led him to Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, where he decided to study to go into the ministry. Dan worked 50-60 hours a week while attending college. Although his life was busy, Dan felt inspired to pursue his dreams of being a pastor. Through school he became acquainted with a man who was ministering in Clay County, Kentucky, and decided to join him in his work for the summer. Dan spent most of his summer in nearby Jackson County and soon

Dan was happy with his work in Jackson County but it seemed that God had a different plan for his future. A divorce made it difficult to keep his position as a full-time pastor. About this time, new activity in the retail areas adjacent to Renfro Valley, a country music hub in Rockcastle County, was beginning to develop. Dan sought out Renfro Valley’s owner, Warren Rosenthal, and asked him about opening a candy shop in the complex. The initial meeting between the two focused very little on candy and more on business philosophy. It was clear that Rosenthal liked the principles instilled in Dan by

Dan conducts a candy-making (and eating!) session at CAP’s Rainbow Respite Care Center.

Germany to make chocolate. He is one of the few residents of the Hershey House that stayed in the chocolate business. While the technical side to candy making was important to Dan, he also felt Hershey’s philosophy on chocolate and business was important. Hershey used only real ingredients. He strived to make his chocolate the finest it could be and never produced anything that he wouldn’t enjoy himself. Just one bite of Dan’s chocolate tells the tale that he, too, strives to make the finest product possible. Dan explained that by using all natural ingredients, his chocolate is much healthier than most of the chocolate on the market. “Doctors say that ‘real’

The Mountain Spirit

Milton Hershey. Shortly, Dan found himself managing the shop and making his candy. Five years later when the shops in Renfro Valley went up for sale, Dan was able to purchase the store. As owner of the store Dan has increased sales by 25 percent each year and has expanded his marketing range, selling his candy in several other states and 17 different resorts throughout the Kentucky state parks system. He has also expanded to mail orders and has an employee who sells his candy on the road.

Rainbow Respite worker Emma Spivey approached Dan at his store, and invited him to visit the residence in Renfro Valley which provides respite care for families which have members with disabilities. They were interested in having him come into their center and give their participants a hands-on experience with making chocolate. Since that first visit, he’s been at Rainbow Respite countless times. During his visits he not only shares his candy but carries on conversations with the participants and shares a meal with them. Dan comes into Rainbow Respite for about three hours during which he makes chocolate in molds and taffy with participants.

Dan finds rewards each time he works with CAP, but he says one incident will always stand out in his mind. Dan was visiting the Rainbow Respite Care Center on a weekend when care was being provided to younger children. One little girl became attached to Dan, and followed him around throughout the evening. When it came time to leave she ran up to him and locked him in an embrace. He tried to get her to let go of him but a staff member had to physically remove her. The little girl was from a single-parent family and had never had an older man in her life. During that short visit, Dan’s patience and kind words filled the missing part in the girl’s life. “I think I have more fun than they do,” said Dan. But Rainbow COURTESY OF ROCKCASTLE TEF.N CENTER

Dan has held more profitable jobs but finds “Olde Country Confections” to be the most rewarding. Dan loves the people he meets in the shop. “I’ve made friends from all over the country and Canada,” said Dan. He enjoys the fact they come back each year to get certain items and to see him.

told him about the programs CAP offers.

His job gives him a chance to share his faith with people who come into his shop. His decorations illustrate his faith; he likes for people to know that his store is run by a Christian. Dan says that his job gives him a chance to perform a unique trade. He feels that handmade chocolate is becoming a dying art form. The CAP programs with which Dan has been involved have benefitted from taking part in this unique trade. “I have a very hard time saying no to CAP,” says Dan. He became acquainted with CAP and its programs through his friend Glenna Robinson, the Rockcastle Teen Center’s educational coordinator. Glenna March - April 1997

Teens at the Rockcastle Teen Center enjoy having Dan visit the center and helping them make pull taffy. In fact, they enjoy the candy almost as much as the mess they make, according to education coordinator Glenna Robinson.

youths. The young people at the Rockcastle Teen Center gained a sense of accomplishment by seeing a project from start to finish. They also learned another important lesson: patience. It took patience for the kids to wait for the temperature to rise and then cool, explained education coordinator Glenna Robinson. But the patience paid off because, “the kids loved being able to make a mess and eat the candy,” said Glenna.

enjoy the end product.

Respite participants disagree. When asked who has more fun when Dan “the candy-man” comes to visit, the participants knowingly say “We do!” They look forward to Dan’s visits for many reasons, but topping the list is getting to eat his wonderful candy. One participant is anxiously awaiting Dan’s next visit to Rainbow Respite when she’s there. She’s excited about making more candy and hopes to bring it to her mother. The last batch never made it home. “Dan’s visits to the center are great for the participants.” said Rainbow Respite volunteer, Jennifer Langager, “Many of our participants live sheltered lives and aren’t able to participate in day-to-day things. But Dan shares a part of himself and his life with them. This is very important to them.” Both Jennifer and Rainbow Respite staff member Stacey

Bray say it’s important to have people from the community come in the center. When community members visit and interact with Rainbow Respite participants they better understand the program and how it benefits people with disabilities and their families. Most of the Rainbow Respite participants won’t remember what kind of candy they made years down the road. However Dan’s visits help them gain a great sense of independence many lack. Dan works with each person individually, teaching and helping him or her to complete the task of making a chocolate mold. Their experiences let all of the residents know that they can make something work. Rainbow Respite isn’t the only CAP program benefiting from Dan’s work; he has also visited the Rockcastle Teen Center, where he made taffy with the

Dan would like to continue working with CAP. He would like to share his life experiences with others to enrich their lives. For now Dan keeps himself very busy with his involvement in church, his five beautiful daughters, his girlfriend and a growing business. Surely the example Dan sets will prompt other businesses and community members to get involved with CAP programs. For now, he has no competition for the title of the “Sweetest Man in Renfro Valley.”

Amy Stevens was a volunteer at the Rockcastle Teen Center from February, 1996 to February, 1997. She graduated from the University o f Oregon with a B.A. in Journalism. She is originally from Newcastle, California.

For more information or to place an order: Olde Country Confections P.O. Box 24 Renfro Valley, KY 40473 phone (606) 256-3258

The Mountain Spirit

on-violence seeks to win friendship and understanding. The end result o f non-violence is redemption and reconciliation. The purpose o f non-violence is the creation o f the Beloved Community. Principle Two o f the Six Principles o f Non-Violence

On the January day when the country was commemorating the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, the Christian Appalachian Project recognized the Racism and Diversity Committee of the Berea Community School with its 1997 Peace Award. In 1993 the Berea Community School established a Racism and Diversity Committee, charged to promote a positive inter-racial atmosphere in the school. Since its beginning, the committee has been dedicated to introducing forms of education that will sensitize students from pre school through twelfth grade to racism in both its overt and covert forms, according to Peggy Rivard-Suel, who chairs the committee. The committee was prompted by a letter to the Berea Community School’s site-based decision-making council from a family that experienced racial harassment on several occasions. The council took action by forming the committee of parents, teachers and school administrators. “We’re still a long way from the ‘Beloved Community,’ but we have a vibrant community at Berea Community School,” said Rivard-Suel. “The community recognized that we have issues of racism and made a commitment to working them out.”

