Community Involvement

The organization received its 501(c)(3) determination letter in April of 2017.

Mission: To assist families, educators, and communities in strengthening the foundation on which children can succeed.

Vision: All children have the solid foundation needed for future success.

TrainingGrounds, Inc. assists parents, caregivers and professionals with providing children with rich learning experiences, 积极的成人-儿童互动和社会情感技能将有助于在学校和以后的成功. We use the following three approaches:

1. “We PLAY Center”: We PLAY中心是一个免费的社区空间，照顾者和孩子们通过教育茁壮成长, enrichment, community and support.
   这个空间充满了适合年龄的玩具和活动，父母和照顾者可以按照3岁及以下儿童的指示玩耍. The We PLAY Center serves as an alternative setting for the caregivers and their children who do not have access to quality early childhood learning centers/experiences. During play sessions, parent educators model appropriate adult-child interactions for parents and facilitate learning opportunities for children that stimulate brain development and foster social emotional, language, cognitive and school readiness skills. 在中心，成年人使用叙事和平行对话来刺激语言发展. Puzzles, sorting toys and music are used to develop numeracy skills. Over time the We PLAY Center organically develops into a community and a natural support system where Center participants have access to trusted sources and a safe space to ask for assistance with parenting, nurturing and/or educating their children. Through the We PLAY Center caregivers and children both develop competence and confidence that will contribute to the child’s success in school and beyond.
2. Parent Learning Opportunities: To complement the learning that takes place in the We PLAY Center, TrainingGrounds’ workshops and seminars are specifically designed to provide parents and caregivers with strategies and techniques to improve their parenting skills and to develop positive adult-child interactions
3. Professional Development Workshops: TrainingGrounds works closely with early childhood professionals to send a consistent message to all individuals impacting the lives of our earliest learnings. Through professional development workshops we assist early childhood educators with understanding the “science” and “why” behind many of the standards they are being asked to implement. 同时为他们提供策略和技巧，为孩子们创造高质量的学习体验.

Impact:

• We PLAY Center *
  • Opened April 25, 2017
  • 179 Families have participated in the program
  • 60% of participants returns for multiple visits
  • 1000 contacts with caregivers and children

* We PlAY Center目前每周开放3天，每天开放2小时，并继续提供节目
and attract new families.

1. Current We PLAY Center demographics:
   • As a result of visiting the We PLAY Center:
     • 91.7%的家庭报告说，他们对孩子的年龄和发育阶段有了更好的了解, 作为照顾者感到被支持，在家与孩子进行不同类型的互动(一起唱歌), telling stories, reading)
     • 83.3%的家庭报告说，他们能够发现游戏对儿童发展的好处.
     • 95.8 % of families report their children have exhibited an increase in age appropriate social skills and they have a better understanding of how to increase language development skills with their children
     • 91.6%的家庭要么强烈同意，要么同意他们与孩子的关系更紧密
     • 100%的家庭报告说，为他们和孩子一起玩耍创造了更多的机会，并将中心推荐给家人和朋友
   • Anecdotal
     • “The engaging environment is conducive for learning for both parent and child.
       The professionals who head this project prompt and interact with the children and guide parents in their role…This program has a very strong sense of community amongst the parents and children.”
     • “The staff is tremendously welcoming and knowledgeable! My son’s social and verbal skills continue to improve!”
     • “我喜欢和孩子们在we play中心的互动……这是孩子们玩耍和学习的好地方. I’m so happy I introduced my son to this type of environment. I wish the hrs were longer, 但除此之外，这对我的宝宝来说是一种很好的学习方式，它真的为他的起跑做好了准备.”
   • Professional Development for Educators
     • 500+ Early Childhood Professionals attended workshops
     • 2000+ Children Birth-5 impacted
     • 95% stated information learned will be used
   • Parent Learning Opportunities
     • Presenter at the Power Parent Forum at Southern University of New Orleans sponsored by The United States Department of Education and Modern Parents Magazine.
     • 2017年秋季:与需要服务的家庭签订合同，每月提供4个讲习班，为期10个月
     • Fall 2017: Contract with Family Court to offer 2 Co-Parenting workshops per month
     • 2018年春季，路易斯安那州HealthyBlue赞助了前五年积极育儿系列研讨会

   Support:
   TrainingGrounds participated in three competitive venture startup programs. Propeller, 4.0 Schools and Camelback Ventures each provided one-on-one weekly mentorship, access to high-level networks and investors, pro bono technical support, and free office space. We received financial support in the amount of $10,000 and $40,000 from 4.0 Schools and Camelback Ventures respectively. In Fall 2017, 训练场地为他们的We PLAY中心赢得了Pitch NOLA教育比赛，并获得了5500美元的奖金. 我们已经获得了GPOA基金会和心理卫生研究所2018年的资助. The Corpus Christi Community Resource Center continues to demonstrate support for our initiative by donating the use of space for our We Play Center as well as our Parent Learning Opportunity workshops. Also, 使用我们免费We PLAY中心的家庭通过捐赠金钱和茶点来表达他们的支持.

   Collaborative Organizations:
   科珀斯克里斯蒂社区中心为我们的We PLAY中心和家长学习机会课程提供免费空间. 2017年秋天，我们与Propeller Incubator共同主办了一场名为“早期儿童种族与公平”的会议，旨在提高人们对新奥尔良面临的挑战的认识. We have conducted professional development workshops for Kingsley House, Total Community Action, Hoffman Early Learning Center, Families in Need of Services, Primary Colors Learning Centers, and professional organizations.

   Our Team
   Melanie Richardson, MSW, LMSW
   Melanie Richardson是土生土长的新奥尔良人，在心理健康和成人教育领域工作了20多年. 她在圣母大学获得本科学位，在宾夕法尼亚大学获得社会工作硕士学位. Since returning to New Orleans, Melanie has served in the role of director of a psychiatric residential treatment facility for adolescents and program director for a community based mental health rehabilitation facility, securing Joint Commission and COA Accreditations respectively.
   As the start-up operations director for both agencies, 梅兰妮帮助把想法变成成果，并在为社区提供急需的服务方面发挥了重要作用. Her years of working with students, parents and community members in a variety of settings has afforded her valuable insight and understanding into the types of services that will allow communities and constituents to flourish. Melanie is married and has one teenage son.

   Christine Neely, M.Ed
   Christine Neely has been in the field of Education for over 20 years and has always worked to improve standards and provide resources to families and students. Christine已经花了超过15年的时间担任小学pk -3年级的班主任，同时与行政部门密切合作，指导新教师, develop curriculum and make the switch to Common Core. Christine has
   presented at national conferences and conducted workshops about literacy development, hands on education, Brain Architecture and Mind in The Making Seven Essential Skills. She is an active member of P.E.O International which promotes educational opportunities for women worldwide. She has been married for over 21 years and has two teenage boys.

   Both Melanie and Christine have received Louisiana Pathways Certification on a wide range of topics and have both been through CLASS Observation Training.

   我们的董事会为教育和商业社区提供了熟练的技能组合.