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 2, Number 5 | February 1, 2008 |
In This Issue
- Impact of Children's Futures
- CF Convenes Parents to Help Build a More Tolerant Society for their Children and Families
- Moms Enhance Computer Literacy Skills at New South Ward Family Success Center
- CF-Inspired Youth Communications Partnership Begins Fourth Year
- Columnist Describes CF's Impact on Organizational Teamwork Throughout Trenton
- CF Spotlight
- Healing Children: Capital Health System's Pediatric Emergency Services Program
- Links to News Articles
- New Thoughts on Language Acquisition: Toddlers as Data Miners
- Racial Disparity in Infant Mortality Rates Widens in USA
- Time Sure to Cure Kids' Common Colds
- Community Activities
- February CF Center-Based Programs for Parents and Children
- Cherish the Children Youth Nominations Due February 8th
- PrimeTime Tournament Features Trenton Schools
- February Fair for Parents Will Showcase Abbott Program
Impact of Children's Futures
CF Convenes Parents to Help Build a More Tolerant Society for their Children and Families
Toddlers quietly played with toys and babies slept while parents gathered at Children's Futures' East Ward Center on Monday morning to discuss ways their children could grow up in a safer, more tolerant society. A "Building Bridges" pilot program (the brainchild of East Ward Center at St. Francis Medical Center director Lenore Scott and South Ward Centers at El Centro/Catholic Charities director Roberto Hernandez) brought together parents from diverse backgrounds and different Trenton neighborhoods to share concerns about what divides residents and find ways to reach common ground.
The parents specifically discussed safety, culture, racism and ways to better understand others. "All of the parents expressed a desire for their children to inherit a society that had more trust and respect," Ms. Scott said. The parents bonded as they shared their passions to develop their children's health, education and spirituality. According to Mr. Hernandez, "As a community, we are looking at the commonalities versus the differences and that's how we are going to make strides." Anyone interested in learning more about the "Building Bridges" program's next session or the various services and workshops for children and families provided through the centers, should call Ms. Scott at 609 599-5332 or Mr. Hernandez at 609 394-2056.
Roberto Hernandez (blue shirt) described the goals of the "Building Bridges" program on Monday as parents from different backgrounds and neighborhoods prepared to offer their perspectives.
Moms Enhance Computer Literacy Skills at New South Ward Family Success Center
A program to enhance the computer literacy skills of moms so they are better prepared for the job market and more capable of researching health issues is underway at the new South Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center at Children's Home Society of New Jersey (CHS of NJ) on South Clinton Avenue. According to CHS of NJ director of family support services, Latino outreach and parenting education programs Maritza Raimundi-Petroski, "We are continuously getting requests for classes that are directly related to personal and professional development. Computer classes can help our families gain needed skills for everyday living. Our families are eager to learn, particularly when they have children and they are involved in their education."
Attendees at these twice weekly sessions describe the training as a great way to learn new skills while building friendships with other parents of young children. One mom said, "The class was really good. I hope they continue giving these types of classes. We learned a lot." This center is jointly supported by Children's Futures and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. For more information about this or any other program at this new center, please contact Ms. Raimundi-Petroski at 609 695-6274 (ext. 160) or email mraimundi@chsofnj.org
Some of the parents are shown during a recent computer class at the Family Success Center at Children's Home Society of New Jersey on South Clinton Avenue.
This is the main entrance of the new center located in the Roebling Complex.
CF-Inspired Youth Communications Partnership Begins Fourth Year
A Trenton Public Education Foundation (TPEF) mentoring program that grew from a Children's Futures-sponsored series of journalism and communications seminars began its fourth year on Tuesday with mentors from organizations and media outlets pledging their support to enhance students' communications skills. Called the Trenton Youth Communications Partnership, the program offers more than a dozen Trenton Central High School students opportunities to research issues and tell stories of childhood development, health and survival.
The students will visit media outlets and corporate and organizational communications departments to learn about news gathering, reporting via print and electronic media, branding, marketing and public relations. After rotating through the mentor organizations, each student will research a health topic provided by Children's Futures and choose a mentor to help communicate his or her story through either an awareness/marketing campaign, a television news program, a series of radio news briefs or a newspaper article.
