Kindness... Pass it on.

Today is Valentine's Day...Which automatically causes us to think of: chocolates, flowers, and sharing heartfelt expressions from, well...our hearts! 

But, did you also know that it is:  

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week?

Yep. And here at the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI) we are no strangers to kindness. We see it every day from every corner of our community. It is contagious and inspirational. It keeps our staff going and then, in turn, is passed on to the children, youth and families we serve. These benefits ripple out from the lives of individual women, men, girls, and boys to their families, their neighborhoods, the community... and ultimately, to the entire world. 

Each and every one of us has the ability to change the world by touching lives through acts of kindness. And when we see these acts or hear stories about the positive things others are doing, we become more aware of the opportunities we have to make a difference for the people around us. Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) week is an opportunity for each of us to reflect upon and stimulate even more kindness in our lives. So, whether it's at CCFI, in your home, workplace, neighborhood, or even at the grocery store we hope you will continue to pass it on. 

More about Random Act of Kindness Week »

Will you be my... Volunteer?

Here at the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI), we offer rewarding volunteer experiences for people of all ages who want to make a difference in 2012!

As a leading resource for families in Norman and surrounding areas, we depend on our strong volunteer network to help mentor youth, staff therapeutic play groups, help with daily administrative tasks, and more. Fortunately for our services at CCFI, a popular New Year’s resolution for many is to focus on others and make time in the new year to volunteer.

As 2012 unfolds we expect to see an increase of children and families in need of the support and tools our programs offer. Serving roughly 2,000 members of the community during 2011 - nearly 300 more than the previous year - the need for more volunteers remains a primary concern for CCFI.

Volunteers support everything we do in our efforts to heal children, empower youth, and strengthen families. We want to thank the hundreds of individuals who help shape our work in a variety of ways every day, and encourage others to join them in impacting the lives of children and youth in our community.

In 2011, 435 volunteers gave a combined 8,000 hours of their time to our mission. Without volunteers, many of the services we provide would not be viable. With 250 children and youth served each week in our Neighborhood Centers after-school programs, volunteers are crucial for making sure that the children and youth have a safe, enriching environment with positive, adult mentors during their out-of-school time.

Neighborhood Centers

Applying to volunteer at CCFI is fast and simple- sign up online here

No matter if it’s an hour, day, week or year-long commitment, we are interested in providing meaningful opportunities for those who want to make a difference in the lives of others.  Potential volunteers and all community members and groups are also invited to tour the agency during one of our regularly scheduled monthly tours.  For more information or tour dates visit www.ccfinorman.org.

Re-resolving in the New Year

Well, it is January 30^th and I can safely say that I am only one day away from spoiling one of my many New Years resolutions – to blog at least once per month.

Sad to say – most of my resolutions are in this state of “mediocre adherence.”  More times than not the past three weeks I roll over when the alarm goes off at 5:00 a.m. – unable to get myself to the 5:45 a.m. workout I swore I would do without fail.  I broke down yesterday and got Taco Bueno even though I had resolved to not eat out AT ALL for lunch anymore.  And the list goes on.

Which makes me question - what’s the deal with resolutions anyhow?  Where did this whole phenomenon come from?  I found something interesting on Wikipedia.  It said that “the nature of New Year's resolutions has changed during the last decades, with many resolutions being more superficial and appearance-oriented than in previous times. At the end of the 19th century, a typical teenage girl's New Year's resolution was focused on good works: she resolved to become less self-centered, more helpful, a more diligent worker, and to improve her internal character. Body image, health, diet, and desired possessions were rarely mentioned. At the end of the 20th century, the typical teenage girl's resolution is focused on good looks: she wants to improve her body, hairstyle, makeup, and clothing.”

Ugh… I read this and realized I am guilty of the same self-centeredness in my resolutions.  I did not reflect enough on what I could do this year to be a better mother, wife, sister, community member, or friend.  I didn’t reflect enough this year on what I could do for others – which ironically gives us a lot of personal fulfillment – because it is our relationships in life that really define us and fill us up.

So – maybe there are reasons why it is hard for us to maintain those resolutions that are so much about ourselves.  Maybe they are just not as fulfilling when compared to the fulfillment we get when we try to be “better” for others in our lives.  I know I get much greater fulfillment when I make time to talk to a friend who is down and needs a shoulder to cry on, or when I get my three kids to play UNO with me instead of all of us vegging out in front of the TV, or when I babysit for parents of a newborn so they can get some time together alone.  These are the things that make us who we are – our relationships to others – our time with others.  So - here on January 30^th, I think I am going to re-resolve to do more for and with the “others” in my life.  In so doing, I think I’ll be taking better care of myself.  

Katie Fitzgerald, MSW

Executive Director at the Center for Children & Families, Inc. (CCFI)

Volunteers Defined 2011

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”  

- Martin Luther King Jr.

Webster defines a volunteer as one who offers himself freely or spontaneously. Technically, we agree. But the definition at the Center for Children & Families, Inc. (CCFI) leans more toward the hundreds of individuals who make our world go 'round.

It’s true! In 2011, volunteers generously stepped up and gave more than 8,000 hours of service to help us improve the lives of children. 

Help came in many forms: mentoring youth, answering phones, packing Christmas gifts for over 300 children in our care, hosting diaper drives, sharing CCFI’s mission, renovating offices and participating on committees. 

Thank you for choosing to serve the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI).

2011: State of Children

Oklahoma ranked

43rd

for overall child well-being.

Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2011 Kids Count Data book is out, Oklahoma's children face worsening indicators of well-being: