Common Sense Parenting® Gets $10,000 Kick-Start from the Catalyst Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
New Britain, Connecticut (November 22, 2010) - The Consolidated School District of New Britain recently received a $10,000 grant from The Catalyst Fund of The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) to implement an innovative parenting program called Common Sense Parenting Program ® (CSP) for parents of New Britain school students. CSP helps parents deal with issues of communication, discipline, decision-making, family relationships, self-control and school success through monthly, two-hour evening workshops featuring a light supper for attending parents. It is based on the Girls and Boys Town Family Home program. The CSP program, led by two District staff members trained by The Girls and Boys Town Family Home Program, will be introduced to all 14 New Britain schools through PTA and other parent volunteer programs.
The Consolidated School District of New Britain recently received a $10,000 grant from of to implement an innovative parenting program called for parents of New Britain school students. CSP helps parents deal with issues of communication, discipline, decision-making, family relationships, self-control and school success through monthly, two-hour evening workshops featuring a light supper for attending parents. It is based on the Girls and Boys Town Family Home program. The CSP program, led by two District staff members trained by The Girls and Boys Town Family Home Program, will be introduced to all 14 New Britain schools through PTA and other parent volunteer programs.
“The mission of the District is to meet the intellectual, physical, moral and social development needs of every student. Over the past several years the District has made a concerted effort to establish relationships with parents as research data bears out that a strong school-parent relationship leads to student success. We are thrilled to receive this grant and implement the CSP curriculum in New Britain. We expect each monthly meeting to draw 50-100 parents and achieve results such as a decrease in reported child behavior problems in school and in the community, an increase in parent participation in the social and emotional development of their children and a decrease in investigation/out-of-home placement from abusive parents,” remarks Dean of Students, James Jones.
Cori Humes, Chair of The Catalyst Fund explains, “Each year, members of Catalyst select an area of focus for grant making that addresses needs in the Greater New Britain area. This year’s focus on strengthening and enhancing parenting skills was chosen after careful consideration of present needs and current resources in the community. We were very impressed with the results that other communities have experienced with the CSP curriculum and believe it will have a very positive impact on not only the Consolidated New Britain School District, but on our greater community as well.”
About The Catalyst Fund
Now in its eighth year, the Catalyst Fund is a grass-roots, community service project in which citizens from all walks of life may meaningfully participate in the philanthropic process. This giving circle of donors works to improve the quality of life in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. Membership in the Catalyst Fund is available with a modest annual investment of $250 per individual or couple. Members pool their resources to learn about important issues facing our communities and jointly choose and award an annual grant to a nonprofit that is tackling that issue. Over the past eight years, the Catalyst Fund has provided an annual $10,000 grant to organizations addressing a variety of concerns. For example, grants have been awarded to Central Connecticut Senior Health Services for the creation of a Mobile Connecticut Center for Healthy Aging Kiosk, Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut for The Women’s Literacy Project and the New Britain Food Security Collaborative, a community partnership dedicated to effectively addressing food insecurity in New Britain. To learn more about Catalyst Fund membership, please contact Cheryl Farmer, Donor Relations Manager, at the CFGNB at 860- 229-6018 x 305, cfarmer@cfgnb.org .
For more information about the 2010 Common Sense Parenting® program Catalyst Grant please contact Joeline Wruck, Director of Program, at the CFGNB at 860-229-6018 x 307, jwruck@cfgnb.org .
About The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain connects donors who care with causes that matter in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. It does this by raising resources and developing partnerships that make a measurable improvement in the quality of life in each of these communities. www.cfgnb.org
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