East Penn Leaders Discuss Local Families in Crisis

Some residents of Emmaus and the surrounding area need help…desperately. For many, it's help with parenting skills. For others, it's job development support. For still others, housing and finances are difficult issues to deal with. 

In a nearly packed last night, officials and members from several local churches, East Penn School District personnel and community members gathered together to discuss how to begin helping these local families in crisis. 

On hand for the panel discussion were facilitator Joelle Hower, former EPSD Home and School visitor; Ann Johnson, EPSD nurse for both and ; Jack Decker, Instructional Support teacher/counselor at ; Dan Fox, counselor at ; Genise Bishop, counselor; and Amanda Miller, counselor at Lincoln Elementary School.

The panelists began by comparing concerns addressed five-to-10 years ago with the present-day:

• Johnson said the problems haven’t really changed. Instead, she said, they have become “more entrenched.” 
• Decker sees a lack of mentors for children. “They need role models—someone to look up to and lead them,” he said.
• “Kids' lives are very stressed,” said Fox. A lot of parents and kids are separate and detached, he said, doing things by themselves in separate rooms.
• Miller and Bishop both said the schools now teach the children appropriate behavior and what is the correct thing to do in certain situations—something the parents once taught their children.

The panelists were asked to share their top concerns regarding students and families. All agreed that situations in which parents work multiple jobs and cannot be available for their child’s needs is of great concern. Some children have taken on adult responsibilities, such as cooking and caring for their siblings, they said.

Fox was concerned that children “no longer go outside and play.  They don’t have that release from stress like we did as kids. Instead, they play video games and chat on the computer for hours with no human contact.” 

Johnson added that she sees parents who have the inability to problem-solve and provide the daily needs for their children.  She proceeded to give the listeners an example of what comes into the health room on a daily basis:

• At least one or two children who need clothing because what they are wearing is soiled, too big or too small.
• Children with abscesses in the mouth due to a lack of dental care. Johnson is currently seeking dentists willing to help these children at a reduced rate.
• A child who is not breathing correctly and needs medical attention.
• Children who are hungry.
• Children who are sent to school when ill.

Decker responded by saying that children need mentors. They need to spend time with other kids and adults doing “normal activities.”  Parents also need role models to help them properly raise their children, he added.

The group suggested having a community center somewhere in the Borough of Emmaus where resources would be gathered. Some resources could include representatives from the community helping parents with parenting skills and finances, a game area, homework help, dinners and events to aid in regaining social connections. 

Following the panel discussion, the audience members broke into four groups—finances, housing, job development and parenting—to brainstorm and schedule future meetings.