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 12 | March 28 to April 4, 2008 |
In This Issue
- Impact of Children's Futures
- Children's Futures Works to Build Stronger Organizations in Trenton
- CUNA Changing Lives for Pregnant and Parenting Moms and Dads
- DCF Budget Forum and Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Plan Survey
- Links to News Articles
- Prenatal Acetaminophen: An Asthma Link?
- Boys More Likely to Die in Infancy Despite Healthcare Advances
- Recurrent Miscarriage
- Community Activities
- YMCA Healthy Kids Day
- YWCA Stand Against Racism
- Annual Fatherhood Conference
- Celebrity Scrabble Tournament Benefits Nonprofit Agencies
Impact of Children's Futures
Children's Futures Works to Build Stronger Organizations in Trenton
Part of Children's Futures' work under the initiative's "Integrating Community Support" objective is to build stronger organizations in Trenton through training and technical assistance. Rose Mary Bradley, co-pastor of the Princeton Deliverance Center on Southard Street in Trenton is thankful for what she calls the, "expressions of love and support" she has received over the past few years in the form of technical assistance. In terms of impact, Pastor Bradley noted that, "We have attained in the past four years approximately $170,000 in grant funds." Pastor Bradley said that she and other leaders in Trenton's faith-based and social service communities have strengthening their outreach to many of the same children and families served through Children's Futures. According to Pastor Bradley, "...the capacity building workshops as well as the financial training classes...enabled us to work at our fullest potential."
Pastor Bradley is one of the community members profiled in Children's Futures' 2007 Annual Report, which will be available in two weeks. To receive a printed copy of this report, please contact Bill Rovner.
Pictured above is Rose Mary Bradley, Co-Pastor of Princeton Deliverance Center and participant in Children's Futures' training and technical assistance programs. (Photo credit: Don Addison)
CUNA Changing Lives for Pregnant and Parenting Moms and Dads
The smiles on the faces of the pregnant women and new parents said it all. Dozens who attended a recent "CUNA Baby Shower" at Children's Home Society of New Jersey's South Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center at Children's Futures received gifts, enjoyed lunch and shared stories about how CUNA has helped them have healthy babies and better understand their roles as parents. CUNA (which means "crib" in Spanish) is a health and social services program that provides participants with free linguistically and culturally appropriate prenatal and postnatal health education, parenting education and support services. "With major support from Children's Futures and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, we are able to serve a greater part of the Latino pregnant and parenting moms and dads in Trenton to achieve positive birth outcomes, healthy child development and school readiness, " said Children's Home Society president and CEO Donna Pressma. Nutrition classes, tours of pediatric and OB/GYN departments and prenatal clinics, and LAMAZE childbirth preparation classes are a few of the prenatal services offered through CUNA. Some postnatal services include opportunities to participate in a bilingual parenting academy, early childhood development support groups and sessions with community lactation counselors.
Other funders include: Capital Health System, the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation, Central New Jersey Maternal and Child Health Consortium's Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition of Trenton and the Mercer County Department of Human Services: Office of Environmental Health.
Additional CUNA community partners include Capital Health System, Henry J. Austin Health Center and the Puerto Rican Community Day Care Center. For more information about CUNA programs, please call 609-695-6274 or 1-800-247-6365.
Some of the dozens of CUNA participants are pictured at the recent Baby Shower at the new Children's Home Society of New Jersey's South Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center at Children's Futures.
CEO Donna Pressma (l) describes what's ahead in the program for 2008 as CUNA staff member Isaiara Rosario looks on. The public is invited to the official dedication/open house of this center on April 15th. More information about this event may be found below.
DCF Budget Forum and Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Plan Survey
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is hosting a forum to discuss its proposed budget on Thursday, April 17 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at 222 Warren Street in Trenton in the first floor conference room. The Senate and Assembly Budget Committees have scheduled their hearings to review Governor Corzine's proposed 2008 budget for DCF. The Senate hearing will be Wednesday, April 23 and the Assembly hearing is scheduled for Thursday, April 24. The 2009 full budget proposal is posted at the New Jersey Treasury Department website and may be accessed by going to the following address: state.nj.us/treasury/omb/publications/09budget/index.shtml
Parents, family members and other community residents are also invited to participate in an online survey on the Statewide Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan being conducted by DCF's Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships (DPCP) This survey may be found here ». Additional information may be obtained by contacting DPCP Director Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong at: Darrell.Armstrong@dcf.state.nj.us.