March - April 1997

Rivard-Suel and other members of the committee of twelve said that in the course of their work they have become more sensitive themselves to the problems of cultural and racial integration. “White people on the committee have learned about overt racism, things like being followed in a department store, or called names from a passing car as you’re walking down the street. Black people have made us aware of daily discrimination. People don’t call us names. We don’t have to listen to our children tell stories about name calling. Through this, we’ve begun to see our own transformation.” Because of the increase of industry coming into Berea and Madison County, people of diverse cultures are coming together in the community, most noticeably in the schools. “Schools are one place where everyone runs into everyone else,” said Rivard-Suel. “And when racism surfaces among children they can be educated out of violent behavior. That’s where our hope is.” As a result of a racism summit that the committee conducted during the inauguration of the new president of Berea College, a group of high school students decided to form a committee of its own. Operating under the name SEED (Students Exploring and Embracing Diversity), the

committee has really taken off, said Rivard-Suel. “There are several wonderful, energetic teachers, as well as the school principals. They have a great working team.” CAP introduced its Peace Award in 1993 to honor the work of Dr. Martin Luther King. Each year the community is invited to nominate groups or individuals who work to bring alive Dr. King’s six principles of non violence. The selection process is the responsibility of CAP’S Peace Committee, chaired by Kathleen Leavell, manager of foundation grants. The Racism and Diversity Committee was selected from nearly a dozen outstanding groups and individuals. “What set them apart in the end was their focus on children,” Kathleen said. “The children are the ones who make sure the dream continues.” In the coming year the Racism and Diversity Committee plans to form a team of parents, teachers and administrators who will take more intensive training, learning ways to undo racism, said Rivard-Suel. “We want to qualify ourselves to train other people so we can sustain a new generation.” —

by Margaret Gabriel

— Around the Project — ADC to Construct Sixty “Ecology Houses” in Eastern Kentucky GABRIEL

Four of fifteen houses that will be on the newly-constructed “Appalachian Court” are close to completion on the lot adjacent to Appalachian Village in Berea. The project of the Appalachian Development Corporation, a wholly-owned, for-profit subsidiary of the Christian Appalachian Project, will provide construction and finishing jobs in the areas where the homes will be erected, as well as providing manufacturing jobs for those who assemble the materials. The finished product provides safe, comfortable housing for lowincome families. Building materials are being purchased from Eagle Plastic Systems, which manufactures panels made of recycled plastic, metal framing and insulation. The 840-square-foot houses have three bedrooms, bath and utility rooms, and a common area. David Harl, who served as a volunteer in CAP’S home repair program, is managing the “ecology housing” project (as it is called because of the use of recycled materials), which will provide good quality rental housing for fifteen families in the Berea area. Appalachian Development Corporation has committed to building 60 ecology houses in Kentucky in 1997, according to corporation president Marvin House. In addition to the homes in Berea, fifteen are planned for the Big Sandy region, and thirty scattered in other parts of Kentucky. Eagle Plastic Systems, which was started in Florida by Bill

The first four o f fifteen houses in a Berea community that will provide good quality housing fo r low income families in Madison County. The homes are constructed o f ecologically-friendly materials.

Kane, constructs and sends houses to developing nations. Kane opened a factory in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, on the urging of CAP founder Father Ralph Beiting.

House believes that the construction in Berea is the first time that homes of this type will be used to alleviate the problem of homelessness in the United States.

Literacy Tutors Increasing in Numbers The number of literacy tutors in eastern Kentucky is growing, thanks to the Department of Adult Education and Literacy. Christian Appalachian Project adult education teacher Bill Tussey has been trained to train literacy tutors by that program, and has trained over a dozen people, including several CAP volunteers. Bill covers a wide range of subjects in a twelve-hour course. “We start with talking about the causes of illiteracy and the characteristics of adult learners,” Bill said. Those issues, and the characteristics of a good teacher, set a good foundation for more nuts-andbolts teaching concerns.

“We go over reading and writing strategies, and use lots of hands-on activities. We talk about goal-setting and lesson planning, too,” Bill said. Bill’s mother, who is a teachers’ aide, took his course, and now uses the strategies she learned in the literacy tutor training course for children in her classroom, as well as the adults she tutors. She reports a great increase in reading skills for those children. “I would like to set up a program to help parents who are studying for a GED to take this course at the same time, so they can help their children who might be at risk for reading difficulties,” Bill said. The M ountain Spirit

around the project. . . continued Steps to Supported Employment Jimmie Lewis was looking for a location for the CAPRICE (Christian Appalachian Project Resources for Independence and Community Employment) Christmas dinner, but instead she found opportunity. At Southside Baptist Church in Corbin, Kentucky, Jimmie learned that the women’s auxiliary had purchased paint for the fellowship hall, but had not

been able to find anyone to do the work. “It was just the oppor tunity I’d been hoping for as a community project,” she said. CAPRICE participants James, Omer and Sonny, who, with his mother, is a member of Southside Baptist, were eager to work. They had no previous painting experience, but the trio received help from several sources, including James’

Sonny, and his mother, Eva, pose proudly in front o f one o f the walls in the fellowship hall o f Southside Baptist Church.

brother, a painter. Jimmie said that all three have cerebral palsy, and been involved in organized services for years, but had never had the opportunity' to perform any work of this type. “It them gave a level of confidence, something they could really reach for, and it did the same thing for their families.” Working as a group was also a good structure for learning a new skill, such as painting, Jimmie said. “Our folks don’t get an opportunity to make a contribution like this very often, and this job gave them success as well as some recognition.” Projects of this type are one of the ways CAPRICE hopes to involve participants in the community more fully, and they’re working to develop more ways, Jimmie said. “I was talking to Sonny’s mom yesterday, and she said that she would like to see Sonny with a full-time community volunteer job, and maybe even a supported employment position. He just beamed with pride as he listened to his mother talk about him!”

