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 27 | October 26, 2007 |
In This Issue
- News from Children's Futures
- Palmer Announces New Literacy Initiative in State of the City Address
- CF Centers Help Families Test for Lead in Their Homes
- Building Wealth in the North Ward
- Trenton's Annual Community Baby Shower Draws 120 Residents
- Links to News Articles
- The Path to a Healthy Pregnancy
- USDA Announces New MYPYRAMID for Pregnant and Nursing Moms
- Prenatal Calcium May Lower Kids' Blood Pressure
- Community Activities
- Outreach Worker Perinatal HIV Training
- Public Forum on "The New Trenton Central High School"
- Danger Assessment Training
News from Children's Futures
Palmer Announces New Literacy Initiative in State of the City Address
At his Annual State of the City address last night in Trenton City Hall Council Chambers, Mayor Douglas H. Palmer announced a number of economic, neighborhood and educational initiatives, including a new city-wide literacy program, "Trenton Reads". Mayor Palmer named Children's Futures' president Floyd K. Morris, Jr. and Dr. Alma Salter of the Trenton CHANGE Coalition to co-chair "Trenton Reads". During his address, the Mayor said, "This literacy initiative will create community-based approaches that encourage our entire city to read." The Mayor's speech is available by linking to: State of the City Address.
Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, flanked by "Trenton Reads" co-chairs Floyd K. Morris, Jr. and Dr. Alma Salter, following last night's State of the City Address. Mayor Palmer is holding one of the books he would like every child in Trenton to read called, The Adventures of Bernie Bean, written by former Trenton Mayor Arthur Holland
CF Centers Help Families Test for Lead in Their Homes
Children's Futures' centers are participating in the "Wipe Out Lead New Jersey" program by distributing lead test kits that help expectant parents and parents of young children identify harmful lead dust in their homes. Studies indicate that lead exposure in children makes a direct contribution to behavior problems such as aggression, inattention and impulsivity. Children of any age with elevated blood lead levels -- including those with high levels as toddlers and preschoolers -- suffer the consequences. New Jersey law requires all children to be screened for lead at ages one and two, and any time thereafter when a risk of lead exposure is identified.
During National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week - October 21-27, 2007, parents are reminded that they can come to Children's Futures' centers and receive home lead test kits which are free and easy to use. For locations and contact information, please link to www.childrensfutures.org
East Ward Center family assessment worker Ines Lecerf (left) provides a lead test kit to a mom attending an East Ward Center workshop on Thursday.
Building Wealth in the North Ward
Helping Trenton residents learn about finances to help them on their road to financial independence is the goal of a unique four-part "Wealth Building" seminar offered through PNC Bank at the North Ward Center. The series is part of the PNC Bank corporate community outreach program. Families participating in this series learn about a host of issues starting with basics like tracking expenses, balancing checkbooks, and establishing credit. The program even helps families learn how to avoid identity theft. According to Rochelle, a mom with a three-year old and a nine-month old, "The course is helping me learn about what I need to do for the financial future of my children." For more information about "Wealth Building", call the North Ward center at 393-2980.
PNC Bank branch manager and assistant vice president Donna Hopkins discussed how to find out credit history during Thursday's "Wealth Building" seminar.
Trenton's Annual Community Baby Shower Draws 120 Residents
Residents crowded into the basement hall of Shiloh Baptist Church on Monday as the Trenton Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition joined community partners in presenting Trenton's Annual Community Baby Shower. Parents, expectant parents and even some grandparents learned about the array of services available throughout Trenton to help them raise healthy and safe children. Attendees also heard presentations by Trenton Councilwoman Cordelia Staton, Children's Futures' president Floyd K. Morris, Jr. and Horizon NJ Health medical director Dr. Philip Bonaparte.
Scenes from the Baby Shower:
North Ward senior family support and assessment worker Aniela Brzoza prepares to enter the event with mom Iwona and her son Jacub.
North Ward family assessment worker and center activity coordinator Ericka Williams shares Children's Futures' resource information with attendees Gabriela and Carl.
Links to News Articles
The Path to a Healthy Pregnancy
Fox News reports on the importance for women to get into good
eating habits before conceiving.
USDA
Announces New MYPYRAMID For Pregnant and Nursing Moms
The
US Department of Agriculture has launched an on-line tool to
assist pregnant and nursing mothers with easy access to important
nutrition information.
Prenatal
Calcium May Lower Kids' Blood Pressure
The PakTribune describes
a study published in the American Journal of Hypertension about
the impact of prenatal calcium intake by women during pregnancy.
Community Activities
November 2007
Thursday, November 1:
Outreach Worker Training: Update on Perinatal HIV; Free; 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Thomas Edison State College, 101 West State Street, Prudence Hall, Room 103, For more information or to register, please call Laura Mitchell at (732) 937-5437.
Public Forum Presentation: "The New Trenton Central High School": Free; two sessions-3:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.; Trenton Central High School Community Room, 400 Chambers Street. For more information, please call 656-4900 Ext. 5663. Presented by the Trenton School District's Facility Advisory Board.
Friday, November 2:
Danger Assessment Training/Domestic Violence Summit; $60; 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; Sheraton Eatontown Hotel, Route 35 in Eatontown. For more information, please call (732) 363-5400.
Monday, November 5:
Parent/Child Aquatic Classes- Water Babies (4 - 15 months old) and Water Infants (1 - 4 years old) classes-6 weeks: $60; Monday mornings; 140 East Hanover Street. Register online: www.ywcatrenton.org; or via phone: (609) 396-8291 (ext. 10).
Wednesday, November 15:
ISLES Spirit of Community Dinner; $45; 5 p.m.; Trenton Country Club, 201 Sullivan Way, West Trenton. For more information, please call 341-4713.
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.