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 11 | March 17 to March 21, 2008 |
In This Issue
- Impact of Children's Futures
- Stemming the Tide of Factors Contributing to Child Abuse and Neglect
- New Space and Programs Highlighted at Opening of CF's East Ward Center
- Transportation Key to Families Accessing Services
- Links to News Articles
- Continuous Doctor Care Key to Childhood Screenings
- Obese Women Gain Too Much Weight During Pregnancy, Expert Says
- Fluid Behind Eardrum Triggers Infections
- Secondhand Smoke Hikes Tots' Risk of Heart Disease
- Community Activities
- YMCA Healthy Kids Day
- YWCA Stand Against Racism
- Latino Health Fair
- Annual Fatherhood Conference
Impact of Children's Futures
Stemming the Tide of Factors Contributing to Child Abuse and Neglect
Research shows that factors such as stress, isolation, substance abuse, and lack of understanding of child development can lead to child abuse and neglect. One way Children's Futures is addressing these issues is by partnering with the Child Care Connection (Mercer County's child care resource and referral agency) to strengthen families through a new early care and education initiative. This work is based on research by The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), a policy group in Washington, D.C. CSSP uncovered a host of strategies that early care and education programs use to support and strengthen families and provide special help to those who may be at risk of abuse and neglect. According to this research, five family strengths serve as protective factors for reducing the risk of abusing or neglecting children: parental resilience, social connections, knowledge of child development, and concrete support in times of need, and having children with healthy social and emotional development. This research led to the creation of the Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education Initiative (SFI).
In 2006-07, a collaborative of the New Jersey Departments of Children & Families, Human Services, Education, and Health & Senior Services piloted the SFI-NJ initiative in eight communities across the state. Now in 2008, child care resource and referral agencies throughout New Jersey are working with cohorts of five child care centers. In Mercer County, Children's Futures is supporting Child Care Connection's work with an additional five centers including Carolyn Stokes Day Nursery, Mercer County CYO Preschool, Mercer Street Friends-Hamilton Ave. Day Care, True Servant Preschool Academy, and Stepping Stones Learning Institute, Weekly Briefing will provide updates as this SFI initiative unfolds.
For more information about SFI in Mercer County, contact Beth Ann Gardiner at 609-989-7770, ext. 139 or email bethgardiner@childcareconnection-nj.org.
Pictured above working with children at Carolyn Stokes Day Nursery are (L) teacher Kristy Sugg and Executive Director Stacy Capehart. Carolyn Stokes Day Nursery is one of the organizations participating with Child Care Connection in the Children's Futures'-supported SFI-NJ initiative.
New Space and Programs Highlighted at Opening of CF's East Ward Center
CF's East Ward Center's move to an expanded fourth floor facility at St. Francis Medical Center' s Crean Hall was celebrated last week at an open house/dedication ceremony attended by families and dignitaries from throughout Trenton. St. Francis Medical Center president and CEO Gerald J. Jablonowski told the guests that the commitment of the center's staff members reinforces the goals of both St. Francis Medical Center and Children's Futures to meet the needs of Trenton's diverse population. The revamped center includes children's play and learning spaces, a full kitchen for meals, computers for use by children and families and support group areas for counseling and meetings. Center director Lenore Scott noted that some innovations offered through the new site include a weekly family health clinic on Fridays, a 12-week series on "What to Do When a Child Gets Sick" and an expansion of the popular community night programs from once-a-month to twice-a-month. To contact the center, please call 609-599-5764.
Case Manager Ines Lecerf (l) and Center-Based Coordinator/Case Manager Marisol Weaver-Henderson welcome visitors to the East Ward Center Open House
Lenore Scott (l), Manager of Community Services for the Children's Futures' East Ward Center prepares to cut the ribbon held by St. Francis Medical Center President and CEO Gerard J. Jablonowski and Children's Futures' Vice President Melinda W. Green.
