Brandon Twp.- The results of a survey of local parents and caregivers shows the strain of a poor economy.
So says Sherman Lifelong Learning Center director June Wuopio, who recently analyzed the results of the PACT (Parents and Community Together) survey, supported by a pilot grant through United Way. The survey was mailed to about 8,700 households in January and the PACT committee received about 124 responses by March. The survey was intended to determine what resources and programs parents are interested in.
‘We’re happy with the number of responses,? Wuopio said. ‘It validated what we need locally.?
Respondents cited workshops in positive discipline techniques, child development, nutrition, conflict resolution, family/individual counseling and anger management as ones they would most like to have available.
Parents answering the survey also answered that the early childhood and parent support services they were most in need of included low-cost preschool, half-day preschool, and Mommy and Me classes.
Of respondents who said their children do not attend preschool, 32 percent said they could not afford it.
‘Low cost really came out in the survey,? said Wuopio. ‘It’s hard for people to pay when they’re making minimum wage. We are looking at how we can provide more low-cost.?
Wuopio says some people are not aware of the Brandon Preschool Academy at the SLLC, which has three preschool programs– Head Start (federally funded), Michigan School Readiness Preschool (state-funded), and a fee-based program. She also found that parents want to know what their child needs to know before starting Kindergarten, vital information as she says the first few years of a child’s life are the most critical learning years.
‘I was pleased with the survey,? Wuopio said. ‘It gave us demographic information to develop the program around. It gave us goals on what people need.?
The Sherman Lifelong Learning Center is located at 330 Sherman Court. For more information on the Brandon Preschool Academy call the center at (248) 627-1870.