March is Work Fest Month in CAP Country “The month of March is devoted to Work Fest,” said Kathy Kluesener, assistant director of the Christian Appalachian Project volunteer program, of CAP’S sixth annual alternative spring break. By the end of March, 240 students from 29 college campuses will have spent a week on CAP home repair projects. “The project gives many college students the opportunity to serve in ways that are meaningful and necessary,” Kathy said. “They get to repair homes, and at the same

March - April 1997

time, reflect on their spiritual lives.” In the six years that CAP has been hosting Work Fest, it has become popular with students looking to fill their spring break with more than just beaches or sunshine. “The schools start to contact us in May or June, to ask about Work Fest for the coming year,” Kathy said. “By August of 1996, we had started a waiting list for 1997.” During the evenings, students enjoy activities planned by the CAP volunteer staff. One

evening is called “Volunteer Night,” and the students are introduced to the idea of volunteerism, Kathy said. A few Work Fest volunteers have joined CAP as permanent volunteers after graduation; more have come to CAP to offer their services as summer camp volunteers. CAP founder Father Ralph Beiting is a guest one night each week, as well. “He prays with the students, and gives them some information about Appalachia and the experiences he’s had during his years here,” Kathy said.

around the project. . . continued CAP Extends Environmental Education into the Classroom

Respecting the wishes o f deceased loved ones, or in honor o f them, families often request that memorials he sent to us. Memorial gifts live on to benefit others. Many also specify memorial gifts in their wills. Any size giß is welcome. Contact us for more information.

the information with science curriculum. CHAP aims to teach children that health and well-being extends beyond doctor appointments and nutritious eating. Taking care of our environment demonstrates a concern for human health as well as an appreciation for God’s creation. “When kids learn to

CAP ARCHIVES

Observing water pollution indicators, identifying trees, and exploring forest ecosystems were a few of the activities Magoffin County students enjoyed during field trips to Camp Shawnee, the Christian Appalachian Project camp in Floyd County. The Community Health Advocates Program (CHAP) sponsored fall field trips as an extension of classroom presentations. After learning about water pollution, solid waste, and natural resources in their classrooms, fifth and sixth graders travelled to Camp Shawnee for a day of nature appreciation and ecological study led by CAP volunteer Laura Webb. The camp’s hiking trails and lakeside camp ground were ideal for the study of how humans impact forests, streams, and other resources. Students welcomed the hands-on activities as a break from routine, and teachers, too, appreciated CHAP’s efforts. “These kids learn more out here (at camp) than they would the whole week in the classroom,” commented sixth grade teacher James Isaac. In order to maximize the impact of the lesson, CHAP coordinated

appreciate the natural beauty around them, they have a greater desire to take care of it,” said Laura, who came to CAP with a degree in environmental science from the University of Virginia. Students begin to realize how their daily activities impact the environment. Gaining an understanding of local problems such as pollution motivates the young citizens to become positive agents of change in their community, Laura said.

Environmental education classes are offered at Camp Andrew Jackson, as well as at Camp Shawnee.

CDCMoms in Magoffin County Study Life Skills Four of the moms of the children at the Christian Appalachian Project’s Magoffin Child Development are studying life skills with the help of Angie Hall, caseworker for Community Health Advocates. “They’re learning typing and computer skills, a lot about the things that make this office run. They’ll also learn how to use the fax machine, and how to answer the phone.” The textbook that Angie is loosely following includes a variety of skills, from balancing a checkbook to pointers on a job interview. “We want to squeeze in as many as we can between now and June,” Angie said.

The moms in the program study for their GEDs in the mornings, and by the afternoon are ready for some experiences away from the books. After they become comfortable with the office routine, Angie hopes to schedule field trips to the Mayo Vocational School and Prestonsburg Community College. “I don’t want them to be afraid of these places,” Angie said. “I want them to know where they are, and what to expect when they get into a classroom. There are so many things they want to do — we’ve got more ideas than we have time!” The M ountain Spirit

around the project. . . continued Bible Study at Teen Center Asks Some Serious Questions When they started their work at the Christian Appalachian Project, volunteers John Morgan and Laura Webb talked about holding Bible study classes at the Rockcastle Teen Center. John said that manager Jeff Burchett thought it was a great idea, “and put us in a room together to work out the details.” From that meeting of the minds came a popular feature at the center, one that the kids really enjoy, John said. “The first time we pulled the Bibles off the shelves, the kids said ‘No, this isn’t church! We don’t want to read the Bible!’ But now they like it, and a couple of kids have even asked for Bible study. They like to take turns reading verses,” John said. There’s more to the activity than just reading Bible verses, though. The session always starts with a game, which is followed by discussion time. A recent gathering featured a debate

between two teams. The first team defended the premise that the historical Jesus was a serious-minded character who had no time for laughter or fun. The second group painted Jesus as an exciting fellow who liked to hang out with his friends. “Each team had to convince the other of their point of view,” John said. “The second group won.” Another game involved a maze, with all but one of the kids wearing blindfolds. “That person would help everyone else get through the maze, like the way Jesus helps people in the world,” John said. Only a few of the young people belong to local churches, John said, so the Bible study is breaking new ground for many. “God is really working through us at the teen center,” he said. “It’s amazing to see the changes he brought in the kids.”

What You Don't Know About Wills Can Hurt Your Heirs. mwSm Find Out Why. Request j , Free Copy.

Much of what you know about wills may be misinformation that has been floating around for years. If you think, for example, that wills are primarily for rich people, or elderly people, you may be the victim of a common misconcep tion. The helpful booklet offered here will explain howyourwillcan save your heirs from costly de lays and confusion. Sendforyour copy today. Clip and Mail

Christian Appalachian Project 322 Crab Orchard Road Lancaster, Kentucky 40446 Please send without obligation your booklet, “37 Things People ‘Know’ About Wills That Aren't Really So.” Name_____________________ Address

As spring settles into the mountains, CAP’S outreach workers begin visiting participants in the garden program. Naomi McIntosh visits an elderly gardener in Owsley County.

State,ZIP.

March - April 1997 13

around the project. . . continued Elderly Services Program Receives Horizon Award The Christian Appalachian Project elderly services program in the Big Sandy region was honored with the Horizon Award, given by Senior Advantage, a group affiliated with Highlands Regional Hospital that works with senior citizens in the area, reports program manager Sandi Knight. The award honors CAP for the efforts made to help needy people access prescription medications at no cost. Sandi and Louisa outreach manager Albert Bloomfield learned that it was possible for low-income people to obtain needed prescriptions at no cost by applying to drug manufac turers. Sandi and Albert began to investigate more about the

procedures. “It’s really time consuming. All of the manufacturers have different applications,” Sandi said. Under Sandi’s direction, volunteers Kathy Heying and Wendy Wiegmann helped 69 low-income people fill out applications which asked for information about the person applying, the drug they were requesting and why. After each application was approved it had to be signed by the doctor prescribing the drug. Later, the doctor received the drug, and gave it to the patient. Between September and December of 1996, Kathy’s and Wendy’s efforts saved $8200 in prescription charges.

“They’ve done a great job,” Sandi said. “I asked them to make folders decribing all the ins and outs of the program, so that after they’re gone we’ll know exactly to how keep it going.” Kathy and Wendy have continued to file applications as needed, Sandi said. She told of a recent application from a transplant patient, whose situation changed dramatically between the time of his surgery and now. Not yet able to work, the young man receives a disability check of under $900 per month, and has medications prescribed that total over $1400 per month. “We’ve already got approval for an anti-rejection medication that costs $400 per month,” Sandi said. “That’s the kind of thing that make you feel really good about this program.”

