Pillager Family Council

EMPOWERING AND STRENGTHENING FAMILIES TO BUILD A STRONG PILLAGER COMMUNITY. PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE PILLAGER AREA SUCH AS INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, PUBLIC HEALTH CLINICS, FAMILY CENTER HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA HOME VISITING PROGRAM, AREA FOOD SHELF, FUN STOP PROGRAM (AN OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN), PILLAGER LITTLE HUSKIES CHILD CARE CENTER AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.

OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS MADE UP THE LARGEST PROGRAM SERVICES PROVIDED. PROGRAMS INCLUDE A STATE LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTER FOR CHILDREN AGES 16 MONTHS THROUGH AGE FIVE, AND A HOME VISITING PROGRAM FOR PARENTS BEGINNING PRENATAL THROUGH THE CHILD'S THIRD BIRTHDAY. THE PILLAGER LITTLE HUSKIES CHILD CARE CENTER SERVED 85 CHILDREN AND THE HOME VISITING PROGRAM SERVED 27 FAMILIES. FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS CAME FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, MINNESOTA CHILD CARE STABILIZATION GRANT, CASS COUNTY CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, CASS COUNTY CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE, AND FEES PAID BY PARENTS.

FAMILY SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT WAS THE SECOND LARGEST PROGRAM AND INCLUDES PROGRAMS SUCH AS CASS COUNTY CO-LOCATED SERVICES, INCLUDING WIC AND CHILD AND TEEN WELL CHILD CHECKUPS. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL HELP, THE AREA FOOD SHELF, NAPS COMMODITY FOOD BOXES, HOLIDAY HELP AT THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS FUNDING ALLOWS. THESE PROGRAMS SERVED ABOUT 1,700 PEOPLE BY HELPING FAMILIES FIND RESOURCES, RECEIVE FOOD SUPPORT, HELP WITH PAPERWORK AND SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS WITH CASS COUNTY WORKERS, BI-COUNTY CAP AGENCY FOR FUEL ASSISTANCE OR HOUSING NEEDS, HELP FAMILIES DURING THE HOLIDAYS, AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FAMILIES MAY HAVE TO HELP MEET THEIR GOALS. THE PILLAGER FAMILY COUNCIL PARTICIPATES IN THE MINNESOTA MARCH FOODSHARE CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY IN MINNESOTA AND THE RADIOTHON TO END CHILD ABUSE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION.

THE THIRD LARGEST AREA OF PROGRAMMING WAS THE FUN STOP SCHOOL AGE CARE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-4, SERVING 125 CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FUN STOP OFFERS A SAFE, FUN ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL AND ON DAYS WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION, SUCH AS TEACHER IN-SERVICE DAYS, BREAKS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND DURING THE SUMMER. FUN STOP OFFERS HOMEWORK HELP, ENCOURAGES READING, PHYSICAL PLAY, COOPERATIVE GAMES, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.