Heart of Georgia Parental Information &
Resource Center (PIRC)
8 Orphan Cemetery Road
Eastman, GA 31023
(478) 374-5060

Coordinator – Carla Jessup
Communities In Schools website: www.cisga.org

Parental Information and Resource Centers are one of the key program areas within Communities In Schools of Georgia. PIRC helps parents become actively involved in their children’s education through numerous early childhood programs. PIRC collaborate with schools, social service agencies and others to enhance their services.  Communities In Schools is the nation’s leading community-based organization helping kids succeed in school and prepare for life. Today nearly two million kids throughout the country benefit from CIS programs.

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PIRC Objectives:

To improve student academic achievement by implementing successful and effective parental involvement policies and programs.

Strengthen partnerships among parents, teachers, principals, administrators, and others to meet the education of children.

Develop and strengthen the relationship between parents and their children’s school.

Provide a comprehensive approach to improving student learning through coordination and integration of federal, state and local programs.

PIRC Programs and services offered:

Resource Library – Provides the community with free check-out of materials such as:

Parenting materials (books, videos, etc.)
Children’s books for all ages
Computer software
Magazines
Educational toys and games
Musical CD’s
Adult fiction/Non Fiction
Computer lab

Parents As Teachers (PAT) – Family education and support program that begins parentally and extends through age 5. Through personal visits and group meetings, Certified Parent Educators use the “Born to Learn” curriculum to translate scientific early brain development into concrete suggestions on ways to teach and nurture your child.

9 Essential Skills for the Love and Logic Classroom - Through the Love and Logic curriculum, teachers learn how to share control and decision-making. Also, how to apply empathy before delivering consequences and providing opportunities for building self-concept. Find out more at www.loveandlogic.com

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) – A family literacy program designed to encourage kids to read. The program distributes 3 free books per year to children at North and South Dodge Elementary and engages them in activities designed to stir their interest in books. www.rif.org

The Dictionary Project – This program allows every third grader at North and South Dodge Elementary to receive one free dictionary per year, believing that a dictionary provides the knowledge to better understand our world and the words to share information.

Teens As Parents (TAP) – Support group for young and expectant mothers and fathers that meets monthly at DCHS. The purpose is to help lessen the stress of parenting, increase positive outcomes for babies and help teens move in a positive, forward direction.

Parents Assuring Student Success (PASS) – Workshops that provide parents with motivating techniques to improve their children’s study skills. The training includes modules that help parents teach their children how to manage time, prepare for and take tests, improve their reading skills, manage homework and study textbooks.

Additional Parent workshops on various topics.