Be Together, Learn Together represents the best of public/private collaboration. The program partners neighboring institutions with shared interests in child advocacy to provide meaningful and necessary support to families in need. Designed to support children and families served by Nassau County social service agencies, the program brings together national and local experts from not-for-profit organizations, civic agencies and private institutions. Funded in part by a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), this program responds directly to the needs of three major family audience groups: parents in Family Court, foster care families, and families utilizing the new Health and Human Services Welcome Center.
Be Together, Learn Together was developed in collaboration with the Nassau County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Nassau County Family Court and a National Advisory Committee.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
- Develop a substantial and sustainable partnership between LICM, Nassau County HHS and Family Court
- Positively impact the experience of client families by enhancing preventative and supportive services provided by Nassau County HHS
- Introduce and establish LICM as a new, accessible and welcoming resource to those families who might not otherwise utilize its programs and exhibits
The Children’s Museum’s expertise in providing high-quality educational experiences and parent education programs was identified as an important resource to help serve these audiences and provide myriad resources to partnering institutions, including:
PROGRAM COMPONENTS:
- Museum outreach programs at the Welcome Center
- Supervised family visits at LICM
- Free museum family memberships for foster and adoptive families and families graduating from HHS and Family Court programs
- Family workshops at the Museum and at HHS incorporating activities that facilitate modeling of positive parenting skills
- Parenting workshops, available in Spanish and English, focusing on childhood development and the importance of play
- Awareness days at the Children’s Museum to increase awareness of the County’s foster care program
- Financial literacy programs for older children in foster care to prepare them for independence
- Coat, book and toy drives at the Museum
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National Advisory Committee
LICM outreach programs at Welcome Center
Redesigned supervised visitation room
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Be Together, Learn Together!