Ridgefielder starts center to fight child abuse

Written by Patty Short, St. Joseph Parenting Center
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 06:09

Ridgefield resident Measi O’Rourke  recently launched Saint Joseph Parenting Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of child abuse.

Mrs. O’Rourke, a nurse and former administrator of an Ohio parent education center, siad, “I am very concerned about at-risk children in our state who are potential victims of abuse or neglect given the tremendous economic strain on families today. Many parents are overwhelmed and lack the knowledge and skills to care for their children.

"The Parenting Center will offer these families support and the opportunity to learn new skills. It will give them a safe, comfortable community in which they can become better parents.”

The Parenting Center will offer parent education classes for at-risk families with pre-school age children. Clients will be referred to Saint Joseph Parenting Center from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and various other social service agencies.

Parents are given the opportunity to take 20 (two hour) classes which are taught by highly qualified volunteers. Some of the classes are specific to children’s developmental and behavioral needs and others provide parents opportunities to learn about topics such as child safety, hygiene, nutrition, budget and time management, civic responsibility, anger management, reading and literacy, and substance abuse.

Saint Joseph Parenting Center works on the premise that if at-risk children are to have a productive future, their parents need to be supported with educational opportunities that can instill a sense of hope in their future. By providing free classes, the Parenting Center offers parents the tools and knowledge needed to create safe and positive home environments for their children.

Mrs. O’Rourke has tapped two fellow Ridgefield residents, Maura O’Connor and Patty Short to help run the Parenting Center. As the director of volunteer services, Mrs. O’Connor recruits and supports the highly trained group of volunteers who teach classes in the Parenting Center. Mrs. Short, the director of development, supports the work of the Parenting Center by obtaining grants from foundations and private donations. Both O’Connor and Short bring prior experiences working in non-profit and business settings.

As part of the launch of this new non-profit, Saint Joseph Parenting Center is holding informational gatherings in Stamford and Ridgefield over the next month to develop awareness and solicit support.

Open to residents of Fairfield County, the Parenting Center is located in Stamford. For more information about center,   visit  sjpcenter.org.