FCFC Newsletter
With school quickly approach-
ing and budgets getting tighter.
Some bargains can be found at
local thrift stores, discount
stores, couponing and clear-
ance racks for your back to
school needs.
You can receive assistance
from nonprofit organizations,
churches and some national
retailers. Here are a few ideas
to help your family with the
cost of school clothes and sup-
plies:
Ruth’s Closet is a free cloth-ing giveaway open on Tuesday and Wednesday from 3pm-7pm at 93 Jefferson St., Union-town PA. Email [email protected] . Parents of students in the
Connellsville area can receive
free clothing, backpacks and
shoes on Aug 11 from 9am-
1pm at the Trinity Lutheran
Church Social Room, 126 E
Fairview Ave, Connellsville
PA.
Dress for Success offers free
clothing to women for inter-
views and employment. They
are located at 82 West South
St., Uniontown PA. Please call
724-437-1341 for more infor-
mation.
The Salvation Army has a
back to school clothing givea-
way each year. Please contact
them at 724-437-2031 for more
information. They also operate
a thrift store on 54 N S Mount
Vernon Ave, Uniontown PA.
St Vincent De Paul also can
help with emergency needs and
they operate a thrift store
where clothes and shoes can be
purchased at 62 N S Mount
Vernon Ave, Uniontown.
Please call 724-439-9188.
BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAYS
Fayette County Family Council
AUG/SEPT 2018
Volume 1, Issue 3
Suicide Warning Signs
and Risk Factors
2
Health & Hygiene Drive 3
County Leadership Team
Updates
3
FCFC Information 4
Inside this issue:
UPCOMING
EVENTS
8/7 hoops and scoops,
storey square, Union-
town pa 6p-9p
8/8 Communities that
care meeting, Fayette
county health build-
ing100 New Salem Rd,
Uniontown pa, 9a-11a
8/11 back 2 school
clothing giveaway,
trinity Lutheran
church social room,
126 Fairview ave,
Connellsville pa 9a-1p
(must be Connells-
ville resident, id re-
quired)
8/11 hiller vol fire
dept hog roast 8a-
11pm
FCFC SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH
The Fayette County Family Council with the help of the Advocacy Network sponsored Free Bingo
at Grant Street Park in Uniontown. Over 40 youth enjoyed free bingo, prizes, snacks and fun. Even
when the rain showers came our way they were still determined to win some prizes. Some prizes
included a game system, headphones, Bluetooth mini speakers, bath bombs, Nike socks, grooming
items, games, and toys.
The youth were given information on suicide prevention and information on bullying. They really
enjoyed themselves and we can’t wait to do it again before school starts.
We would like to thank the Advocacy Network and Alice Coleman for making donations. We
would also like to give a special thank you to Damita Jones of Grant Street Park.
The Family Advocates surveyed youth in the coun-ty recently. We wanted to know what were their im-mediate needs.
We were concerned to see that the top immediate need amongst youth ages 15-24 were emotional sup-ports.
Today, youth are faced with stressors in life from bully-ing, depression, PTSD, drug addictions and dealing with behavioral health issues.
In Pennsylvania, suicide claims nearly 2000 lives per year. We must do all we can to safeguard our youth and our entire community. Here is a list of warning signs and risk factors for suicide.
Warning Signs
Talking about suicide,
wanting to die, kill one-
self
Looking for a way to kill
oneself, such as search-
ing online or buying a
gun
Talking about feeling
worthless, hopeless, or
having no reason to live
Talking about being a
burden to others
Suddenly happier and
calmer, especially after
a period of depression
or sadness
Giving away prized pos-
sessions
Getting affairs in order,
making arrangements
Increasing alcohol or drug
use
Preoccupation with death
Acting anxiously or agitat-
ed; behaving recklessly.
Sleeping too little or too
much.
Withdrawal from or
change in social connec-
tions/situations
Showing rage or talking
about seeking revenge.
Displaying extreme mood
swings.
Anger or hostility that
seems out of character or
out of context
Recent increased agita-
tion or irritability
Risk Factors
Diagnosis of Depression
Previous suicide attempt
Family history of suicide
Loss of job, home, money
Death or terminal illness
of a loved one
Divorce or loss of major,
significant relationship
Loss of health, either
real or imagined
Someone close to the
person has completed
suicide
Recent disappointment
or rejection
Being expelled from
school/fired from job
Sudden loss of freedom/
fear of punishment
Victim of assault or bul-
lying
Questioning gender
(PreventSuicidePA.org
2018)
If you need help with your-
self, friend or loved one
please call 1-800-273-TALK
(8255)
If you would like your organi-
zation, employees or first
responders trained in QPR
Suicide Prevention please
contact QPR trainers Alice
Coleman or Roxanne John-
son at 724-430-4907.