Taking a break from the celebration, teens from Trenton Central High School (TCHS) gather in the center's new support group area to learn about community resources from Brenda Tift of Trenton Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies (with flyer) seated next to TCHS Health Teacher Ruthann Bailey.
Transportation Key to Families Accessing Services
Free van transportation has been launched for South Ward residents to access services at the Home Avenue and new South Broad Street Children's Futures' centers under the direction of lead agency Catholic Charities. A formal dedication of the recently added location on the campus of Sacred Heart Church at 327 S. Broad Street is being planned for May.
This center complements the 342 Home Avenue location by offering programs in such areas as play therapy and anger management as well as sessions to strengthen relationships in marriages. To contact the new South Broad Street location, please call 609-394-2056. For the original Home Avenue center, please call 609-393-7802.
Pictured above are staff members who comprise the CF South Ward Center at Catholic Charities on South Broad Street.
Front Row: Sandra M. Pinto, Client Services Coordinator, Bertha Ramirez, Counselor, Maria P. Duarte, Secretary/Receptionist.
Middle Row: Roberto Hernandez, Program Director, Guy Hoffman, Security, Benjamin Rivera, Driver, Elena Gomez, Administrative Assistant.
Back Row: Bob Thomas and George McGowan of the Maintenance Department. Missing: Sacha Montanez, Group Facilitator, Noemi Torres, Group Facilitator and Gary Baker of the Maintenance Department.
Links to News Articles
Continuous Doctor Care Key to Childhood Screenings
A U.S. study reported in HealthDay News says children cared
for by the same doctor during their first six months of life
are more likely than those examined by different doctors to receive
proper screening for lead poisoning, anemia and tuberculosis.
Obese Women Gain Too Much Weight During Pregnancy, Expert Says
Current recommendations for weight gain during pregnancy --
developed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1990 -- should
be revised, reports Science Daily.
Fluid Behind Eardrum Triggers Infections
Children's Futures' Board Member Dr. Kendall Sprott writes about
children's health and development issues in his weekly column
for The Star Ledger
Secondhand Smoke Hikes Tots' Risk of Heart Disease
Secondhand smoke causes signs of cardiovascular damage in children,
especially the very youngest, new research contends..
Community Activities
An important new website has been launched for Trenton Parents by the Trenton School System's Office of Early Childhood. Check it out at: Office of Early Childhood Education www.trenton.k12.nj.us/earlychildhood
March 2008
Monday, March 3 to Monday, March 31:
March 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. The calendar is also posted in English and Spanish at www.childrensfutures.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
Sunday, March 30:
Latino Health Fair Sponsored by the Puerto Rican Parade of Trenton: Free; 1 to 3 p.m.; St. Joseph's Church School Cafeteria, 540 North Olden Avenue. For more information, please call 609-977-7466 or 477-4321.
Monday, March 31:
Annual Meeting of Members of the Central New Jersey Maternal and Child Health Consortium: 11:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Forsgate Country Club, Jamesburg, NJ.. For more information, please call (732) 937-5437.
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).
Sunday, April 6:
Boys of Distinction & Girls of Grace Second Annual Bowl-A-Thon: $15 donation; 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. or 3:45 p.m.; Curtis Suburban Lanes, Scotch Road in Ewing. For more information, contact Building Our Youth's Development at 609-393-3192 or snd an email to bboyd@boyd-nj.org.
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: StandAgainstRacism.org.
Saturday, April 12:
Healthy Kids day: Free; Organizations throughout Trenton invited to join the YMCA of Trenton to participate in this annual community event. For more information, please call Yolanda Drislane at 609-656-4037 or email ydrislane@greatertrentonareaymca.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 or email egittens@uih.org.
Thursday, April 17:
Family Guidance Center Presents "An Evening with Dr. Daniel Gottlieb" of NPR's "Voices in the Family" program: $90; 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; The Corporate Campus of Janssen Pharmaceutica in Titusville. For more information, please call at 609-586-0668 or go to fgccorp.org.
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.