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 7 | February 15, 2008 |
In This Issue
- Impact of Children's Futures
- Trenton Physicians Improve Asthma Care
- CF-Led Early Childhood Literacy Effort, Geared to Impact School Readiness, Supports "Trenton Reads" and the Mercer County Literacy Consortium
- Pre-School Fair Matches Hundreds of Families with Early Childhood Resources
- CF-Sponsored PrimeTime Tournament, Seen Nationally, Draws Thousands
- Links to News Articles
- Close Parent-Child Ties Pay
- Good Parenting Can Help Difficult Infants Become Outstanding Students
- Some Cases of Autism May Be Traced to the Immune System of Mothers During Pregnancy
- Community Activities
- Trenton Public Schools to Hold Public Presentation on School Uniforms
- Dates Set for Dedications of New CF East Ward and South Ward Centers
- Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking
Impact of Children's Futures
Trenton Physicians Improve Asthma Care
According to the Pediatric Council on Research and Education (PCORE), a CF-supported program called Educating Physicians in the Community (EPIC) has changed the ways 11 pediatric and family practices in Trenton have implemented and measured office-based improvements in the treatment of childhood asthma. The following data (provided by PCORE, which is the Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatrics/New Jersey Chapter) show strong agreement by office health care medical teams (physicians, nurses) about specific treatment knowledge following the EPIC training:
| Percentage of Increases | |
| Understand the difference between
asthma severity classes |
42.7% Increase = 84.4% |
| Know that most pediatric asthmatics
have persistent asthma |
52.7% increase = 65.8% |
| Believe the benefits of Inhaled Cortico Steroid therapy outweigh potential risks |
42.5% increase =71.1% |
| Will use the Asthma Control Test | 36.7% increase =72.4% |
| Know how to properly step up treatment for uncontrolled asthma and step down treatment for controlled asthma |
32.4% increase =55.6% |
| Will complete the Asthma Action (Treatment) Plan |
41.4% increase =69% |
"The asthma learning program greatly increased office understanding of the extent of asthma morbidity in Trenton and the need for closer monitoring and for improved patient and family education. All of the practices accepted the concepts and all have made changes in their asthma management approaches," Steven Kairys, M.D. medical director and chair of PCORE told the Weekly Briefing PCORE officials also highlighted how two of the practices instituted process improvements that have significantly impacted care for children with asthma and provided support for their families. One practice is now scheduling group visits for patients with asthma to allow more time for patient management and education. In another practice, patients and their family now routinely receive education materials provided in English and Spanish that are organized in "Ziploc" bags. A previous Weekly Briefing report (Volume 1, Number 29) demonstrated how CF's partnership with physicians through EPIC has yielded fewer ER visits for children with asthma.
Bellevue Pediatrics' Dr. Puthenmadam Radhakrishnan (right) represents one of 11 practices reporting progress in asthma detection and treatment following CF-supported EPIC training programs. He shares a light moment with a young patient as office practice manager Delores Jones looks on.
CF-Led Early Childhood Literacy Effort, Geared to Impact School Readiness, Supports "Trenton Reads" and Mercer County Literacy Consortium
"Trenton Reads", a city-wide literacy initiative (created by Mayor Douglas Palmer and co-chaired by Children's Futures' president Floyd K. Morris, Jr.) and the Mercer County Literacy Consortium (created by the County Workforce Investment Board) will benefit from the work of a new early childhood sub-committee. The sub-committee, led by Children's Futures' vice president Melinda Green, will contribute to both the City and County programs by addressing early literacy issues such as children's language development, vocabulary building and other skills so important in a child's growth and development. Early childhood literacy is an essential aspect of Children's Futures' work in Trenton to ensure school readiness. At its first meeting this week, the sub-committee members discussed the important organizational links that will be essential to produce results throughout Trenton and Mercer County. "We expect our sub-committee will improve early childhood literacy by bringing together concerned groups to build strategies that will promote parent-child relationships and caregiver-child relationships that are important before real reading begins," Ms. Green explained.
This effort also complements comprehensive early literacy workshops at CF centers, activities provided through the Reach Out and Read (ROR) program at local physicians' offices and programs at Mercer County Community College's Trenton Family Literacy Project. "I can't think of a more important group to work with," said Beverly Mills, deputy director of the Mercer County Workforce Investment Board (WIB).
(From left-back to camera) Jacqueline Tolbert-Beverly of the Trenton Public Schools, Barbara Van Horn of Campfire USA , Beth Ann Gardiner and Nancy Thomson of the Child Care Connection and, Beverly Mills of the Mercer County WIB discuss early language development at the first meeting of the Early Childhood Literacy Committee yesterday.
Pre-School Fair Matches Hundreds of Families with Resources
Children's Futures joined with nearly 200 parents, dozens of Trenton agencies and Abbott providers for an inaugural Pre-K Fair hosted by the Early Childhood Department of the Trenton Public Schools on Tuesday. The Pre-K Fair served as the first step to help in the transition of children into the Abbott Program. Registration for children for September 2008 continues next Tuesday at the Board of Education offices (see February 19th listing below).
