Parent/Child Workshop and Watch Party @ the Library

Summer vacation is over and it is time to hit the books again. The library is hosting two special programs that will be of interest to everyone in the community.

 Family Place Library Parent/Child Workshop

The first program is a parent/child workshop aimed at families with children who are between the ages of two and five. The five week program starts on August 29th and is held on Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 in the evening. The library held the same program in the spring, and the program is a lot of fun for kids (and the parents/grandparents/adults that accompany the kids got something out of the program too!).

The Family Place Library parent/child workshop has two main goals. The first is to get young children out of the house and to get them playing with their parents. Parents are a child’s first teacher and young children learn through playing. The second goal of the workshop is to connect parents with other parents from the community. Not only are parents supposed to mingle with each other and talk about the problems of parenting, but each week, there is a different community member who comes and interacts with parents to answer questions about child development, health issues, parenting and more.

If you have issues with a picky eater, sign up for this free workshop, because we have a nutritionist coming as a guest one week. If you have development issues in a small child, sign up for the program, because we have several different experts lined up that are trained in development issues that can give you information on where to go to get help. If you don’t have any issues, sign up and bring your children for free fun at the library. Registration is required, and parents don’t need a library card to sign up. The workshop is free and the library will have translators available to bridge any communication gaps.

Affordable Care Act Watch Party 

The second program at Liberal Memorial Library is a Watch Party giving an overview of the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, August 22nd from 7 to 8 in the evening. The State Library of Kansas in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will present this webinar, which is the first of three. The other two watch parties will be held September 12th and September 26th at 7:00 p.m. No registration is required for this free event at the library.

Starting October 1, 2013, the Health Insurance Marketplace, sometimes known as the health insurance "exchange" will begin open enrollment. Coverage starts January 1, 2014. The Marketplace website, HealthCare.gov will be the primary tool for delivering information to Americans about their health coverage options. For Spanish speaking consumers, CuidadoDeSalud.gov is also available.

Health Insurance Marketplaces are where people and small businesses can shop for and buy private health insurance. Consumers will have the same health plan choices available to members of Congress. The marketplaces are not private insurance companies or government-run health plans.

With one application, consumers can find out if they qualify for health plans in the marketplace, and other programs like Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), tax credits, and cost-sharing reductions.

We hope to see you at the library for these events. For more information, stop by the library at 519 N. Kansas Avenue or give us a call at (620) 626-0180.