Partners Program Makes Strides with Families

M o v in g ? Please notify us of any change of address to make sure you receive every issue of The Mountain Spirit. Please print

O ld A ddress

N ew A ddress

Mail to: The Mountain Spirit 322 Crab Orchard Road Lancaster, Kentucky 40446

The outreach program in Hagerhill recently received the following letter from a family that is participating in its “Partners Program,” which helps families take all the necessary steps they need to become selfsufficient: “My husband and I would like to take the time to thank each one of you for everything that you have done for us. You, the people and your programs have done so much for me and my family. You have changed our lives so much. By giving my husband the chance to go to school and follow his dreams, and for showing my daughter that there are good people out in the world and that sharing and helping one another is what the world is all about. Day by day

you’re making a better place a better world for her to live in. “I’m not big with words and I’m not fancy. Me and my husband truly want to thank you and your programs for all your help and support. Those people like yourselves who have such love in your heart are the ones my family will never forget. It’s people like you that help me see that if you work hard and try with all your might and believe in God all things will come.”

Christian Appalachian Project is a participating agency in the Combined Federal Campaign. Federal and military employees can contribute to CAP by designating #0898 on the CFC pledge card.

The M ountain Spirit

around the project. . . continued

Volunteers Needed for Summer Camp Adventure! The CAP volunteer program needs summer camp counselors to staff gen eral, special needs and specialty camps. We are seeking high-energy men and women, age 18 and older, for the months of June, July and early August. We would like a commitment of at least two months, but a 3-7 week stay can be arranged. Room and board is provided. For more information about volunteer ing for summer, or for a year or more, contact the Christian Appalachian Project Volunteer Office, 235 Lexington St., Lancaster, KY 40444, 1-800-755-5322.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old. What Can I Do to Help the Christian Appalachian Project? Christian Appalachian Project supporters often ask what more they can do to help eliminate suffering in Appalachia. First, we tell them, you can tell others of the problems in Appalachia which you learn about in The Mountain Spirit and other CAP publications. You might want to share this magazine with a friend, for example. If you’d like, drop us a line and we’ll send you a replacement copy. Ask us about any of the problems in Appalachia and we’ll be happy to share any knowledge we have or to refer you to another organization that can help you. Secondly, you can give us a most valuable commodity — time. Since 1950, thousands of

March - April 1997

people have worked millions of hours, donating time to helping the people of Appalachia help themselves and their families out of poverty. If you would like to volunteer a year or a summer to working in Appalachia, please contact The Mountain Spirit, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, Ky., 40446. We will see that you receive information about CAP’s volunteer program. Finally, our most powerful form of assistance is prayer. We believe that if our supporters spend at least one minute a day praying for poor people every where, mountains can be moved, the course of rivers can be changed. The CAP family forms a powerful prayer network reach ing into Appalachia and across the nation.

DOUBLE Your Dollars! If you are a CAP donor, or are considering becoming one, you may be eligible to double your gift through your employer’s matching gift program. Many companies today match monetary support to non-profit community service organizations that are sup ported by their employees. Many of these companies match the gifts that are made by their retirees as well. Please write for your brochure “Double Your Dollars,” which lists participat ing companies and instruc tions. Send correspondence to:

Teresa McAnly - CAP 322 Crab Orchard Road Lancaster, KY 40446

Tell some parents that

STEP Up To Better

“time out” works better than spanking and they are likely to respond with a laugh. Who

P aI M ™

would believe that temporarily removing a

TRAirviiNq Improves

child from a situation

C oiVIMUNiCATiON An<J

where he or she is

Boosts PersonaI REspoNsibiliTy

misbehaving could replace more “traditional”

Btih

forms of discipline?

D otsoi

The Mountain Spirit 16

Most parents were raised in homes where spanking was the accepted form of punishment and they don’t question its value. But when they take their little one to a child development center run by the Christian Appalachian Project, they learn that there are other ways to approach the discipline needed to be a good parent. Some parents see the value of these alternate methods and use them. Others ignore the new ideas, preferring to raise children the way they were raised. As CAP has provided Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) classes for staff members, volunteers and program participants, trainers have faced the skepticism that accompanies the idea that parents and children should discuss problems, share their feelings and create a democratic home environment. The trainers have even felt some of that skepticism themselves. They have also encountered skepticism from CAP workers who don’t deal with children. Those workers have expressed doubt that the training has something to offer them. After learning and using the methods STEP recommends, trainers and participants have concluded that the program helps people improve their communication skills and learn to take responsibility for their actions. That makes the program valuable in adult-child as well as adult-adult relationships. “It’s called Systematic Training for Effective Parenting. However, what we’ve found out since we’ve been using STEP in our program for years and years March - April 1997

is it’s a whole lot about communication,” said Sherry Allen, a STEP trainer. Sherry is also program coordinator for CAP’S Family Life Services, which provides transitional housing for families. “It doesn’t matter if you’re working with an elderly person or an infant or a teenager or who you’re working with, even employee to employee. It’s teaching misbehavior and how to recognize what the goal of the behavior is.” The STEP program identifies goals of misbehavior, such as attention-seeking, and actions children and adults use to reach these goals. The first part of communication is recognizing that these behaviors convey certain feelings or needs. The next is to identify those needs and how to address them. For example, anyone who works with children in a child development center, spouse abuse shelter or Family Life Services has seen temper tantrums. Volunteers typically approach these tantrums with good intentions of helping. “When they (volunteers) first come in they want to talk them through it (the tantrum) and help them pull out of whatever is going on and make it okay. After STEP, I’ll see them say, oh, that’s a goal of misbehavior and that goal is attention-seeking, therefore I need to just ignore the temper tantrum,” Sherry said. Many of CAP’s programs overlap, with more than one CAP worker serving the same family. For example, that child might also work with a CAP counselor and attend summer day camp. One reason CAP decided to require STEP training was to be

able to send consistent messages. “We all need some type of a foundation to work from. Since so many of our programs work with the same people, it’s real important that we’re all using the same method,” Sherry said. “It’s like a foundation to work on.” It’s also a foundation for taking responsibility for your actions.