Mercer Street Friends representatives distribute information about Children's Futures' center-based programs to the hundreds of parents attending Tuesday's Pre-K Fair
Trenton Schools early childhood nurse Micah Freeman demonstrates proper teeth brushing techniques on a stuffed animal
A Capital Health Systems' Trauma Team staff member fits a child with one of the 100 bicycle safety helmets given away by the hospital during the event .
CF-Sponsored "PrimeTime" Seen Nationally, Draws Thousands
CF's efforts to educate the community about early childhood health and development continued with a major presence at last weekend's PrimeTime Basketball Tournament. CF served as a local sponsor of the event which was seen nationally on an ESPN network. Volunteers from CF partner agencies distributed informational materials throughout the weekend to the thousands of parents and children in attendance at the Sovereign Bank Arena. The tournament drew more than two dozen top teams from throughout the nation and region including Trenton Central High School and Trenton Catholic High School.
(From left) Nurse Family Partnership staff nurse Roz Miller describes CF's programs to a young mother as Children's Futures' Healthy Start project director and NFP administrator June Gray watches.
Links to News Articles
Close Parent-Child Ties Pay Off
United Press International reports on a University of Iowa study
that found children who have close, reciprocal relationships
with their parents do better in preschool.
Good Parenting Can Help Difficult Infants Become Outstanding
Students
Babies who cry frequently, are very active and do not adapt well
to new situations or people -- can perform as well or better
than so-called "easy" babies if parents provide the
right type of parenting, according a release describing a new
study from Indiana University and the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill.
Birth Problems Linked to Teenage Fathers
Researchers report that babies of teenage fathers are more likely
to be born with health problems than babies born to men over
40, according to HealthDay News.
Some Cases Of Autism May Be Traced To The Immune System Of Mothers
During Pregnancy
New research from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute and Center
for Children's Environmental Health reported in Science Daily
has found that antibodies in the blood of mothers of children
with autism bind to fetal brain cells, potentially interrupting
healthy brain development.
Baby Products Linked to Phthalate Presence
Parents who want to reduce their infants' exposure to phthalates
should not apply baby lotions or powders - except for medical
reasons, according to a report of research published in The
Washington Post.
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. For more information, please call Tonya Bellamy at 609-989-3306 or email tbellamy@trentonnj.org .
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 citysmiles.org
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 609-656 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.
Wednesday, February 20:
Special Guest Chef Liz Yvon of Aubergines, Etc. (AuberginesEtc.com) will present the "Friends Kitchen" workshop offered through the Children's Futures' West Ward Center: free; beginning at 9:30 a.m. For more information, please call 609-989-1395.
Thursday, February 21:
Trenton Public Schools Public Presentation on School Uniforms and a Fashion Show: free; 6 to 8 p.m.; Trenton Board of Education Auditorium , 108 N. Clinton Avenue. For more information, please call Juan Martinez at (609) 647-4368.
Thursday, 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
March
Thursday, March 6:
Parent Workshop: Transition to Kindergarten from Home or Preschool: Free; 5 to 8 p.m. Monument School, 145 Pennington Avenue. For more information, please contact Denise Holguin 609-656-4900 (ext. 5709).
Tuesday, March 11:
SAVE-THE-DATE...Dedication of New Children's Futures' East Ward Center: Free; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. St. Francis Medical Center's Crean Hall, 4th Floor; 601 Hamilton Avenue. For more information, please contact Lenore Scott at 609-599-5332.
Thursday, March 13:
Parent Workshop: Transition to Kindergarten from Home or Preschool: Free; 5 to 8 p.m. Wilson School, 175 Girard Avenue. For more information, please contact Denise Holguin 609-656-4900 (ext. 5709).
Tuesday, March 18:
Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction "Party Drugs Workshop and Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking: Free; 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Erini Restaurant, 1140 River Road/Route 29 North in Ewing. For more information, please call Geetha Arulmohan at 609-396-5874.
Thursday, April 3:
Parent Workshop: Transition to Kindergarten from Home or Preschool: Free; 5 to 8 p.m. Parker School, 117 Ferry Street. For more information, please contact Denise Holguin 609-656-4900 (ext. 5709).
Thursday, April 10:
Parent Workshop: Transition to Kindergarten from Home or Preschool: Free; 5 to 8 p.m. Kilmer School 1300 Stuyvesant Avenue. For more information, please contact Denise Holguin 609-656-4900 (ext. 5709).
Tuesday, April 15:
SAVE-THE-DATE...Dedication of New Children's Futures' and Department of Children and Families' South Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center: Free; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children's Home Society of New Jersey; 635 South Clinton Avenue. For more information, please contact Maritza Raimundi-Petroski at 609 695-6274 (ext. 160) or email mraimundi@chsofnj.org
Wednesday, April 16:
UIH Family Partners, Children's Futures and Horizon NJ Health Present the 8th Annual Fatherhood Conference: $75; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; The National Conference Center at the Holiday Inn, Monmouth Street and Route 33 in Hightstown/East Windsor. For more information, please contact Ed Gittens at 609-695-3663.
Sunday, April 27:
Fourth Annual "Trenton Real Men Cook" Cancer Awareness Program Featuring Prominent Trenton Men Sharing Samples of Their Personal Recipes from Appetizers to Desserts: Donation requested at door; 1 to 4 p.m.; Trenton War Memorial. For more information, please call 609-895-0101.
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.