Health & Safety of Children Workshops
Talking to Your Kids about the Dangers of Tobacco
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): 9 yrs. – Teens
Presenter Kim Elmore
Session Description: This workshop will encourage parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of tobacco and arm them with cold hard facts about what’s in a cigarette and how tobacco (including spit tobacco) affects the body.
Biographical Information: Kim Elmore has been with Cancer Services for almost 4 years. She was the Tobacco Education Director working with youth in Gaston County, teaching them about the dangers of tobacco. She is now the Community Outreach Director, still working with youth and tobacco as well as other cancer prevention/early detection educational programs.
Number of Sessions Offered: Multiple
Effecting Childhood Obesity through Outdoor Learning Centers
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): 3 – 12 yrs.
Organization: Gaston County Health Department
Presenter Karma Edwards, Deanna Matthews, & La Verne Partlow
Session Description: One third of Gaston County’s children are overweight or at risk for being overweight. It’s a community issue and not just an issue for the child. In this workshop, parents will learn how they can become a part of the solution.
Biographical Information: Karma Edwards has an MPH from UNCC and is the Community Health Education Administrator. La Verne Partlow has a M.Ed. from UNCC and is the Health Promotion Coordinator. Deanna Matthews is the Child Care Health Consultant. All three educators work at the Gaston county Health Department.
Number of Sessions Offered: 1
Health Issues Affecting the School Age Student
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): 5 yrs. – Teens
Organization: Gaston County Schools
Presenter Jean Alexander, RN, MSN, NCSN
Session Description: This session will include the role of the school nurse, our mission and what we do in the schools that directly impact your student. Health related issues: Diabetes, Hypertension, our fight against obesity, vaccines mandated by North Carolina, medicine policy and much more.
Biographical Information: Ms. Alexander, RN, MSN, NCSN has over 20 years of nursing experience and serves 3 schools: Springfield, Pinewood, and Kiser Elementary. She is certified nationally as a school nurse and has a Master’s degree in Education. Additionally, Nurse Alexander is very active in her community and serves on several boards that directly impact the school age student. Nurse Alexander is a dedicated life-long citizen whose goal of Gaston County Schools is to eliminate or alleviate health barriers that interfere with a student’s ability to learn and to create a safe and orderly environment that increases student attendance, increases academic performance and decreases behavior problems. Every student deserves the right to be healthy, active, and ready to learn every school day.
Number of Sessions Offered: 1
Know That Your Body is Yours
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): 6 – 12 yrs.
Organization: Lincoln County Coalition Against Child Abuse
Presenter Sherry Reinhardt
Session Description: Session discusses safe/unsafe touches, what is considered private parts, speaking up, unsafe secrets, what would you do role play, and internet safety.
Biographical Information: Sherry Reinhardt is the Executive Director of the Lincoln County Coalition Against Child Abuse and Child Advocacy Center. Sherry is a former teacher of 20 years with Pathways, teaching developmentally delayed children, ages ranging from 2-22 years. Sherry has been married 28 years and has 2 children and 3 grandchildren. Sherry is a certified instructor in recognizing and reporting child abuse.
Number of Sessions Offered: Multiple
Make Your Child Cyber Safe
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): Birth – Teens
Organization: Lincoln County Schools
Presenter Lee O’Neal
Session Description: Teaching our children how to safely navigate cyberspace is more important than ever. Learn strategies that you can implement in your home to keep your child safe in a world where being online is part of everyday life.
Biographical Information: Lee O’Neal is the Director of Instructional Technology and Media Services for Lincoln County Schools. In her 16 years in public education, she has served as both a teacher and central office administrator. She obtained her B.S. in Business Administration from Limestone College and received an M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction and Instructional Technology from Western Carolina University.
Number of Sessions Offered: Multiple
Adolescent & Teenage Substance Abuse Facts & Prevention Measures
Target Audience (Parents/Guardians of): 9 yrs. – Teens
Organization: Pathways LME
Presenter Stacy Bryant
Session Description: This session will focus on the different types of substances (drugs, alcohol) that teens are experimenting with, and how to educate your children about substance abuse. Prevention measures and community-based recovery options will also be highlighted.
Biographical Information: Stacy Iler Bryant is a life-long Lincoln County resident and the Community Outreach Manager at Pathways Local Management Entity, the agency which manages publicly-funded mental-health, substance abuse and developmental disability services for Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland counties.
Number of Sessions Offered: Multiple