"Eiqkr times OUT of TEN tItE PARENTS doN'T Ie t t Ite cfiildREN TAl<E OWNERsliip of

tItE pRoblEM." One of the reasons children grow into adults who do not take responsibility for their actions is that their parents never let them. “Eight times out of ten the parents don’t let the children take ownership of the problem. It’s easier for the parents to work it out for them, or just turn your back away from it and not listen

takes several young people on an outing. When she is driving and they are laughing or calling her attention to a sight, and accidentally hitting her, it makes her feel distracted and unsafe as a driver. Rather than yelling at the kids and telling them to be quiet and sit still, she has told them that when they act that way, it makes her feel like she can’t concentrate on driving, which makes her feel nervous and unsafe. She’s afraid she will then lose control and yell at the kids.

encourages parents to learn and use Systematic Training fo r Effective Parenting.

to it,” said Glenna Robinson, a STEP trainer who also manages CAP’s teen center in Rockcastle County. Sherry recalled a volunteer who worked at a spouse abuse shelter, who was having trouble with the question of: whose responsibility is it? “She would get so frustrated with the residents because they would be late for their appointments and that drove her nuts,” Sherry said. The volunteer’s stress was likely to affect the residents with whom she worked. After STEP training, the volunteer asked herself whose responsibility it is to get to an appointment on time and what are the consequences if we’re late? You might have to wait longer or come back another time, she answered. When she realized the only way the resident would learn to think

about that herself was for the volunteer to step back and just be a driver, she let out a sigh of relief. She was also able to help the resident learn to take responsibility. Maryanne Abeid believes the STEP training has helped her learn to take responsibility for her own actions and feelings. It does the same for the young people with whom she works. Maryanne is a former CAP volunteer who works with emotionally disabled children through the Bluegrass IMPACT program in Lincoln, Garrard, Madison and Estill counties. The part of the training that helped with the responsibility was learning to use “I-messages.” “I-messages” are statements that say how the speaker feels about a situation rather than blaming someone else. For example, Maryanne sometimes

By expressing her feelings about the situation, Maryanne said the kids must decide if they can change their behavior so the outing can continue. Often they do. “There’s usually a very good response when I use I-messages because they can’t argue with it,” Maryanne said. It also gives them the responsibility of deciding to modify their behavior. “STEP uses time out and logical and natural consequences,” Sherry explained. Traditional punishments, like grounding a child, might not be as effective as a punishment that is closely related to the specific problem, like ending the outing in the example above. Sherry said an example from her program involved a mother and her sixth-grade daughter who had a yelling match every morning about what clothes the girl would wear to school. The mother wanted them to be ironed and neat. The daughter did not. The staff worked with the mother to help her see the daughter needed to be able to make her own decisions and to The M ountain Spirit

deal with the consequences. “We just about had to tie the mother down the first day because the daughter walked out of here with mismatched clothes that were all wrinkled,” Sherry recalled. The consequence of her choice was that her friends made fun of how she looked and she didn’t want to go to school like that anymore. Sherry and Glenna both find these basic ideas of looking at behavior goals and logical consequences for actions to be helpful with children and adults. The parts of STEP they find less helpful are those that seem too formal for the people with whom they work. As a result, they have adjusted some STEP teaching to be more appropriate for their particular situations.

For example, parents sometimes feel the I-messages sound phony. That way of communicating puts the emphasis on how the parent feels and doesn’t allow them to blame the child for a situation. “We are used to accusing somebody of making us feel a certain way or making a situation really bad when that’s not the case at all,” Maryanne said. She had a harder time learning to use I-messages than implementing other parts of STEP. “The situation is not any worse. It’s just how you are responding to it. So it makes you look at yourself more carefully and it makes you look

at what’s going on more carefully. It just takes a little more energy at first to use it and we don’t want to expend that energy. We don’t want to look at ourselves and say that this feeling is about me. It’s a whole lot easier to put the blame on someone else,” Maryanne said. Glenna said that even using the phrase “I feel like” can seem odd. “It’s easier for us to say, ‘I think,’ and not put the feelings in,” she said. “It’s still hard for me. So what I do with my class is I change it to the way people talk.” That might mean that instead of saying, as the STEP materials suggest, “I really appreciate that I you cleaned your room,” Glenna would suggest that someone say, “Gee, thanks for cleaning your room,” or “I noticed you cleaned your room.” GABRIEL

Glenna has problems with the language STEP uses. “It’s very strange to use some of the language or even reflective listening,” Glenna said. Reflective listening is listening, then repeating to the person what he or she said. This can help the speaker work out his or her feeling. It can also help the listener clarify what was said so that both people know they are talking about the same thing.

with were raised like she was raised. “You learn to talk by what you hear and when you start learning to speak differently, it’s very strange,” Glenna said.

Maryanne said, “I thought I was a pretty good listener although STEP went further.” As a volunteer in CAP’s adult education program, she practiced those reflective listening skills. Glenna said she understands why the language can be strange. Most of the people she works March - April 1997

Adult classes at Eagle Child Development Center include STEP classes as part o f parenting training. Parents also have an opportunity to observe the methods o f discipline used by the sta ff at the center.

the group needs to address. They have learned to work with a basic idea they learned in STEP and adjust it to be appropriate for their situation. Sherry and Glenna have both seen people express skepticism when they tried these methods but they didn’t work right away. Behaviors take a while to unlearn. “It’s going to take some time but they are going to start taking responsibility for their own actions,” Sherry said.

Glenna Robinson, education coordinator o f the Rockcastle Teen Center, conducts classes which teach STEP methods to parents o f teenagers.

Glenna said that sometimes it is the positive message that motivates a child to change behavior. She worked with a mother who was unhappy because her daughter would never clean her room. After reviewing some STEP teaching with the mother, she spoke with her daughter and used those Imessages, telling her that seeing her room so messy made the mom feel like her daughter didn’t care about things. The mother also told her daughter that she wanted her to do better because she loved her. She then gave her daughter three days to clean her room. If she didn’t complete the task, the daughter would not be able to go into her room. When the mother related the story to Glenna, she recognized the logical consequence as a

good one. The key, Glenna thought, was in the communication. She knew the daughter from the teen center and her actions told her that her daughter felt really encouraged when her mother expressed her love. “STEP worked for her,” Glenna said. Sherry said she doesn’t like the way STEP presents family meetings. It recommends formal meetings where everyone has a particular place to sit and certain duties. “A lot of times the parents don’t have the communication skills it takes” to make the meetings effective, Sherry said. At Family Life Services, Sherry and the staff have adjusted that idea to a more informal meeting where residents can discuss chores and anything else

“We’ve had some residents leave here still unconvinced but when do a follow up visit with them, guess what they’re doing? They’re using time-out methods. So they do pick up on it eventually,” Sherry said. Glenna, Sherry and Maryanne have found that STEP helped them learn how to improve their own communication skills that they use at work and at home. The basic concepts are valuable for a wide range of people, no matter their particular profession or family position. “What I find so interesting is not only can you reach the teens with a lot of the tools it gives you, but it also helps builds social skills with the adults, with the parents,” Glenna said. “It opens up commun ications between the child and the parent by educating the parent on how do I talk to my child.”

Beth Dotson, a form er CAP volunteer, resides in Lancaster, Kentucky, and works as a freelance writer.