SUICIDE PREVENTION IN YOUTH
Volume 1, Issue 3
Fayette County Family Council
P a g e 2
8/2, 9,16, 23 –
2018 storey
square summer
concert series ,
Uniontown
8/4 Connells-
ville’s farmer’s
market, every Sat-
urday, pnc park-
ing lot 8a-12p
8/5, 12, 19, 26–
Power of music
summer concert
festival, down-
town Browns-
ville cast iron
amphitheater 3p-
6p
8/13 creative
clay came, Appa-
lachian creativity
center, Con-
nellsville
8/23 COMMUNI-
TY SPIRIT DAY,
East end united
community cen-
ter, 150 Cool-
spring st, Union-
town, 11a-3p
9/12 free skate
night, swaney’s
roller rink , rte.
857, 6p-8p
The most common way
people give up their
power is by thinking they
don’t have any. –Alice
Walker
Fayette County possesses the
2nd highest rate of poverty in
Pennsylvania. Join us to help
our area youth in need of
health and hygiene products.
Some basic essentials we take
for granted are sometimes hard
to come by for some families
struggling to make ends meet.
You can help by collecting
items, running workplace
drives and asking for dona-
tions. Every donation can help.
Items Needed: Soap or body
wash, shampoo, lotion, hand
sanitizer, toothpaste, tooth-
brushes, deodorant, feminine
hygiene products, wipes, laun-
dry detergent and toilet paper..
Drop-off location is located at
Adelphoi Village, 6 Oliver
Road, Oliver Square Plaza, Suite
103, Uniontown PA 15401
Monetary donations are also
accepted. Please make checks
payable to: Adelphoi Village.
For questions please call Fayette
County Family Advocates
Roxanne Johnson or Adrienne
Russell
Office: 724-430-4907
Thank you so much for your
support.
cussed. Services are working
together to address these needs
properly.
The Fayette County Behavioral
Health Administration will be
sponsoring an Infant Mental
Health Conference, October 30,
2018, 8:30am-4:30pm at the
Park Inn by Radisson, 700 W
Main Street, Uniontown PA.
Children & Youth is partnering
with East End United Commu-
nity Center to bring a free train-
ing to parents and children. PP
or Positive Parenting in the fall.
The Gay Straight Alliance or
GSA will be meeting on the 2nd
and 4th Wednesday of the
month at 6 pm. For more in-
formation please contact
There will be no CLT meeting
in August.
The next CLT meeting will be
held September 13, 2018 from
11:30am-1:00pm at the Chil-
dren & Youth services build-
ing.
Fayette County Leadership Team Updates
“The goal of the Fayette Coun-
ty Leadership Team (CLT) is
to gather youth, families and
system partners to work to-
gether toward effective service
intervention for youth and
families in our community.”
At the July 12, 2018 meeting
the Family Advocates an-
nounced they are planning a
conference in April of 2019for
families and service profession-
als “Celebrate the Family” and
that they are planning to have
free Family Road Map training
for parents this fall.
The Family Assessment Imme-
diate Needs survey was dis-
“Acts of Kindness:
A random act of kindness, no matter
how small, can make a tremendous
impact on someone else's life.”
― Roy T. Bennett,
Volume 1 , Issue 3
Fayette County Family Council
P a g e 3
HEALTH & HYGIENE DRIVE
Donations Needed
Fayette County has the second
highest rate of poverty in Penn-
sylvania.
KEYWORD OF THE DAY
FAPE (Free Appropriate
Public Education– Your
child’s right, under the feder-
al IDEA 2004 law, to an edu-
cation “designed to meet his
or her unique needs.” Guar-
antees the right to special
education services when the
regular education program
cannot meet a child’s needs
because of a disability.
P a g e 4
We are a group of families sharing our concerns and experiences with county
services. These county services may include…
Behavioral Health
Juvenile Probation
Drug & Alcohol
Education
Children and Youth Services
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Or any other Fayette County Child Serving System
The FCFC works together with county professionals to improve and achieve
positive outcomes in system services. We do this by…
Supporting each other
Sharing our stories and experiences
Participating in trainings and outreach events
Advocating for families
Using our voices to make a difference
Primary Address
6 Oliver Road, Suite 103
Uniontown PA 15401
Phone: 724-430-4907
Fax: 724-430-4909
Email: [email protected]
Your Voice Can Make A Difference!
Fayette County Family
Council
Bring a friend to our August 16 and September 20 meeting at
the Connellsville Carnegie Free Library, 299 S Pittsburgh Street,
and enter a chance to win a FREE Back to School Backpack
or a WALMART GIFT CARD!! *Meeting starts 11am-12 pm, refreshments will be served.