Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

Thursday, March 25, 2010

First Place Announces Brand New Partnership

First Place is announcing an exciting and brand new partnership with Antioch University Seattle and City University of Seattle. Below is our press release with the details.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 25, 2010


A Washington State Educational First:
Antioch University Seattle, City University of Seattle and First Place Form New Partnership To Help Kids and Graduate Students

SEATTLE — Antioch University Seattle, City University of Seattle and First Place proudly announce the formation of a multi-disciplinary partnership to meet the training needs of Antioch University Seattle and CityU of Seattle students and the service delivery needs of First Place school’s students and their families. This partnership is a first of its kind in Washington State.

All three institutions anticipate the pilot will begin in September 2010. At that time Antioch University Seattle Psychology students will work with children and families on site at First Place, impacting the community while receiving course and practicum hours toward their degree. In addition, students from CityU’s Albright School of Education will begin their practicum by working with students in classrooms at First Place.

“CityU is proud to partner with First Place to provide extended opportunities for our future Education and Early Education teachers so that they may hone their skills in a collaborative and unique learning environment, simultaneously serving the needs of this special community,” comments Dr. Steven Olswang, Provost, CityU. “Our long history of providing teachers who work with special populations fits squarely with the populations First Place serves.”

“Having our Psychology students getting practicum hours working with First Place children and families will allow us to send psychologists out into the community that are trained to handle both educational and social emotional issues that are faced by many children and their families, not just homeless families,” stated Dr. Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet, President of Antioch University Seattle. “This is new kind of community partnership and we are very proud to be a part.”

In the partnership, students from both Antioch University Seattle and CityU will provide clinical assessment, intervention, advocacy, classroom teaching and various support services. First Place will work with professionals and students from both universities on educational philosophy and pedagogy and the unique needs and strengths of their clients.

“CityU students will gain experience working with clinical psychologists in a classroom setting. Action research by CityU students will report on their efforts to expand teaching pedagogy through working with students coming from challenging home lives,” commented Craig Schreiber, Ed.D., associate dean, CityU’s Albright School of Education.

“First Place has a history of creating strong and lasting partnerships to fulfill our mission to provide stability and education to families at risk for homelessness,” said Dr. Doreen Cato, Executive Director of First Place. “Especially in these difficult economic times it is imperative that we work in concert with others who share our community goals. We have found just such a partner in Antioch.”

About First Place:
First Place is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization located in Seattle’s Central Area. Our mission is to educate and nurture children whose families struggle with the risk or reality of homelessness, where we offer housing, culturally relevant education and support services enabling families to achieve permanent stability. Our vision is hope, home and education for every child, one family at a time. Learn more at www.firstplaceschool.org

About City University of Seattle:
Founded in 1973 in Seattle, Washington, City University of Seattle is a private, not-for-profit university that has awarded over 45,000 degrees and certificates worldwide. City University of Seattle’s goal is to change lives for the good by offering high quality and relevant online and in-class education options to any person in the world with a desire to learn. The university is comprised of The School of Management, The Gordon Albright School of Education and the Division of Arts and Sciences. Headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, City University of Seattle offers classes at locations throughout Washington, Hawaii, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Slovakia, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, The Czech Republic and China.

About Antioch University Seattle:
Antioch University Seattle is a bold and enduring source of innovation in higher education. Students’ passion to advance their lives, personally and professionally, is developed through academic programs that respond to the world’s needs. Students become educators, therapists and counselors, creative leaders and entrepreneurs who contribute to the common good. Together, we form a visionary community that strikes a rare—and essential—balance between idealism and experience. Learn more at www.antiochseattle.edu

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Cooper, First Place, 206.388.7775
ccooper@firstplaceschool.org

Leslie Cohan, City University of Seattle, 425.709.5403
lcohan@cityu.edu

Lori Dugdale, Antioch University Seattle, 206.268.4106
ldugdale@antioch.edu

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

First Place Graduate makes National Headlines

Breaking News!

First Place graduate, 11-year-old Marcelas Owens, has been advocating for health care in honor of his mother since he lost her in 2007. In the past year, Senator Patty Murray has been telling his story to advocate for better healthcare and has shared his story twice in front of President Obama.
His story is now being heard and seen by thousands of individuals through news coverage on MSNBC and CBS Evening News.

Today, March 10, is an important day for Marcelas as he speaks in Washington DC in front of Congress - it is also his eleventh birthday.

Read local stories on Marcelas: KING5, Q13 Fox, Seattle Times.

Hear Marcelas' story in person!

Marcelas will be speaking at our Annual Fundraising Breakfast on Wednesday, April 28, 2010.

RSVP today to hear this inspirational young man share more of his experiences and how First Place was a catalyst for his advocacy.

Learn more about the Annual Fundraising Breakfast.Marcelas Owens (left) with Tod Leiweke (right) at the 2009 Breakfast.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Keeping Students Healthy

With the recent school closings due to Swine Flu (H1N1 flu) First Place wanted to share with you what we are doing here in our building to make sure everyone is safe and healthy.

We sent a letter home with every student on April 30, 2009 along with two attachments -- the Homeless Health News from the Heath Care for the Homeless Network and also the Preparing for Pandemic Influenza Family Guide from the Washington State Department of Health. Because of the unique nature of our school, the teachers, case managers, nurse and school psychologist are in constant dialogue about the health of our students.

Students experiencing symptoms are being referred to the nurse and sent home from school. We are keeping up on our regular practices of washing hands regularly, using hand sanitizer and keeping school surfaces clean.

For 20 years First Place has been working with Health Care for the Homeless, Odessa Brown Children's Clinic and Seattle Children's to take care of the health needs of the children who attend school at First Place. Through this partnership First Place has access to a nurse Monday through Friday and provides us with a nurse on-site three days a week year-round.

The staff is keeping updated through multiple sources and this is a top concern at the agency.

If anyone has any concerns about what First Place is doing to prevent our school from closing, please call Chris Cooper at (206) 323-6715 ext. 1301.