Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina

Camp Tuscarora Information

Camp Tuscarora is a respite program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It provides the opportunity for campers to meet new friends and participate in lots of fun camp activities. It also provides the opportunity for caregivers to take some much-needed “me” time.

Camp Tuscarora is comprised of two separate camps. First, we have our day camp in Winterville, NC at Covenant Church. It is from 10:00 am. – 3:00 p.m. and for children ages 8 and older.

Then we have our weekend respite camp in Pine Knoll Shores, NC at the Trinity Center. It is an overnight camp from May 18 – May 20.

Camp Tuscarora is a part of Easter Seals UCP North Carolina and Virginia Inc. It is a non-profit organization that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This will be the second year Camp Tuscarora is will held in North Carolina, and we are trying to get the word out to the community and provide this great opportunity to as many kids and adults as possible.

East Carolina Behavioral Health (ECBH) has made this program possible. Therefore, Camp Tuscarora serves people from the 19 counties ECBH serves Camp Tuscarora allows people from Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Jones, Martin, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington. This camp is only available for people residing in one of these counties.

Join Us For Our 25th Anniversary!

25th Anniversary of Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina The Family Support Network of Eastern NC is celebrating our 25th anniversary during our annual Festival of Trees party on Friday evening, December 7, 2012. Mark you calendar and let us know if you are interested in attending. We are raising $25,000 to start the Family Support Network of Eastern NC Foundation.

Any amount of donation is appreciated – please click the “Donate” button to the right to support our goal right now. Help us reach our goal as we continue to provide emotional support to families of children with special needs, premature births, and families who have experienced the death of a child.

2012 FSN Board Retreat

Recently the entire 2012 Board of Directors participated in a working retreat. Attached are some images of that retreat. Please click any thumbnail to view a larger image.

FSN-ENC presents three Education Grants for 2011-2012

Jayne Fisher – K-3 Resource Teacher Creekside Elementary Scholastic Magazine subscription with Digital media
	Scholastic News Magazines are now updated to include Common Core Standards and have technology support available. A subscription includes Digital Editions, Videos, Whiteboard Ready Sheets, Audio Read Aloud, Graph and Map Pop Ups and finally interactive student activities. Creekside has made gains in Math EOG scores but this grant should help improve Reading EOG scores. They are asking for two subscription levels to divide them among students according to their reading abilities not just their grade in school. They plan to use the Magazine along with the reading kit that was acquired last year from FSN-ENC. Teaching with the Scholastic Magazine will allow a real-world application to reading and learning that is meaningful and relevant to the students. The school has a mobile Smart Board to use with the Whiteboard Ready skill sheets. Audio read alouds and videos make the magazine come to life. This will help students make vocabulary much more meaningful. I believe the longer articles will help develop the ability to read long passages prepare students the EOG tests. The students can take the magazines home to reread with their family.

Tricia Carter – Speech-Language Pathologist Pitt County Exceptional Children “More Than Words” program materials
	“More Than Words” program helps young children with language delays to communicate to the best of their ability. It provides education to parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, enabling them to facilitate language development at home, in the community, and in the daily routine of their environment. The It also provides early language intervention, and social support for parents. A More Than Words program lasts approximately 3 months. Class size is limited to 8 families, so that each family is able to get the specialized attention that is needed. It is estimated that this applicant will teach 2-3 sessions per calendar year. Materials are current, and would be re-used for each class session. Necessary resources include a Parent Guidebook that shows parents how to turn everyday activities with their child into opportunities for interaction and communication and is a wonderful resource for Speech-Language Pathologists and other professionals. Funds are requested for a set of books (the class size is limited to 8 families at a time) to serve as a reusable “lending library,” so families are able to sign-out a guidebook for the duration of the class (three months), and return at the completion of the class for future families to borrow as well at no cost. DVDs will show examples and interviews completed with families who have participated previously. The DVDs are kept by the instructor, and will also be a reusable resource for the class. Finally, posters will present key strategies that parents and professionals can use to learn and reinforce the social and communication skills of children with ASD. Student volunteers will provide childcare for families who attend. The goal is to require little to no cost from the families who wish to participate.