The M ountain Spirit

Jean Barnes GABRIEL

“We’re empowering parents to do things on their own. ” Jean Bames identifies with moms of small children. Questions like “How do I get my little girl to ask for something instead of crying?” and “Isn’t this three-and-a-half-year-old ever going to be potty trained?” are met with encouraging words and a smile that says, “I’ve been there.” The manager of the Christian Appalachian Project’s Eagle Child Development Center asked those questions herself when her three children were little. Looking for answers led her to a vocation in child development. When her youngest was four, Jean started working in a child development center at an Episcopalian church in Somerset and enrolled Brian in CAP’S newly-opened Children’s

Jean Barnes, manager o f CAP's Eagle Child Development Center.

Discovery Center. “The child cried for two weeks,” Jean said.“Sister Lorraine would meet us at the door with that wonderful smile, and Brian would start crying. He’s asked if he had to stay, and I told him yes, but that I would be back to pick him up. And he’d still be crying when I came back to pick him up at twelve o’clock. Bless their hearts, I know they wanted to strangle him.” After about a week Jean and her husband, Barney, were trying to decide what action to take. “I don’t know what made me do this, but I gave him a tape recorder, and I told him to cry into it. Then, I told him when you feel like you need to cry,

you don’t have to. You can just play your tape recorder. And of course, we could turn the volume down. You know, it worked! He only had to take the tape recorder two or three days. I share that with a lot of parents now.” In 1984 Jean began working at the Children’s Discovery Center, and three years later, was asked to open the Eagle Child Development Center in McCreary County, one of the most distressed counties in the United States. Two Catholic sisters who operated the Christian Care Center in the county introduced Jean to some families in the area and, convinced that there was a genuine need for child

♦ Story and photos by Margaret Gabriel ♦ March - April 1997 21

development in the northern part of McCreary County, she began to gather students. “I looked for little people’s clothes on the line, and toys in the yard. I’d knock on the door and tell them who I was and what CAP was about, and that we were going to start a pre-school.” Jean was a little surprised that her reception was so warm. CAP had no activities in the county, but by the time she finished her doorto-door recruiting campaign, ten children were enrolled in the morning session and ten in the afternoon. Because the families in McCreary County are large and close-knit, she continues to work with younger children from many of the same families, creating a feeling of community and ownership.

“How can we help a child here at school if we don’t know where he came from? Did he not get a good night’s sleep? That’s why he’s cranky here at school. Did he not have a good meal, and he’s hungry? He doesn’t want to sit at circle time, he wants to eat. The way to get to know that is to get into the home. The parent is the child’s first teacher, and I can learn so much from them. By working together we can help the child meet his potential.” Looking down the road, Jean can see that the need for “Families Growing Together,” is going to be even greater because of welfare reform, which requires twenty hours a week of job training for recipients. Because of CAP’s flexibility, Jean is able to

structure the program to meet the training need. “They’ll be able to get their twenty hours a week, and still work on a GED.” Jean is also devising training programs that will enable her families to find jobs in the area. There are two factories in the county, several nursing facilities, and a state park, so in addition to GED training, Jean is planning to help people with skills in housekeeping and food service, jobs that will enable families to stay in McCreary County, rather than having to move away from family, friends and the only home they have ever known. As she knows what it’s like to raise a family, Jean knows what it’s like to leave home. “My husband is originally from Somerset, and when he heard about a job in the vocational school here, we moved from South Carolina. But I fought it tooth and nail. I wanted to stay with my mama. I can remember crying as we left that day. But I’ve been here ever since, and this is home now.” GABRIEL

“I’ve tried to let people know that this is not my program, and it’s not CAP’S program, but it’s their program. If they want to do something different here, then we talk about it. If I want to do something different, I don’t just change it: we talk about it. They’ve learned that their voice counts,” Jean said.

the last couple of years, a family literacy program, “Families Growing Together,” has immersed them to an even greater degree, and, at the same time, has enabled Jean and her staff to learn more about the children and their families.

“We’re empowering parents to do things on their own. Some of our moms wouldn’t ever have talked to a principal about her child. But we’ll go with them to the principal’s office, then back out. We have one who’s on the site-based council now. It’s just helping them realize that it’s in them anyway.” The program at the Eagle Child Development Center has always worked to involve parents, but in

During afternoons at Eagle Child Development Center, Jean divides her time between the pre-schoolers, and conducting education and parenting classes fo r their mothers. The M ountain Spirit

L etters to th e E d ito r The Mountain Spirit keeps me in touch with CAP when I’m not there volunteering for a month every year. These people from Eastern Kentucky are so sweet and kind. More people in America should try volunteering because it will greatly enrich their lives. God willing, I will be able to go back for many more years. Thank you, CAP, for all you do to help these people and for asking us to help. Tobi Anderson Leominster, Mass.

My mother was bom and raised in Rockcastle County back in the ’20s. We have a lot of “kin” that live in hills of eastern Kentucky and although things are a lot different now in this day in age, one thing is still the same: poverty. My mom was fortunate as she escaped the poor living conditions when she left to work “up north.” I feel it’s by the grace of God that I, too, can earn a living so I feel it’s my responsibility to “give back” to the community of Appalachians. God bless all of you! Your works are a blessing of and to God.

Great work! May the Lord keep blessing your endeavors in helping the people in Appalachia. The project’s growth has been fantastic! It is amazing the areas you now cover; not only the elderly, the young people and the jobless, but schools to teach youngsters who otherwise will not have a chance. Where there was hopelessness now there is hope for the physically and mentally incapacitated. Dr. Miquel A. Lugo Isabela, P.R.

Diane Buetow West Allis, Wis. What a wonderful thing you folks did a number of years ago, to establish your project. It must make those people feel good that have worked at one time or another, to bring some relief to the needy. May that inspiration always be there to keep that project going. A lot of people depend on you and love you for it. Josephine L. Groth

March - April 1997

I love The Mountain Spiritl The name is perfect, too! I wouldn’t miss it for anything and look forward to its arrival. I’m an avid reader and this is among my favorites. Sister Mary Happ Langhorne, Pa.

Excellent publication! A small sampling of all the wonderful works of CAP. Mr. Andrew Merkowsky Bayonne, N.J.

Thank you for your tremendous publication. May God continue to bless your work.

CAP’S child development programs have begun “parent development” services as well. The family approach to literacy promises long term good for Appalachia’s families as the programs adapt to welfare reform.

The Mountain Spirit 24

j ^W he couldn’t read very f 7 well, but she was raising her child anyhow, and doing fairly well — except she was feeding her baby full-strength formula. Had she been able to read, she would have known it needed diluting. Literacy in a family situation is the new thrust of parent education programs being carried out in association with child development efforts managed by the Christian Appalachian Project. In “Families Growing Together,” CAP’S family literacy projects, parents play a major role in teaching their children to read. At the same time, parents learn essential family skills that help the literacy effort take hold. Several existing CAP literacy and child development programs were modified in the past year to include family literacy instruction. The programs will likely evolve further with the need to adapt themselves to the rules of welfare reform. To the next level “We wanted to take our work with children to a higher level,” said Brenda Riddle, CAP assistant director of human development. In order to do so, CAP investigated programs operated by the National Center on Family Literacy in Louisville.

