Alisha Turner, Healthy Families supervisor for Kansas Children’s Service League in Iola, told Kiwanis Club members Tuesday about her agency’s plans to expand soon from serving Allen, Neosho and Wilson counties to also include Woodson and Bourbon counties.
Kansas Children’s Service League, working with Healthy Families Kansas and the Department for Children and Families, is a home visitation program working with expecting mothers and families of newborns to help with many parenting and life skills, such as nutrition, supervision, discipline, medical and mental health concerns, budgeting, transportation and work accommodations, to strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect and keep children in their families’ homes.
Referrals can come from DCF, physicians, hospitals, mental health centers, pregnancy resource centers and other sources.
All services are free, and in addition to one-on-one visits in clients’ homes, Turner said group counseling and activities are held to promote networking between young families. “One of our main goals is to prevent feelings of isolation,” she said.
One such activity planned April 3 at the John Silas Bass North Community Building is open to all young families in recognition of the annual Week of the Young Child. Programs and resources will be available on nutrition, play, parenting and other topics.
Currently, KCSL-Iola has three workers in the Iola office, 106 S. Washington Ave., serving the three counties, and another employee will be added for the additional service area. Turner said each worker can serve 12-15 families, and volunteers for activities, such as reading, games and play, are always needed.
Anyone interested can call (620) 228-3899, visit KCSL.org on the internet or connect through Facebook and other social media.
The Iola Kiwanis Club meets weekly, noon Tuesdays, at Allen Community College and welcomes interest in membership. Email [email protected] for more information.