According to TPEF president Pamela Pruitt, who is also vice president for development at WIMG/Morris Broadcasting, "This program expands the educational opportunities of students by enabling them to learn new channels of communicating and link their experiences to potential academic and career development interests." Collaborating with Children's Futures as this year's mentoring organizations are:
- Capital Health System,
- Community News Service (including the Trenton Downtowner),
- Deutsch Communications Group,
- Thomas Edison State College,
- Educational Testing Service,
- Boy Scouts of America,
- Joseph Jingola and Son,
- Mercer County Community College
- (WWFM 89.1 and MCCC TV) New Jersey Network,
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab,
- PSE&G,
- Rutgers University,
- Next Level Consulting,
- The Trentonian,
- Trenton Central High School,
- Trenton Thunder,
- Vagabond Vistas Photography,
- Verizon and
- WIMG-AM 1300 radio.
The public is invited to meet the participating students and mentors at a "Kick Off" event on Friday, February 15th at Trenton Central High School (Please see the Community Activities section below for more information.)
New Jersey Network's Pat Scannella and Steve McPhillips (back to camera) described their previous service as mentors to a student who created a health information video program at the Network's studios.
TPEF president Pamela Pruitt is flanked by Trenton Central High School's Mary Burks (l) and Trentonian on-line editor Andria Carter (r).
Examining Trenton Youth Communication Partnership materials were (front) Princeton Plasma Physics Lab program administrator Christine Ritter, (center) Trentonian columnist/reporter L.A. Parker and Thomas Edison State College communications director Joseph Guzzardo.
Columnist Describes CF's Impact on Organizational Teamwork Throughout Trenton
Writing Thursday about the impact of teamwork in the community, the Trentonian's award-winning columnist L.A. Parker described the Children's Futures' initiative in this way:
"Life improves when individuals shed their ego and realize the personal value of teamwork. Trenton needs coalitions like Children's Futures -- a collaboration of health care agencies --to fulfill the prenatal needs of all city children from birth to age 3. The involved parties no longer wage wars for funding available for such endeavors. Instead, they recognize a shared goal of helping mothers, fathers and babies through the most critical times of their lives. As shareholders of one dream, their movement as one entity alleviates all drawbacks of competition. Every child served becomes a victory for the team, which sets in motion the desire for more successful interactions with other clients. You win and keep winning, serve and keep serving, and by the end of the year the care initiative impacts the lives of thousands."
Here is a link to Mr. Parker's complete column: http://www.trentonian.com/
CF Spotlight
Healing Children: Capital Health System's Pediatrics Emergency Services Program
From a baby's first day of life, parents begin learning about the importance of access to emergency care, particularly when the unexpected happens at hours when private doctors' offices are closed. The pediatric emergency room at Capital Health System's (CHS) Mercer Campus on Bellevue Avenue is open around the clock, every day of the year, to serve children in need. Last year, the CHS Pediatrics Emergency Services Program handled nearly 20,000 visits. While the department treats children from birth up to 17 years of age, the majority of admission diagnoses are for children from birth to three years old. The top reason for visits among newborns to children three years old is respiratory distress/asthma (see related story about addressing pediatric asthma in Trenton in Weekly Briefing, Vol. 2, Issue 4). Approximately 70 Trenton-area pediatricians have privileges at CHS, which helps with the important follow-up communication between the pediatrics emergency services staff and the private physicians' offices after children are treated.
Pediatric Emergency Care services are provided in a separate area from the hospital's main Emergency Room. "We're a child-friendly environment staffed by pediatricians and certified pediatric emergency nurses," said Clinical Nurse Specialist Margaret (Cookie) Estlow, R.N., MSN, APN, BC. While an overwhelming majority of Trenton's children are welcomed into the world at CHS, some parents may not know about the breadth of emergency pediatric services there. For example, CHS provides stabilization for critically ill and chronically ill children with treatment care issues such as metabolic disorders and severe problems related to prematurity. Nurse Manager of Pediatrics Heather Keller, RN, BSN, CEN, lauded the entire CHS pediatric ER team for their passion and commitment and singled out the nurses for particular praise. "The nurses are so dedicated to their jobs...they all find being able to save lives and provide specialized quality care rewarding," Ms. Keller said. Both Ms. Keller and Ms. Estlow also acknowledged CHS director of pediatric ER services Zach Kassutto, M.D., and director of maternal child health services Pamela Graziadei, R.N., MSN, CNAA, BC for their leadership in helping to build a high quality and unique pediatric emergency center for children. For more information about the program, please call 609 394-4466.
