The Weekly Briefing
| Welcome to The Weekly Briefing, featuring news from Children's Futures, updates about our community partners' activities and links to recent news articles about early childhood health and development. | |
| Volume 1, Number 17 | Week of June 18-June 22, 2007 |
In This Issue
- News from Children's Futures
- Success in Trenton Will Have Statewide Impact
- Trenton Platinum Dads Honored
- Children's Futures On The Air
- Community Partners' Activities
- SIDS & Black Infant Mortality Workshop-June 27th
- Vessels of Praise Youth Program-June 30th
- Fathers and Families Fun Day-August 11th
- News Articles
- Fathers Get Their Day
- Abbott Preschools Work
- Noninvasive Screening in Early Pregnancy Reduces Down's Births
- Omega 3 Taken During Pregnancy Improves Infant Problem-Solving
News from Children's Futures
Success in Trenton Will Have Statewide Impact
During a recent statewide literacy conference, Children's Futures'
successful city-wide Reach Out and Read (ROR) program was cited
as one reason for the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey's (HINJ)
interest in supporting ROR statewide. HINJ is a trade association
for the research-based pharmaceutical and medical technology
industry in New 
Jersey. Next week, HINJ is expected to announce
a donation that will bring thousands of new books to Children's
Futures' ROR program and to other sites throughout New Jersey.
As part of ROR, new, culturally-appropriate books are given to
children from 6 months to 5 years during medical check-ups at
eight participating medical practices in Trenton. Participating
medical providers advise parents about the importance of reading
aloud to their children. Community volunteers model reading for
parents in physician office waiting rooms. Children's Futures
engages Camp Fire USA to organize Trenton physician and community
volunteer training, distribute books and promote awareness of
the program.
Camp Fire USA's Executive Director Barbara Van Horn (seated left) and Dr. Vedat Obuz of the Lotus Medical Group join children at a recent Reach Out and Read (ROR) event. Lotus Medical Group is one of eight medical practices participating in the ROR program in Trenton.
Trenton's Platinum Dads Honored
The 2nd annual Platinum Dads awards ceremony on Saturday honored Trenton fathers praised as ordinary men doing extraordinary things.
 U.S. Congressman Rush Holt, Children's Futures' President Floyd K. Morris, Jr. and Union Industrial Home for Children's Executive Director Zuline Gray Wilkinson prepare to preside over the second annual Platinum Dads recognition ceremony at the Trenton Marriott on Saturday. |
 Trenton's John Paul Dickerson beams with pride after receiving his 2007 Platinum Dads award. Dickerson and the other Platinum Dads were praised for being visible and positive forces in their children's lives (photo credits-Judith Arnold, JF Arnold Group) |
Children's Futures On The Air
Children's Futures continues to work with media outlets to raise visibility about programs for Trenton residents. A recent television appearance by Children's Futures' father center director Ed Gittens on Darlene McKnight's "Trenton Talks" program on WZBN-TV25 provided information for viewers (and those listening on the WIMG-AM 1300 simulcast) about services available for fathers through the Trenton Men's Collaborative. Children's Futures' North Ward family support/parent child center director Dolores Bryant appeared yesterday on the weekly "Straight Talk with L.A. Parker" interview program on WIMG-AM 1300 hosted by award-winning Trentonian columnist L.A. Parker.
Children's Futures' communications director Bill Rovner rounded out the recent appearances by providing an overview of the initiative during the "Capitol Talk" interview program hosted by Calvin O. Iszard on WBCB-1490 radio. To learn more about Children's Futures, please call 695-1977 (ext. 103).
 L.A. Parker listens as Dolores Bryant explains how Children's Futures' family support/parent child centers work on behalf of Trenton's families. |
 Bill Rovner (right) describes to Calvin Iszard the importance that community collaboration plays in Children's Futures' programs. |
Community Partners' Activities
Wednesday June 27:
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Black
Infant Mortality Workshop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Westin Princeton
at Forrestal Village.
Free for family workers, home visitors and health educators. Must RSVP by today (June 22, 2007). Call (732) 937-5437.
Saturday, June 30:
Trenton's Vessels of Praise Annual Youth Dance
Recital: 4 p.m. at Rider University's Yvonne Theatre. Call 394-7775
or email praisevessel@earthlink.net.
Tuesday, August 7:
Parenting Class Series (8 weeks) from Millhill
Behavioral Health Program in Partnership with Isles, Inc. Parents
Empowering Parents program: 6 to 7:30 p.m..; Mill Hill Community
Room. Free. Call 989-7333 (ext. 17).
Saturday, August 11:
The 5th Annual Fathers and Families Fun
Day, presented by the Trenton Men's Collaborative and Children's
Futures: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Mill Hill Park (South Broad and Front
Streets). Free. Focused on Trenton fathers and their families
with children three years of age and younger.
Includes health screens, face painting, a magic show, party jumps and refreshments. Call 695-3663.
Summer 2007:
Camp Fire USA is offering one-day admission tickets
to Great Adventure for $30 (regular admission is $64 with tax);
Proceeds support child abuse prevention programs. Call 695-8410.
Trenton YMCA's Camp META and the Pennington Avenue Kids Programs for Children ages 4-17; Scholarship assistance available. Call 599-9622.
Links to News Articles About Early Childhood Health and Development
Fathers Get Their Day
The
Times of Trenton describes the second annual Platinum Dads
event.
Abbott Preschools Work-Study
The
Star Ledger reports on a study showing the success of Abbott
Schools.
Noninvasive Screening In Early Pregnancy Reduces Down's Births
By 50 Percent
Research
from Denmark on reducing Down Syndrome is examined by Science
Daily.
Pregnancy Nausea/Vomiting May Indicate Lower Risk of Breast
Cancer
The University of Buffalo
NewsCenter reports women who suffer through morning sickness
during their pregnancies actually may be fortunate.
For a complete calendar of events, please refer to our calendar page.
About Children's Futures
Established in 2001 with major support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Children's Futures is a nonprofit organization that works city-wide in Trenton, N.J. to improve child health and development outcomes. Through an unprecedented collaboration among public agencies and nonprofit organizations, Children's Futures seeks to strengthen parenting, increase access to primary quality health care and child care systems, and increase social supports for families, so that every child in Trenton enters preschool healthy and ready to learn.