THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 14, 1995 TAG: 9509140551
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Parents who need advice on anything from potty training a toddler to teenage drug use now can find it easily at one of four new family resource centers opening this week at Norfolk's Kirn Memorial Library and three of its branches.
The resource centers, specially designed areas within the libraries, group books, brochures, videos and other materials targeting the growth and development of children and their families. Information is also available for parents with children who have special needs.
The materials cover child-rearing issues spanning prenatal care to young adulthood.
Kiosks designated specifically to post brochures, fliers and other materials about Hampton Roads' community services and programs also are located at the centers.
``These centers are really providing a one-stop-shopping approach about experiences and opportunities facing parents today,'' explained Stephen Blair, coordinator of Norfolk's Office on Youth, the city employee who spearheaded the creation of the centers.
Until now, ``There was really no place a parent could go to find out about programs and services in the community and information on child-rearing,'' Blair added.
Terri Raymond, coordinator of the library's children services, noted:
``There is more material available than ever before ... and these centers really fill a need. We all need to enhance our skills in interacting and working with children.''
Resource centers are located at the Blyden branch library, 879 E. Princess Anne Road; the Pretlow branch, 9640 Granby St.; and the Park Place branch, 620 W. 29th St. Kirn's center is situated in part of the second-floor Children's Room.
In addition to pulling together existing materials, librarians were able to purchase new books and tapes for the centers after receiving $31,500 in grants from two local foundations. The Norfolk Foundation donated $30,000 to the project, and the Celia Stern Foundation donated another $1,500.
Colorful carpeting, some shelving, bean-bag chairs and manipulative games for children also were purchased.
``We wanted something to occupy the kids while their mother is looking through the materials,'' Raymond explained.
The idea for the centers came about in 1993, after the Norfolk Youth Services Citizens Advisory Board conducted a survey of area parents, children and local agencies in an effort to discover community needs. Numerous respondents expressed a desire for resources in easily accessible locations throughout the city, said Blair, who works with board.
After receiving funds from the two local foundations, board members and Blair approached library officials with the idea of locating the centers in their facilities.
``We naturally embraced it,'' Raymond said.
More centers are planned.
``Our goal within the next year is to find some extra money to add four more centers at four more library branches,'' Blair said. ``Eventually, we want to have centers in every branch so we can totally cover the community.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
YOU'RE INVITED
The community is invited to opening festivities for the Norfolk
Library's four new Family Resource Centers.
The center at the downtown Kirn Memorial Library will open at
6:30 tonight with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Speakers will include
Barbara Hamm, news director of WTKR-TV, and Stacey Sherman,
assistant to the editor of Tidewater Parent magazine.
A special children's story hour will take place in the Children's
Room on the library's second floor. Refreshments will be served.
The Blyden branch center will hold opening festivities at 1:30
p.m., Saturday. A variety of games and other entertainment will be
held. Local organizations and agencies dealing with family services
will set up information booths.
The Park Place branch will raffle three gift baskets during
festivities at 11 a.m. Friday.
by CNB