March - April 1997

“Parents and Children Together" time is often a child-directed activity, with little ones showing their moms their favorite places to play.

Recent statewide education reform legislation in Kentucky has helped broaden educators’ awareness of the scope of the responsibility for their students’ classroom performance. This led to a new recognition of the unique advantage of parents as teachers. Jean Barnes, manager of the Eagle Child Development Center in Magoffin County, said, “Parents are a child’s first teachers. They know the most about their child, and I can learn so much from them that I can use to help their child.” Family literacy promotes literacy as a household project rather than an individual one.

Parents and children teach each other to read and reinforce each other as well in literacy-based family skills — shopping intelligently, reading want ads, applying for a job, registering to vote, learning how to use a computer, or taking part in discussion of community issues. Thus, as Brenda said, family literacy begins with learning to read, and progresses to the skills a family needs to function in a literate world. Parents wanted to help “We developed the first of our family literacy programs at the Eagle Child Development Center with Jean Barnes in September of last year,” Brenda said.

Evennewborns take part, receiving massage and hearing music, crucial beginning steps on the road to communication.

Jean that these parents would make wonderful teachers. Participants wanted more Jean’s six-week pilot program for 13 mothers and their children was wellattended and participants wanted more. That program featured the four-part approach family literacy instruction follows today: (1) Early Childhood instruction, which corresponds to the child development curriculum. (2) Adult Education, to fill the gaps in any needful parent’s literacy and to help parents understand how to conduct their children through joint activities.

(3) PACT (Parents & Children Together) time, in which parents and children carry out educational activities jointly, and (4) Parent Support Groups, to help parents guide each other through the self-help process. Encouraging parents to read at home with their children educates both, Brenda said, and helps ensure the efforts stick. A whole family is more likely to make a real commitment to change their circumstances than a single literacy-trained family member, Brenda said. Becky Kana, program manager of Lancaster’s Sunshine Center, seconds that view: “If we teach the parent to read and they get interested, they will encourage children to read rather than making it demanding.”

Similar programs operate at other CAP child development centers in the Kentucky cities of Berea, Lancaster, Mount Vernon, Salyersville and Somerset. Eagle’s Jean Barnes, who has been at CAP for 12 years, did a pilot program for CAP in 1994, exploring family literacy instruction. She noticed that although parents were likely to have left school early themselves (60 percent had left school by junior high), they nevertheless wanted to teach their children. “We saw we needed to help, and parenting classes weren’t enough. We had parents in this area that were very hungry, that wanted to get out of their environment and into a learning environment,” Jean said. This passion for learning suggested to

CAP’S family literacy programs encourage reading both at homt and in the centers. At Eagle Child Development Center recently, 14 families read 567 books in only a month.

The M ountain Spirit

Parents sit down with kids Jean starts the Eagle Center’s Families Growing Together time with an activity circle for both parents and children. Specific activities for the activity circle are often previewed by parents alone, so parents can acquire the understanding to constructively and confidently lead the activity and teach their children at a level appropriate to the childrens’ development. “They learn how long to teach, what kids like, and most importantly, that teaching for too long isn’t good,” Jean said. Education continues even at snack time, with emphasis on manners and comversation. “It’s fun to eat with your child instead of feeding them,” Jean said. The crucial PACT (Parents & Children Together) time follows: forty minutes of painting, crafts,

stories, and constructive play. Even newborns take part, receiving massage and hearing music, crucial beginning steps on the road to communication.

During a month devoted especially to reading. Jean’s 14 families read 567 books — an amazing average of over a book per day per family.

Parents read to infants and toddlers, giving the infants important exposure to sound patterns, vocal rhythms, rhymes and other language concepts that help open the door to language skills and reading.

Need time commitment Sometimes, though, parents want to use child development time as a respite from giving child care; they hesitate to go into parent training during the same time period. Rose Price, human development director of the CAP area that includes the Magoffin Child Development center in Salyersville, says they ask parents to attend the center four days a week. “We realize it’s a big commitment,” she said.

The program can be flexible; Jean says parents are sometimes given extra instruction in the home, and family skills are sometimes demonstrated during field trips. Jean’s Eagle participants took a field trip to a nearby factory that makes automobile air bags, and Jean helped show the parents what it would take to apply for work — a highly necessary set of skills for family leaders.

In Magoffin County, that large commitment is made a bit more possible by the good fortune that the related parent and child programs are located next door to each other. Adult education and community health programs are thus convenient to moms with CDC children. A mom who doesn’t have her GED and whose child attends in the center could be going to adult education right next door. The daily routine then sees Mom studying for her GED with the child nearby, “and at some point they come together,” Rose said.

Ray Hammonds, Garrard County judge executive signs a proclamation commending the literacy programs in Garrard County on National Family Literacy Day. Tammy Sears, a teacher at CAP’s Sunshine Center and County Adult Education Coordinator Phyllis Elder look on.

March - April 1997

Ideally they are studying related subjects as well, so they can enrich each other when they meet for joint activity. Perhaps, for example, Mom is studying Africa while her child is reading a book about lions and giraffes. The parent, perhaps briefed on lesson outlines in advance by CDC staffers, discusses the subjects with the child and makes

the reading assignments come alive for them both. Coordinating this cooperation are Brenda Wireman, in charge of adult education at Magoffin, working with Sylvia Robinette, CDC manager. What’s in the Book Bag?

Book Bag program not only on behalf of her three children but also for the educational needs of two other children she cares for to supplement her family’s income. This young mother also does volunteer work at the center two days a month as well as helping from home, Joyce said. That type of participation ensures success for a family.

Recognizing the time commitment problems, Joyce Harvey, manager of the Family Life Child Development Center in Mount Vernon, operates a Book Bag program where materials are delivered to participants’ homes.

Magoffin programs don’t have formal long-term goals, the program has positive parentchild interaction as a priority, typical of other family literacy efforts. Pre-program outreach to infants and toddlers often precede the curriculum for three- and four-year-olds. Rose said the Magoffin center conducts an infant and toddler program assisted by Parents-As-Teachers (A St. Louis-based organization, not to be confused with Parents Are Teachers, the CAP service that assists in home instruction for children with disabilities).

