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Strengthening Families Program the focus at Rotary

Cindy Nucilli, community outreach worker for the Strengthening Families Program, speaks Monday to members of the Rotary Club of Elkins. The local program at Elkins Middle School is one of only two in the state.

ELKINS — A program that reaches out to Elkins Middle School students and their families is making an impact and continuing to grow, members of the Rotary Club of Elkins learned this week.

Cindy Nucilli, community outreach worker for the Strengthening Families Program, shared a presentation during the Rotary Club’s weekly meeting at the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA. Nucilli said the free program serves students and families in a unique, scientifically proven format.

“It is showing great results with kids,” she said, explaining the program is offered to sixth-grade EMS students and their families. “It’s fun. It’s not counseling — we just teach skills for how the family can feel better and work together.”

She said the sessions include hands-on activities for children along with educational discussions and videos for their caregivers. The program is designed for the entire family, including siblings, and it addresses everything from improving self-esteem and dealing with peer pressure to improved communication as a family.

It also provides meals, allowing every member of the participating family to sit down and spend time with one another.

“Parents and families don’t sit and eat meals together anymore,” Nucilli said, explaining many people grab fast food on the way to practices or evening activities, and they rarely sit down for a nightly meal.

The program also includes incentives, such as chances to win family-friendly experiences to local resorts or events.

Nucilli noted the program is in the third year of a five-year grant, and she hopes the community will continue to offer support and help it extend into the future. She thanked all the businesses and people in the area who already support the program, and she noted Brooke and Randolph counties have the only two programs in the state.

“It was offered to every county in the state of West Virginia, and only two counties accepted it. It’s a free program, and we’re very thankful for school leaders here. … They really do see, in Elkins Middle School, the importance of the program and how we can help the kids in Randolph County.”

She said participant evaluations show significantly lower rates of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and meth use; significantly fewer conduct problems in school; and stronger positive relationships between children and their parents, along with other lasting benefits.

“We really do a lot with drug and alcohol prevention, but the main thing is focusing on building the family,” Nucilli said.

The Strengthening Families Program is supported by the West Virginia University Extension Service, Elkins Middle School, Randolph County Schools, PROSPER Partners and CYFAR.

More information, including anyone interested in offering donations or support, is available by contacting Nucilli at 304-636-2455 or emailing her at cynthia.nucilli@mail.wvu.edu.

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