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 09 | March 3-7, 2008 |
In This Issue
- Impact of Children's Futures
- Centers to Address Growing Mental Health Needs Among Children and Families
- Family Preservation Center Celebrates Five Years of Strengthening Families
- CF Listens to Trenton Residents
- Community Survey of Children's Futures' Impact Set
- Links to News Articles
- RWJ Foundation Tackles Influential Health Factors
- Tooth or Consequences: The Cost of Poor Dental Fitness
- About One-Quarter of Women with HIV Want to Become Pregnant
- Community Activities
- Open Houses/Ribbon Cuttings for CF Centers Begin This Week
- Parent Workshops Help in the Transition from Home or Preschool to Kindergarten
- YWCA's Community-Wide Stand Against Racism
Impact of Children's Futures
Centers to Address Growing Mental Health Needs Among Children and Families
Children's Futures' neighborhood centers will respond to a growing need for behavioral health counseling for families by expanding services provided through Greater Trenton Behavioral HealthCare (GTBHC). During a presentation last week, GTBHC officials briefed Children's Futures' partner CEOs and neighborhood center site directors about plans to provide an increased schedule of counseling to families at CF centers. "During pregnancy and the post partum period, parents and families may find life to be more stressful. Sometimes this leads to anger, substance abuse and other problems. Counseling helps families take a look at the issues in their lives and find new ways to address them, "said Lori Trani, GTBHC's program coordinator for CF's behavioral health. Trani noted that while some people are initially reluctant to seek behavioral health counseling because of the stigma associated with depression and other disorders, they soon see the benefits of having a sympathetic outside counselor provide guidance. "We see families who face significant pressures due to poverty. They are overwhelmed with a lack of housing, food and transportation. They come to us because they don't know what else to do," Trani explained. The increased counseling sessions will provide avenues to help parents see how changes in the ways they think and perceive the world may help them more effectively deal with their issues. The programs at the centers will be added over the next few months. GTHBC is currently recruiting additional staff to address the growing needs of families.
Lori Trani, GTBHC's program coordinator for Children's Futures' behavioral health services presents information about increased counseling programs for parents and children during a meeting of CEOs and site directors from Children's Futures' neighborhood centers in Trenton. Looking on is GTBHC's CEO John Monahan.
Josephine Reyes of GTBHC (right) counsels a young mom in Spanish at Children's Futures' South Ward Center at Home Avenue.
Family Preservation Center Celebrates Five Years of Strengthening Families
Children's Futures' was praised for its support of HomeFront's Family Preservation Center (FPC) yesterday during a 5th Birthday Celebration for the FPC at the Ewing campus of the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf. The FPC provides shelter and much more for 40 homeless families for approximately three months. Families at the FPC receive help finding permanent housing as well as receiving life skills programs. Child care and educational enrichment (through an early childhood educator provided through Children's Futures) are other hallmarks of the program. "Here, very brave vulnerable individuals get the support they need to move their families forward, "noted FPC director Thora Faigle. According to Faigle, since FPC's inception, 724 unduplicated homeless families have received a scope of services, anchored by individualized case management, to help them meet their challenges and move to self-sufficiency. As a result, an overwhelming majority of families move on from the FPC to permanent housing or long-term transitional housing. "We are making a substantial difference in the lives of women, children and families," Faigle added. During the celebration, HomeFront's executive director Connie Mercer praised Children's Futures not only for support of the FPC, but for providing low income families with a, "real a shot for the future." Ms. Mercer specifically praised CF's work in networking and information-sharing that she said, "...has strengthened the collegiality and therefore, the effectiveness among Trenton organizations serving women of child-bearing years and families with young children."
Children's Futures' president Floyd K. Morris, Jr. joined HomeFront's executive director Connie Mercer and Family Preservation Center director Thora Faigle during yesterday's Fifth Birthday Celebration.