They approach family literacy by creating bags of books, folder games, art activities, props and other toys that develop themes, Joyce said. “Families Growing Together activities include creative projects,

Volunteers who as well as reading and dramatic play. visit in the home demonstrate how parents can interact with their Overall, shorter and more children, and suggest activities intense programs draw more based on the books for parents regular participation. “I have seen and children. Participants keep a more commitment, and followreading journal, in which the through when they know the time child’s preferences and is limited” to 6 or 7 weeks, she comments are recorded. The book said, based on her experience bags are rotated once a week. with short-term programs held during summer weeks. Joyce commended one participant in this program, a There are differences between young mother of three children, Joyce’s slate of instructional ages four months, 19 months and programs and classic family four years. She takes part in the literacy programs. Although the

Twenty-one families take part in this program regularly, and recent holiday gatherings held by the center at Thanksgiving and Christmas have brought together as many as 170 participants.

Welfare reform impact Ironically, in the name of getting more people off public assistance and back to work, these skills programs are undergoing further change in the pressure-cooker of national welfare reform efforts. Welfare reform’s impact on family literacy training is uncertain. Program administrators hope to modify The M ountain Spirit

family literacy instruction to give it enough of the character of job training to allow participants to stay eligible for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits. To keep their AFDC participants, family literacy programs will have to expand to 20 hours of instruction per week from their current shorter sessions — and make sure they train in areas that meet state requirements for job training. Currently, GED study does not meet those requirements. Joyce in Mount Vernon says the state has made getting and holding jobs a higher priority than education. “The push in Kentucky is to have people go to work and get their GED or work on literacy on their own time,” she said. The 20-hour requirement is a potential problem, because most program directors report difficulty getting parents to consistently attend long, frequent blocks of instruction, even at less than the 20-hour level.

September have already left to take jobs. In September of 1996 the program started with eight families. Two more have enrolled to replace them. Threatening the AFDC eligibility of her program’s parents threatens literacy efforts overall, Jean said. The benchmark of getting more people into jobs makes less sense in her county, where only two major employers are likely to offer entry-level jobs with benefits.

Sarah Dixon, manager o f CAP's Children’s Discovery Center in Somerset, emphasizes the importance o f storytelling dressed in a Mother Goose costume during a parent training session.

A GED degree is as vital to a decent job as any set of job skills, Jean said. “Workers have to go outside the county for jobs, and how can they do that if they’re not educated? In most places you can’t get a job without a GED any more.” Minimum wage jobs, she said, don’t earn enough to support a family, buy insurance, provide child care, and feed and clothe a family.

There wouldn’t be a problem finding things to do in 20 hours of class time, says Becky of the Sunshine Center in Lancaster. She operates programs four days a week for three- and four-yearolds, and two afternoon sessions per week for parents and children age birth through three. “Two afternoons a week is not enough time” to get the job done right when a parent is pursuing literacy, Becky said.

Jean pointed out that one program participant recently earned her GED and has been accepted at Somerset Community College’s McCreary County campus; several more have taken the ACT test recently and one has applied to Berea College.

Two of Becky’s eight families who began with the program last

It’s not clear how much family literacy curricula would have to

change to be acceptable to authorities as job training. Jean’s revised program will emphasize more budgeting, writing, and other literacy efforts that arguably also enhance job skills. Jean said many adjustments are possible so that participants can receive jobs training and get literacy instruction at the same time. Kentucky and one other state face this welfare reform situation now; family literacy efforts in the other 48 states will face it this coming July. Education, skills improve Many parents in the programs have progressed in parenting skills as well as literacy, Becky said.

March - April 1997 29

Programs are open to parents and children who both have educational goals. Goals give a family motivation and a benchmark for achievement, Jean said. To be eligible for Families Growing Together, adults must have a child enrolled in a child development center; adults can’t be in the program alone. Adults must have no more than a high school education, must have no children in another CAP program, and must live reasonably close to the center where the instruction takes place. Long-term benefits study planned As Kentucky education reform gave family literacy a push, and welfare reform then threw it a curve, the march of time might well next provide long-term justification.

“They’re more relaxed and comfortable with their children.”

communities. “Their self-esteem has grown in leaps and bounds,” Jean said.

One very young mother has learned new techniques to cope with her newborn twins and another child not yet age three. She knows developmentally appropriate ways to teach them, thanks to the Sunshine Center.

The parents support each other in dealing with problems big and small — “anything from domestic abuse to passing the GED essay, from potty training to cooking tips,” Jean summarizes. Goals part of eligibility

Immeasurable benefits such as the confidence that come with education have appeared in program participants. Jean at Eagle says, “As a group, I have seen tremendous social growth” in areas such as positive feelings about the ability to effectively take part in their

Program participants are chosen from parents whose children are enrolled in the child development programs, and occasionally from referrals from health departments, infant-toddler programs or from other social programs.

The University of Kentucky recently contracted with CAP for a “longitudinal study” — following a limited number of participants over several years to gauge long-term changes wrought in people’s lives by Families Growing Together. Advocates of family literacy education believe the future can only become brighter when literacy and improved skills become part of the family picture.

Jim Trammel is a freelance writer, and the father o f two small children.

The M ountain Spirit

New Friends Abound at Rainbow Respite Mike Sellers, a CAP volunteer, has a new pen pal. Mike works at the Rainbow Respite Care Center, and met Jane during her time at the center, which provides respite to families with members with disabilities. When she is at home in East Bernstadt, Kentucky, Jane stays in touch with Mike through the mail. “She lets me know howthings are going in her life, and she copies little poems down for me to read,” Mike said. This is not an easy task for Jane, who has cerebral palsy. A recent outing to a bowling alley allowed Rainbow Respite participants to learn some new skills. After mastering her new Mike began mailing books ability this young lady is obviously quite proud of herself! of poetry to Jane. She likes to copy them over and mail them back to Mike, who said, “I give them to her to as blessing and encouragement, but I receive twice the blessing in return. These poems have helped and encouraged me during days of discouragement.” During his time at the Rainbow Respite Care Center, Mike has met many special friends, and says, “Maybe by just listening with the ear or maybe by just paying attention to them can bring out the best in them as well as ourselves.” Mike’s friendship has become special to Jane, bringing out the best in both of them. Friendships like this are made possible because of the relationships that have grown at Rainbow Respite. And Rainbow Respite is made possible through the generosity of CAP’S donors. A gift of $20, $50, $75 — whatever you can afford— for use where it is needed most will enable relationships to grow and flourish in all of CAP’S programs!

March - April 1997

Family L iteracy P rograms • Adults and children in family literacy programs gain more educationally than they do in programs that focus on them separately. • Adults who attend family literacy programs are more likely to remain in the program longer than in adult-focused programs. • Adults continue to learn throughout their participation in the program. • Families enrolled in the program read and go to the library together more often, and spend more “quality” time together. Source: National Center for Family Literacy, Louisville, Kentucky. Shaded area indicates the boundaries o f the Appalachian region

CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT 322 CRAB ORCHARD ROAD LANCASTER, KY 40446 THE MOUNTAIN SPIRiT

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Christian Appalachian Project

Address Correction Requested CAROLYN SUE MARKS 4430

KY.

HWY 6 4 3

WAYNESBURG KY 4 0 4 8 9