Caring
for Children-Communities Can! The Caring for Children Communities Can! program reflects a long-term partnership between CECHE and the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (GUCDC). The program supports a network of communities committed to comprehensive, coordinated systems of services and supports for all children, including those with or at risk for disabilities and their families. It is coordinated by GUCDC and directed by federal agencies dedicated to serving and supporting children, youths, and families. The program aims to accomplish the following:
- Bring families, businesses, providers, community leaders, and neighbors together to make sure that our communities nurture and support all children and families.
- Link communities with other communities to learn from their experiences. The program has a list-serve just for members¾ask questions about how other communities have approached challenges, ask for information about policies and implementation, receive bulletins about new materials and resources, learn about successful models for serving families and children.
- Connect communities with information about how to serve and support all families better
- Help communities develop community leadership
- Give communities a voice in policy decisions at all levels
- Work with local governments and national organizations to recognize and publicize the achievements of member communities. Communities Can! has developed specialized training programs on collaborative problem solving/dispute resolution and on community leadership development.
A major program focus in 2002 was several US communities. The experience from the US communities was disseminated to communities throughout central and eastern Europe through the Open Society Step-by-Step initiative that is working on school reform throughout the region and the annual planning meeting and dissemination meeting of the International Congress of Children with Special Needs. At the last congress, teams came from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Armenia, Ukraine to do systems development planning for children with special needs.
Through its extensive network in the CEE-NIS, in 1992-93 CECHE assisted the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development in launching the project in Central and Eastern Europe, and CECHE remains a GUCDC partner in the project.
Scenes from the Communities Can Project
Through the Eyes of Children is another international endeavor that gathered from around the world artwork and photography, with the theme of evoking children's perspectives of their world. Countries included the Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Hungary, India, Iran, Egypt, South Africa, St. Thomas, Senegal, Israel, and the United States. The art gallery and photo gallery are located on the internet at www.gucdc.georgetown.edu/gallery.html.
Through the Eyes of Children celebrated its success on Tuesday, July 9, 2002, Washington, D. C. The Caring for Children Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Former First Lady, Rosalynn Carter, July 12, 2002 for her distinguished contribution to the field of children's mental health.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? E-mail CECHE at CECHE@comcast.net
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