Centers and Grants
Amercan Reading Forum (ARF)
The American Reading Forum is a nonprofit, professional organization composed of individuals who share an interest in the improvement of reading. While the American Reading Forum is an organization that facilitates the dissemination of ideas and research, it places highest priority on providing its members opportunities for critical discussion of ideas, issues, research and emerging research interests and paradigms.
Appalachian Family Innovations (AFI)
Since its beginnings as "Bringing It All Back Home" in 1973, a specialized Study Center associated with the Reich College of Education, Appalachian Family Innovations (AFI) has had one driving mission: to preserve and strengthen families by inspiring transformations that break cycles of abuse and neglect.
AFI, with headquarters in Morganton, North Carolina, helps families reach their potential in three ways: (1) by conducting social research into the causes and best practices in treating child abuse and neglect; (2) by designing innovative, comprehensive services for children and families; (3) by offering training, consultation, evaluation, and publications that help other providers improve the social service delivery system for children and families.
Lucy Brock Child Development Lab Program
Lucy Brock Child Development Lab Program is a laboratory program operated by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences which is a unit in the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University.
Its mision is to provide opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to observe children from infancy to kindergarten and to participate with those children in their everyday activities in a natural setting.
Math and Science Education Center
The Mathemathics and Science Education Center (MSEC) is one of eleven such Centers throughout the state. The parent organization to which we belong is known as the Mathematics and Science Education Network and is headquartered in Chapel Hill. Center activities are based on the needs of classroom instructors. The Center at Appalachian offers special workshops, summer institutes, graduate courses and other instructional programs aimed at helping update and recertify teachers.
National Center for Developmental Education (NCDE)
The National Center for Developmental Education provides instruction and training, research, and services consistent with the missions of the Reich College of Education and Appalachian State University. These activities are provided to a statewide and national audience of professionals who work with underprepared college students.
North Carolina School Health Training Center (NCSHTC)
The North Carolina Comprehensive School Health Training Center is committed to strengthening the quality of Health Education within a coordinated school health program. The Training Center provides programs throughout the state for teachers, nurses, counselors, nutritionists, administrators, and public health educators to reduce health-risk behaviors in children and adolescents.
Parent2Parent High Country Family Support Network
Family Support Network of the High Country is based on the philosophy that families who have a child with special needs have significant expertise that can be of benefit to another family and to service providers. Access to accurate, unbiased information and to responsive services makes a significant contribution to the strength and well being of the family. Begun in 1988, the program is sponsored locally by the Reich College of Education and Appalachian State University and is an affiliate of the Family Support Network of North Carolina. The program is located in the Children's Developmental Services Agency of the Blue Ridge and serves Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties.
The Network will (1) match families one-to-one with a trained, volunteer family for emotional support and information; (2) sponsor support groups; (3) connect to statewide and area resources, lending libraries, and legislative information; (4) sponsor workshops for families and service providers; (5) promote collaboration among families and service providers; (6) connect with hospital programs for children transferred out of the county; (7) support Foster Family programs.
