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 23 | Week of August 13-17, 2007 |
In This Issue
- News from Children's Futures
- Celebrating Fathers and Families
- North Ward Mom in the CF Spotlight
- Children's Futures' Key Communicators
- Links to News Articles and
Columns
- Parents Warned Cough Medicines Imperil Infants
- Panel May Revise its Guidelines for Weight Gain During Pregnancy
- Consistency is Key to Raising Well-Adjusted Child
- Toddlers are Capable of Introspection
- Community Activities
- ACT-Against Violence Workshops
- Back to School Event Saturday, August 25th
- Healthy Housing Training Workshop
- Child Development Associate Credential Classes
- Trenton YWCA Health and Fitness Center Opening
News from Children's Futures
Celebrating Fathers and Families
While many residents attended last Saturday's Fathers and Family Fun Day at Mill Hill Park for the food and games, Ed Gittens believes there were added benefits that will extend beyond the day-long program. Gittens, who directs Children's Futures' Father Center at Union Industrial Home for Children (UIH), noted that fathers and children took equal advantage of the day's recreational and educational components. "It was encouraging to see fathers embrace their roles as parents by guiding their children through play as well as visiting the resource tables of various organizations together". The New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Womanspace, the Million Mom March, AmeriChoice, Mercer County Cancer Coalition, Trenton's Project Impact Health Van, and Trenton's Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition were among the organizations sharing information. "We also found that fathers used this informal setting to share stories with each other about the challenges they face and the successes they have achieved," Gittens added. Fathers and Family Fun Day, sponsored by UIH and Children's Futures, is an annual event that began in 2003.
North Ward Mom in the CF Spotlight
Denese M. learned about Children's Futures from a hospital social worker shortly after she gave birth to her son. Other than a general understanding that she would learn parenting skills through Children's Futures, "I really didn't know what to expect from the program," Denese recalled.
But what she received from the program changed her life.
First, North Ward Family Support/Parent Child Center senior family support worker Aniela Brzoza began making visits to the young mom's home. "Aniela has always been there to support me by giving advice. At first, I was a little skeptical about telling Aniela things and allowing her to come into my home, but she had a vibe that everything would be OK," Denese said.
Aniela soon made arrangements with Greater Trenton Behavioral HealthCare when Denese needed counseling for depression. "As a result, I have learned that there is always a way to fix a problem. No matter what, you have someone to talk to when you feel the whole world is against you," Denese explained.
After Aniela provided additional resume writing and job opportunity assistance, Denese became employed and now describes herself as more self-confident. "Children's Futures helped me get through so many things that I would not have been able to do by myself. If more people knew about this program, they would not feel alone raising their children," Denese concluded.
Children's Futures' Key Communicators
Since 2002, Children's Futures has benefited from the participation of Trenton residents and social service agency representatives who are members of the Key Communicators' advisory group. The Key Communicators meet about six times a year to share their ideas on strengthening Children's Futures' work in the community. Key Communicators are also provided information to share with residents about Children's Futures' programs and events. If you would like to learn more about becoming a Key Communicator, contact us.
Links to News Articles and Columns
Parents
Warned Cough Medicines Imperil Infants
The
New York Times describes the Food and Drug Administration's
reassessment of cough/cold medicine safety for infants and toddlers.
Panel May Revise its Guidelines for Weight Gain During Pregnancy
The
Associated Press reports why the Institute of Medicine is considering
changes to the guidelines for how much weight a woman should
gain during pregnancy.
Consistency is Key to Raising Well-Adjusted Child
In his weekly Star Ledger column, Children's Futures' Board member
Dr. Kendall Sprott describes children and behavior.
Toddlers are Capable of Introspection
Preschoolers are more introspective than given credit for, according
to new research by investigators at the University of California
at Davis.
Children of Depressed Moms Do Better
When Dad is Involved
Children
whose mothers are depressed are less likely to develop problem
behaviors if their fathers are actively engaged in family life,
according to a Saint Louis University researcher.
Community Activities
AUGUST 2007
Monday, August 20:
ACT — Adults and Children Together — against Violence Workshops for Parents who Speak English as a Second Language
Presented by PEI Kids and The English School at The Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church: Free; 6:30 p.m.; workshops will be held at 1039 Lawrence Road (Rt. 206) in Lawrenceville. The workshops offer tools and strategies to help parents teach children how they can handle anger, resolve conflicts and deal with frustration in a nonviolent way. The dates for the other workshops in the series are November 26, December 19 and January 28, 2008. Each workshop lasts 90 minutes and includes dinner. Child care will be provided. Call 882-7909 to register.Saturday, August 25:
Back to School celebration for children and parents; Free; 11 a.m.; Grace Cathedral Fellowship Ministries at 1217 Calhoun Street. Call 658-3682 for more information.
SEPTEMBER 2007
Tuesday, September 11:
"Healthy Housing: What is it and how do we get it?" statewide training workshop; Free; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..; Sponsored by Isles, Inc. and the Alliance for Healthy Homes; Thomas Edison State College at 101 West State Street in Trenton. The training will cover the connection between housing conditions and health. For more information contact Leann Howell at lhowell@isles.org.Child Care Connection's Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Classes; Beginning 9/11 with other dates in September. Classes intended for early childhood professionals wanting to obtain the CDA credential or meet professional development requirements. Classes held evenings at 1001 Spruce Street. For more information call Child Care Connection's training department at 989-7940 or visit childcareconnection-nj.org .
Wednesday, September 26:
Grand Opening/Dedication of YWCA of Trenton's Health and Fitness Center; Lunch provided; 12:30 p.m.;140 East Hanover Street. Call 396-8291 (ext. 10) to RSVP.
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.