CHS director of pediatric ER services Zach Kassutto, M.D. and a patient share a laugh.
Justine Whitman, RN works with a patient.
CHS clinical nurse specialist Cookie Estlow, R.N., MSN, APNBC (l) prepares to review chart with nurse manager of pediatrics Heather Keller, RN, BSN, CEN.
Links to News Articles
New Thoughts On Language Acquisition: Toddlers As Data Miners
Science Daily reports on research at Indiana University on a
theory that young children are able to learn large groups of
words rapidly by data-mining.
Racial Disparity in Infant Mortality Rates Widens in USA
The disparity in infant mortality between blacks and whites in
the USA has widened. OnMedica examines a report in the January
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Time Sure to Cure Kids' Common Colds
Children's Futures' Board Member Dr. Kendall Sprott writes about
children's health and development issues in his weekly column
for The Star Ledger.
Community Activities
February 2008
Friday, February 1 to Thursday, February 28:
February CF Center-Based Programs for Parents and Children: free; programs at Children's Futures' centers provide expectant parents and parents of newborns and toddlers with opportunities to enhance their parenting knowledge and skills. Children's Futures offers these sessions to improve literacy, promote nutrition, build children's musical awareness and encourage parent/child bonding. The February 2008 Program Calendar is attached above in both English and Spanish. If you have difficulty opening the document or have questions about center-based programs, please email tbellamy@trentonnj.org or call 609 989-3306.
Ongoing Activities Throughout the Month for Children and Families: For more information about community programs, please contact CitySmiles at Lkasabach@aol.com or link to www.citysmiles.org
Friday, February 8:
Deadline for Submitting "Cherish the Children" Youth Nominations to the Mercer County Commission on Abused, Neglected and Missing Children and the Cherish the Children Foundation: 4 p.m. deadline; Awards acknowledge Mercer County High School students for outstanding service to the community. For nomination forms or more information, please call Yolanda Leon at 609 989-6966 or email yleon@mercercounty.org
Saturday, February 9 and Sunday February 10:
PrimeTime Shootout High School Basketball Tournament: Day and evening Games; Sovereign Bank Arena. Trenton Central and Trenton Catholic High Schools will participate. Tickets available at box office. For more information, please email Jeff Hewitson at jhewitson@dewberry.com.
Tuesday, February 12:
Pre-Kindergarten Fair for Parents to Learn About the Abbott Preschool Programs Featuring NJ Family Care Sign-Ups: free; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Trenton Board of Education, Ellis Auditorium, 108 N. Clinton Avenue. Community organizations are encouraged to secure a table to provide information about their services for families. For more information, call the Office of Early Childhood at 609 656-4900 ext. 5709 or email dholguin@trenton.k12.nj.us. For news about all Trenton Public Schools' early childhood activities, link to the new Trenton.k12.nj.us/earlychildhood website.
Friday, February 15:
Volunteers Wanted for Career Day to Share Their Professional Experiences with PJ Hill Elementary School Students: Begins 9:45 a.m.; Patton J. Hill School, 1010 East State Street in Trenton. For more information, please call vice-principal Wayne Dennis at 609 656-4971.
Trenton Youth Communications Partnership 2008 "Kick Off" event: free; 5 to 7 p.m.; Community Room of Trenton Central High School at 400 Chambers Street. For more information, please call Pamela Pruitt at 609 695-1300.
Tuesday, February 19:
Start of Centralized Preschool Registration for all three and four year olds: free; beginning at 8:30 a.m., Trenton Board of Education, 108 N. Clinton Avenue. For more information, please call the Office of Early Childhood at 656 4900 ext. 5709 or email dholguin@trenton.k12.nj.us . Trenton parents wishing to make a registration appointment for children who turn three or four by September 30th 2008 should call 609 656 4900 ext. 5667.
Tuesday, February 28:
Once Upon a Time...We Believed: A Theatrical Stage Play About the Civil Rights Movement Performed by the P.J. Hill School Boys of Distinction and Girls of Grace: $15 for adults and $7.50 for children under 10; Dinner (included) starts at 5:30 p.m., Play starts at 6:30 p.m.; Patton J. Hill School, 1010 East State Street in Trenton. For more information, please call Bruce Boyd, Jr. at 609 393-3192 or email info@boyd-nj.org
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.