CF Listens to Trenton's Residents
Who helps Children's Futures better understand community needs? One answer is the Key Communicators Group, comprised of more than two dozen community residents and volunteers who meet about six times a year to share information and provide ideas on strengthening Children's Futures' work throughout the community. In addition to listening to Key Communicators, last week CF president Floyd K. Morris, Jr. and vice president Melinda Green provided updates to the group on the goals of the city-wide TRENTON READS program created by Mayor Douglas H. Palmer and co-chaired by Mr. Morris. Guest speaker Nicole Cody of PEI Kids provided Key Communicators with information about the services provided to thousands of children and families through her organization. If you would like to learn more about serving as a volunteer member of CF's Key Communicator advisory group, please call Bill Rovner at 695-1977, ext. 103 or email brovner@childrensfutures.org.
CF vice president Melinda Green (standing, back to camera) describes the early literacy component of the TRENTON READS program to CF's Key Communicators last week.
Nicole Cody, outreach and communications associate for PEI Kids, answers questions about her organization's programs as CF's president Floyd K. Morris, Jr. (right), vice president Melinda Green (left), and other Key Communicators look on.
Community Survey of Children's Futures' Impact Set
Public/Private Ventures (P/PV), a national research organization based in Philadelphia (www.ppv.org), is conducting an evaluation of the Children's Futures' initiative. As part of the evaluation, beginning this month, interviewers from the Center for Survey Research at the University of Virginia will be randomly selecting Trenton residents to complete a 45-minute telephone interview, the 2008 Children's Futures Community Survey. This is the second time that Trenton residents will have participated in this interview - 654 residents completed a similar interview in 2002. Trenton residents eligible to complete the interview include parents of children aged 5 years or younger. Those who complete the interview will receive a $10 gift card from Wal-Mart as compensation for their time. The interviews will ask residents questions about their background, neighborhood, child care, health, health insurance coverage, family planning, and social services utilization. Interviewers will call residents primarily during the evening hours and on weekends. The evaluation will help Children's Futures identify the ways in which Trenton agencies have met the initiative's goals of improving the health and well-being of Trenton's young children. P/PV thanks residents in advance who agree to participate in this important study.
Links to News Articles
RWJ
Foundation Tackles Influential Health Factors
PR Week describes the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission
to Build a Healthier America, announced last week, will focus
on a number of non-medical factors influencing our health.
Tooth or Consequences: The Costs of Poor Dental Fitness
The impact of tooth decay in children is detailed by the American
Medical Association News
TV Could Be Disrupting Your Kid's Sleep
TV viewing, especially before bedtime, has been linked to irregular
sleep patterns for the very young, according to experts in this
HealthDay News article.
About One-Quarter of Women with HIV Want to Become Pregnant
Research by Ohio State University suggests about one in four
women who have tested positive for the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) expect pregnancy and motherhood to be a part of their
future.
Children and Youth - Play - Development - Science
Writer Robin Marantz Henig examines "play" in this
New York Times Magazine article.
Community Activities
The Family Living Unit at Trenton Central High School is looking to borrow an "Empathy Belly" pregnancy simulator and a "Baby Think It Over" infant simulator for a week or two. If you have these products and can lend them, please contact Ruthann Bailey at RBAILEY@trenton.k12.nj.us
March 2008
Monday, March 3 to Monday, March 31:
March CF Center-Based Programs for Parents and Children-ATTACHED ABOVE: 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 www.citysmiles.org
This Thursday, March 6:
SAVE-THE-DATE...Open House/Ribbon Cutting for Children's Futures' and Department of Children and Families' North Ward Family Success Center: Free; 12. to 2 p.m. and tours from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; 1554 Princeton Avenue. For more information, please contact Dolores Bryant at 609-393-2980.
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:
HM/HB Trenton Coalition Meeting: free; Thursday, March 13, 2008, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Thomas Edison State College, Room 301, 101 W. State St. Please contact Laura Mitchell at 732-937-5437 or lmitchell@cnjmchc.org
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.
April 2008
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).
Friday, April 11:
Stand Against Racism: Free; Organizations throughout Trenton invited to join the YWCAs of Trenton, Princeton, Children's Futures and others (corporations, non profit organizations, schools and other community and faith-based groups) in taking a stand against racism and to visually show a commitment to ending injustice in our communities. For more information, please call Caroline Mitchell at 609-396-8291 (ext. 407) or go to: www.StandAgainstRacism.org.
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 at Children's Home Society: 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.