PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTHY KIDS IN PROVIDENCE

MISSION STATEMENT
Provide a coordinated, collaborative city effort to eliminate physical and psychological violence and to stop the intergenerational cycle of violence.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Men's Initiative
A newly developed Men's Committee has been created in response the "Call to Men" training that took place in April. The men of the WCRI's DELTA project - also known as Partnership for Healthy Kids in Providence - are currently working together to build stronger relationships in the community regarding fatherhood, mentoring, masculinity and brotherhood. Many men from the Providence community have been eager to become a part of this thought provoking initiative.

Spearheading this committee are Lee Chambers, Project Manager/Coordinator of the Men 2 Be Program; Rilwan Feyistan, Office of Minority Health; and Kent Wilson, Fathering Program Director at the Federal Hill House Association. Their involvement sparked the mailing of the Women's Center's first Father's Day card, sent to those men in the community who have already taken the first step in becoming allies to women in the fight against domestic violence.

For more information on how you can get involved in this exciting new program, please contact Julie Rawlings at jrawlings@womenscenterri.org or 401.861.2761, ext. 124.

I Can Problem Solve (ICPS)
In August, members of the community will be trained in the "I Can Problem Solve" curriculum. This will also be the first program aimed at primary prevention of domestic violence by targeting pre-school aged children. There has been a tremendous response in support of this program and we are excited to begin piloting it in at least two of our local daycare centers.

Partnership for Healthy Kids in Providence is looking for strong members who are interested in the prevention of violence in our community.

Currently our members include, but are not limited to:

• Rebecca Lebeau, Brown University
• Jeffrey Williams, Cathedral of Life Christian Assembly
• Robert Williams, Cathedral of Life Christian Assembly
• Judy Williams, Cathedral of Life Christian Assembly
• George Thomas, Community Safety Net Association of RI
• Stephanie Nitka, East Providence Task Force & Violence Prevention Theatre
• Sandra Blackmon, Federal Hill House Association
• Kent Wilson, Federal Hill House Association
• Marilyn Grubb, Director of Social Services at the Federal Hill House Association
• Janette Thomas, Girl Scouts of Rhode Island
• Maria Melendez, Girl Scouts of Rhode Island
• Jane Jellison, Institute of the Study & Practices of Nonviolence
• Kate Mullins, Institute of the Study & Practices of Nonviolence
• Alex Devine, Lifespan
• Robyn Frye, Making Connections
• Charlene Kneath, Community Member
• Maria Barros, Educational Programs Manager, Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island
• Haven Miles, The Providence Center
• Antiliano Estrella, Providence Fire Department
• Karl Brown, Providence Recreation Department
• Kai Cameron, Facilitator for Community Partnerships, Providence School Dept.
• Sonja Ogando, Children, Youth & Family Assistant at the University of Rhode Island
• Becky Celeste, P/C Kids Count
• Ellen Gallagher, International Institute of Rhode Island
• Lee Chambers, Men2Be Program
• Beatriz Perez, Rhode Island Dept. of Health
• Marie Reyes Carr, Rhode Island Dept. of Health
• Jennifer Almedia, Rhode Island Dept. of Health
• Rilwan Feyistan, Rhode Island Dept. of Health
• Curtis Spencer, TEAM Providence
• Celeste Thomason, Today's Child & TrY Caps
• Thea Fielding, West Elmwood Neighborhood Association
• Julie Fontaine, YMCA

Upon solidifying a mission statement and guiding principles, the Partnership members are currently developing programs to be implemented in daycare centers throughout Providence. Programs presently being considered are “I Can Problem Solve” along with the parenting component “Raising a Thinking Child.” “Second Step”, a violence prevention curriculum is another strong program. These programs focus on teaching children about healthy relationships and anti-bullying techniques as well as giving parents resources to improve their problem-solving skills.

With over fifty daycare centers throughout the Providence area, the Partnership has developed specific criteria most suitable for piloting the program. Some of the criteria include the history and reputation the daycare has in the community, how diverse the center is, and how understanding the staff is on the importance of prevention. Daycare centers of interest to the team include: Bundles of Joy Family Resource Center, located in Federal Hill; Beautiful Beginnings, located on Elmwood Avenue, and the YMCA.

For more information on teen dating violence click here.

Partnership for Healthy Kids is currently looking for active teenagers in the community to spearhead a Teenage Dating Violence Campaign. Teens that have an interest in raising awareness of teenage dating violence issues, peer pressure, or just want to get involved for a good cause are urged to contact Julie A. Rawlings, Community Partnership Coordinator at (401) 861-2761, ext. 124 or email jrawlings@womenscenterri.org