The LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport has helped maintain and restore the health of thousands of community members. But Linda Hatcher thought the hospital itself could use a checkup.

"It’s such a big place," Hatcher said. "We do a noble thing here — some of the best health care in the region. But hospital staff needed a way to communicate and work together as a team to feel more effectively connected to that mission. They needed a way to take pride in their good work."

After learning about the success of CHARACTER COUNTS! in local schools, Hatcher and others in her human resources department teamed up with the LSU AgCenter's 4-H staff to deliver a healthy dose of ethics training to the entire 3,000-member hospital staff.

Continue reading "Shreveport, LA: Six Pillar Bulletin Boards Brighten Hospital Walls" »

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Fort Polk, Louisiana, has a diverse CHARACTER COUNTS! program and it affects everyone from infants to seniors. The Fort has four current staff members who have had CC! training and two more will soon receive it. Graduates train others on an ongoing basis, usually every quarter.

Among the activities:

• CHARACTER COUNTS! activity ideas pervade classroom lessons.
• A CHARACTER COUNTS! bulletin board, and reminder posters hang in the hallways.
• In one of the biggest projects, the Teen program created a nature trail near the Youth Center. Teens built decks for outdoor classrooms, bridged creeks, cleared room for picnic tables and set up outdoor musical instruments. At each stop on the trail, they placed a marker explaining one of the Pillars of Character.
• Teens who have taken the training will teach character to the younger children. "Teaching down" is common here. Older kids teach and work with younger ones, high schoolers aiding middle schoolers, middle schoolers helping elementary, and elementary school pupils reading to CDC (Child Development Center) kids.
• Parent education workshops have occurred over lunch. The involvement of parents is important for the success of CHARACTER COUNTS!, and the high turnout shows their interest. The workshops help parents learn about the Six Pillars of Character so they can aid their children's moral development. The sessions have begun with a video of CC! president Michael Josephson discussing values and character education. "It is very interesting and leaves you with a thirst to know more," says lead education technician Carolyn Herren, of the Outreach Services Program.
• In March 2003, children and families of the Child Development Center collected used eyeglasses for donation purposes.
• In October, Preschool 5 showed its appreciation to the gate guards by giving them "survival kits." The kits included bottled water, juice and snacks.
• In November, Preschool 3 presented fruit baskets and teddy bears to residents of the Leesville Nursing Home. The children also designed placemats for them.
• In December, kids launched Operation Candy Canes, sending the hook-shaped sweets to soldiers in the Middle East. Preschool 1 gave toys, mittens, gloves and children's underwear to the Leesville Women's Shelter. The Leesville Nursing Home asked Preschool 3 to return and sing Christmas carols again this year.
• In January and February, children will perform a skit and a CHARACTER COUNTS! song.

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Eaton Park Elementary bestowed character awards on four third graders: Kyrie Collins, Huong Dao, Danny Campbell, and Davian Bessard. After participating in character learning activities with the ARCH 4-H Club and 4-H’er Victoria LeBlanc, and through lessons from their teachers, Miss Patricia LeBlanc, Mrs. Pam Broussard, Mrs. Shawri Landry, and Mrs. Crystal Abshire; the third graders seem to be developing good values and strong character.

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As it has in other states, the 4-H service club has taken the lead in cultivating Louisiana for CHARACTER COUNTS!. Each parish (or county) sets up a committee, including representatives from the business community, clergy, court system, prison system (adult and juvenile), parish school system, youth-serving agencies, parenting programs and other organizations. Fifty-eight of the state’s 64 parishes participated in the program in 1999, with 48 parishes reportedly reaching 94,000 children. Participation varied from parishes that piloted the program in a few schools to those that had the program in every school. Other highlights:

• A survey indicated that 75 to 80 percent of 735 teachers observed "some" to "very much" improvement in classroom behavior after the CHARACTER COUNTS! "Exercising Character" lessons were taught.
• More than 2,700 adults and 2,100 teens have been trained to deliver "Exercising Character."
• In schools using CHARACTER COUNTS!, policies and rules reflect Six-Pillar language and teachers are trained to reinforce Six-Pillar behavior. Six or more assemblies per year focus on one of the Pillars. Student organizations conduct at least one presentation on each Pillar at their regular meetings. Athletes focus on one Pillar per month (five minutes per week with coach, guest or student motivational talk) and Six-Pillar guidelines are displayed at sports events, along with announcements on Pillars at games. At least three hours of training per year is given to administration, parents, volunteers, faculty, clerical, maintenance, cafeteria and bus staff. Schools recognize exceptional students each month for demonstrating the Pillar of the month.
• Schools involve parents with orientation packets and special activities.
• Louisiana has pioneered the use of specialized curriculum, not only using the Coalition’s "Exercising Character" but producing its own lesson plans called "Exercising Character in Schools." Louisiana CC! trainers also wrote the "Showing Character" lesson plans related to raising livestock, and a 4-H official developed a set of Six-Pillar stories for youngsters called "Character Critters" to be distributed through the statewide Head Start program.
• CC! volunteers contact businesses to make them aware of the Six Pillars. Many businesses display and promote the Six Pillars in the workplace, provide financial support for character education in schools and throughout the community and use Six-Pillar language in advertising.
• Clergy incorporate Six-Pillar language into their sermons, programs and materials.
• CC! volunteers train local public servants to help them support character education in their communities. News releases from school boards, law enforcement and elected officials include Six-Pillar language. School board members support CHARACTER COUNTS! in the schools.
• Louisiana State Police troopers are trained to present Six Pillar-based programs. Department of Corrections officers have also been trained and have conducted programs for thousands of inmates. The 4-H plans to work with the Department of Corrections to develop a series of lessons to be used in prisons. "Safe and Drug-Free Schools" and "School to Work" personnel are working to support character education in the school system.

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