Heather Halsall – EC Teacher – DH Conley High School Text to Speech Device
	Help with reading comprehension and visual impairment using a text to speech device in English and for other academic classes. They currently run at least one Curriculum Assistance class per period and would love to have a device for each class period that would allow for check out and return throughout the year between students. The equipment will be used at home, at school and can be reused each year with new students attending this high school. The students will be able to get any book they are currently reading and enlarge the print for our visually impaired students or be able to follow along with the book while it reads the book through text to speech. This will assist them in understanding the text better, thus motivating our students to read. It will also give our visual impaired students an equal playing field without a special order for materials. In addition, some of our parents also struggle with comprehension problems and these devices can assist them in understanding what their child is reading.

Brandon Bynum Accepts 2011-2012 FSN Scholarship to Pitt Community College

Gwin Bailey with Brandon Bynum
Gwin Bailey presents Brandom Bynum his check as the 2011 – 2012 Family Support Network of Eastern NC Scholarship to attend Pitt Community College. Read more about Brandon’s story by clicking here.

Kaitlyn Bunch Receives 2011-2012 Angel Boberg Webb Scholarship

Kaitlyn Bunch with Dr Kaye McGinty Dr. Kaye McGinty recognizes Kaitlin Bunch as the 2011-2012 Angel Boberg Webb Memorial Scholarship Recipient. Read more about Kaitlyn’s story by clicking here.

Greg Robinson – 2011 Volunteer of the Year

Greg Robinson 2011 Volunteer of the Year The Family Support Network of Eastern NC recognized Greg Robison, local disc jockey, as one of the 2011 Volunteers of the Year. Greg has volunteered his time and equipment to provide music at our Festival of Trees Preview Party for the last several years. Greg has provided a relaxing, invigorating, and entertaining evening for our guest. The music has adds a very positive dimension to our evening and is one of the highlights of the program.

Amanda Cannon – 2011 Volunteer of the Year

Amanda Cannon 2011 Volunteer of the Year Family Support Network of Eastern NC recognizes Amanda Cannon as the 2011 Volunteer of the Year. Amanda Cannon, a junior at Parrot Academy, excels academically and is involved in athletics and volunteers at many organizations. Amanda has volunteered with the Family Support Network of Eastern NC since she was a child of 4 or 5 decorating trees with her parents. Amanda has continued to follow in the steps of her parents as she gives continuously to the community to make it a better place to live. She now volunteers, on her own, as she assist the FSN-ENC staff in all aspects of the annual FSN-ENC Festival of Trees. She has worked in our office, preparing mailings, packets of information, putting decorations together and then loading and unloading the artificial trees and then setting them up and helping with the decorating of the trees, enabling the Family Support Network of Eastern NC to have a successful fundraiser. Congratulations to Amanda Cannon.

Riley Philpot – 2011 Family Support Network Heart Award

Riley Philpot 2011 Heart Award Zack Tucker The Family Support Network of Eastern NC (FSN-ENC) gave the Family Support Network Heart Award in Memory of Riley Philpot at the 16th Annual Festival of Trees on Friday, Dec 2, 2011.

Riley was only 11, but she taught many people how to face life, even when she was losing her battle with cancer. She and her parents exemplified their faith, strength, and positive attitude during the many crises they faced. Riley may be gone, but her legacy will live on forever. Zach Tucker, Riley’s best friend, accepted the FSN-ENC Heart in Memory of Riley.

In Memory of Bill and Juanita Chapman

The Family Support Network of Eastern NC presented the FSN-ENC Heart Award to Dr. Bill Chapman in Memory of Bill and Juanita Chapman on Friday evening, Dec. 2.

Bill and Juanita moved to Greenville several years ago and immediately became involved in serving our community. Bill gave of his time, advice and also provided financial support to the Family Support Network for over 10 years. Juanita was always at his side during our annual fundraisers and provided much support.

She will always be remembered for her work at the hospital where she served with the Women’s Auxiliary. Both were involved in Meals on Wheels, Hope Lodge, United Way and many other organizations. Many in Greenville NC will miss them.