What’s up this month at the Family Resource Center

“The air is like a butterfly

With frail blue wings.

The happy earth looks at the sky

And sings.”

— Joyce Kilmer, “Spring”

Families In Transition Program

This school year, 59 students attending South Whidbey School District have experienced homelessness for at least one night. Some have been without adequate housing all year.

Losing shelter happens for many reasons, including home foreclosure, job loss, serious and unexpected illness when there is no health insurance and domestic violence.

In some cases, youths as young as 14 are trying to get by living on their own.

Our Families In Transition Program exists to help students stay in school while their family is in transition due to economic hardship or conditions that make it unsafe for a student to live at home. This program is partially funded by a generous grant from the Northwest Children’s Fund.

If you find yourself doubling up with another family due to economic hardship, in substandard housing lacking electricity and/or running water, in a shelter, hotel, or motel, or living out of a car or park, please call.

Contact us at 221-6808, ext. 4321 if you or someone you know can benefit from Families In Transition.

Family Education and Support Groups

We are proud to announce that our family education classes and support groups are generously funded by grants from Children’s Trust Foundation and local donations.

All classes, workshops and support groups are open to anyone and are free. They are held in the comfortable and confidential atmosphere of Readiness To Learn’s South Whidbey Family Resource Center at the primary school. We are located in the light-green portable next to the small playground.

Look for upcoming classes, or call Readiness To Learn with class ideas. We will soon be sending out parent surveys in your child’s Take Home Tuesday folder. Join us!

Relatives As Parents Program

Are you raising a relative’s child? Is the child your grandchild, niece or nephew? Would you like to join an informal group of relative caregivers who understand what you are going through?

You are invited to attend a RAPP meeting once a month. We also welcome drop-ins, and childcare is available upon request.

For more information or to sign up, call Marilynn Norby at 221-6808, ext. 4602.

Single Moms Group

Our group is open to any mom who is parenting alone, or feels alone, and needs the support of other single moms. Join this great group in a casual and confidential atmosphere.

We meet once a month, providing a light dinner, potluck-style, and free childcare (upon request). Bring yourself, your ideas, your joys and your challenges to this supportive environment.

For more information and to RSVP for childcare, call 221-6808, ext. 4602. Our next meeting is at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 16 for dinner and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for group time.

Parents of Special-Needs Children Group

All parents and caregivers of special-needs children of any age are welcome to join this monthly support group. Share laughter and tears, lend support or get support, and relax with other parents who share the joys and challenges of raising a child with special needs.

Meetings take place in the Family Resource Center from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the last Friday of each month. Childcare is provided.

Call Lauri Johnson at 221-6808, ext. 4322 to RSVP and for more information.

Volunteer of the Month

We are happy to announce Karen Wernli as our March Volunteer of the Month.

Karen is the vice president of board of directors for the Readiness To Learn Foundation. She is the mother of three teenaged daughters and has been married for 22 years, having lived on Camano Island for 17 years.

Karen was attracted to Readiness To Learn because she likes to give her time toward making the lives of children and families healthy and safe. She contributes to our successful programs by sharing her expertise in management, fundraising and nonprofit development.

Thank you, Karen, for traveling across Island County to be part of our team. We appreciate all that you do!

Contact Information

Readiness To Learn Foundation/SW Family Resource Center

SW Primary School, in the light-green portable, 5476 S. Maxwelton Road, Langley. Call 221-6808,

ext. 4322 for more info.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.