DCPC Director Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong, M. Div., MFT, who is leading efforts to secure public participation in the statewide prevention plan survey, is pictured during a recent appearance at the Children's Home Society (CHS) North Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center at Children's Futures. Listening to Rev. Armstrong are (l) CHS President and CEO Donna Pressma and CHS Board Chair Dr. Rosalind Doctor (Photo credit: Jaime Escarpeta)
Links to News Articles
Prenatal Acetaminophen: An Asthma Link?
Some kids whose moms take acetaminophen during
pregnancy may
be more likely to have asthma
symptoms,
a new study reported by WebMD suggests.
Boys More Likely to Die in Infancy Despite Healthcare Advances
MedPage
Today reports researches have found Infant mortality in developed
nations was 24% higher for boys than girls in 2000
Recurrent Miscarriage
In her New York Times column, Jane Brody describes an updated
report on what is known and not known about the causes of repeated
miscarriage.
Early Treatment Advised for Newborn's Eczema
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
Isles, Inc. is providing dust sampling in 115 homes to determine if hazardous lead levels are present. If high levels are found, Isles will counsel parents about next steps including---protecting their children, speaking to a landlord, working with a city housing inspector, and applying for loans or grants to make a home lead safe. For more information, please call 609 341 4703.
The New Jersey State Parent and Information Resource Center, a program of Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey, has valuable services available for schools and community agencies (including FREE workshops for parents to support parental involvement efforts) Workshops are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority given to schools/agencies that can gather more than 30 parents per session. For more information please call 732-246-8060 ext. 110. To receive workshop application forms, please email Cdeisroth@preventchildabusenj.org
CitySmiles Programs Throughout the Year for Children and Families: For more information about fun and educational programs for children and parents contact CitySmiles at Lkasabach@aol.com or visit citysmiles.org.
April 2008
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 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 .
Family Support Organization of Burlington/Mercer Counties Presents Strengthening Families Program: free (includes dinner); Fourteen Wednesday and Thursday sessions for parents of children 6 to 11 at 3535 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. Parents and children must attend together. Parents/Caregivers earn $300 worth of gift certificates for completing all 14 sessions. For more information, please contact 609-586-1200
Saturday, April 19:
Celebrity Scrabble Tournament to Benefit Local Charities: Donations accepted at the door; 12 noon at the Trenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard; participants include Congressman Rush Holt, Trentonian columnist Jeff Edelstein, Trenton Councilwoman Annette Lartigue and WPST-FM DJs among others. For more information contact Eric Maywar at book_cellar@mindspring.com.
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 www.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.
May 2008
Friday, May 16:
SAVE-THE-DATE...Dedication of New Children's Futures' South Ward Parent Child Center at El Centro/Catholic Charities: Free; 2 to 4 p.m.; 327 South Broad Street. For more information, please contact Roberto Hernandez at 609-394-2056 or email rhernandez@cctrenton.org
Thursday, May 29:
ACT- Adults and Children Together Against Violence: free; 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.; five week workshop sponsored by Family Support Organization of Burlington/Mercer Counties and presented by PEI Kids. Workshop is focused on how kids are influenced by violence they see every day via media images and news items; 3535 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. Please contact 609-586-1200 for dates, times and registration information.
June 2008
Saturday, June 7:
Save the Date: Third Annual Platinum Dads Celebration: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Trenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard. For more information, please call UIH Family Partners at 609-695-1492.
Saturday, June 14:
Annual Formal Dinner Dance Honoring Trenton Youth, Presented by the Trenton Kappa Foundation, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Trenton Alumni Chapter and Children's Futures: 7 p.m.; Trenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard. For more information, including tickets, sponsorship and journal advertising opportunities, please email Garvester.Kelley@nffusa.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.