Partners in Learning hires family support specialist

Published 12:00 am Thursday, July 21, 2016

SALISBURY — Partners in Learning has hired a part-time family support specialist after receiving the Margaret C. Woodson Foundation grant in an effort to provide quality, comprehensive child and family support services in Rowan County.

The family support specialist will provide support, training and case management to assist parents in meeting the needs of their children and enhancing parents’ role as the primary influence on their child’s education and development. This position will also aid in supporting parents in increasing their economic stability, determining eligibility for programs, enrolling families in programs, enlisting parental involvement in child educational programs, working with parents in identifying and achieving goals, accessing support services, creating training programs and facilitating positive parent, school and student relationships.

“When a child enrolls in our program, not only does the child enroll, but the entire family does. Children are not raised in a vacuum; they are raised within a family unit, and we must help the family be successful in order to educate the child. Parents are their child’s first and best teacher,” said Norma Honeycutt, executive director of Partners in Learning.

The new Family Support Advocate Program will work primarily with families:

  • whose children are at risk of termination from childcare due to behavior;
  • have had multiple placements due to behavior;
  • are involved with Department of Social Services.

Partners in Learning has hired Tonya Correll as the part-time family support specialist. Correll worked for the Rowan County Department of Social Services for 20 years in child protective services. She currently is a professor at Catawba College in the Education Department.

Correll holds a bachelor of arts in social work and a master of arts in education teaching and learning from Liberty University.

“Partners in Learning is a leader in the early childhood education arena especially in their efforts to build bridges between supportive resources and the families and community they serve. I am thrilled to be part of a team putting advocacy for children and families as a priority and making such a positive difference in so many lives,” said Correll.

“It is our job to ensure that families have the tools and support that they need in order to rise to the challenges of parenthood. We know that Mrs. Correll is both highly qualified to join our team and is certainly up for the challenge,” Honeycutt said.

About Partners in Learning

Situated on the Catawba College campus, Partners in Learning provides care to children 6 weeks through 5 years of age in Rowan County. The organization serves children on-site at Partners in Learning, in child-care centers throughout the community and in the children’s homes. Partners in Learning has established a priority to develop a comprehensive, community-based, family-centered system of care to meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families. Learn more at www.epartnersinlearning.org.