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 14 | April 11 to April 18, 2008 |
In This Issue
- Impact of Children's Futures
- Conference Focuses on Fatherhood and Faith
- South Ward Dedicates Family Success/Parent Child Center
- Mercer County Chamber's Young Business Leaders to Assist CF Holiday Toy and Book Drive
- Links to News Articles
- Delaying Pregnancy Can Carry Consequences
- Infant Feeding and the Development of Obesity
- Kids of Substance-Using Moms Have Smaller Brains
- Community Activities
- Free Trenton Family Law Clinic
- Trenton Real Men Cook
- El Centro/Catholic Charities Community Health Fair
Impact of Children's Futures
Conference Focuses on Fatherhood and Faith
The power of the ministry in impacting change in fathers' lives served as a major theme of the 8th Annual UIH Family Partners' Fatherhood Conference held Wednesday in East Windsor. Noting that faith and fatherhood were inextricably linked, Moderator Dr. Jeffrey Johnson (President, National Partnership For Community Leadership) led a panel discussion "The Faith Community: Available and Overlooked" featuring three prominent Trenton area faith-based leaders. Bishop Edward Jenkins (Pastor, True Servant Worship and Praise Church); Rev. Dr. J. Stanley Justice (Pastor, Mt. Zion AME Church) and Imam Qareeb Bashir (Islamic Center of Ewing) addressed the availability of programs in houses of worship, discussed steps the faith community is taking to break down barriers to attract men, and listened to brainstorming ideas from the audience about ways to meet both the spiritual and physical needs of the poor and indigent.
The Conference's keynote speech by Dr. Henrie Treadwell, Senior Social Scientist and Associate Director of Development for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, addressed the role of faith-based leaders and social service providers in looking at policy and race issues that impact the incarceration and reentry of African-American males. She particularly focused on the impact of incarceration and reentry on children and families. Dr. Treadwell provided research on the increased morbidity and mortality of African-American males and the lack of affordable and reliable health care services. "We need to get a different picture of who is in trouble," she said, while also describing the issue of debt (accrued by men while they are in prison in terms of back child support). She urged conference attendees to raise their voices to improve access for men to health care and to support more diversity in health programs.
Other conference presenters included Brian C. Jenkins (Executive Director, Chosen 300 Ministries in Philadelphia, PA); Herb Levine (Executive Director, Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness); Andrea Connor (NJ Office of Child Support Services); and Dr. Philip Bonaparte (Chief Medical Officer, Horizon NJ Health). Conference sponsors included HorizonNJ Health and Children's Futures.
During a break at the UIH 8th Annual Fatherhood Conference on Wednesday in East Windsor, Children's Futures' President Floyd L. Morris, Jr., is pictured with (center) UIH Family Partners Executive Director Zuline Gray Wilkinson and Conference Keynote Speaker Dr. Henrie Treadwell, Senior Social Scientist and Associate Director of Development for Primary Care at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.
Answering audience questions and responding to ideas following their presentation on the relationship between fathers and the faith community are (from left) Bishop Edward Jenkins (Pastor, True Servant Worship and Praise Church), Rev. Dr. J. Stanley Justice (Pastor, Mt. Zion AME Church), Moderator Dr. Jeffrey Johnson (President, National Partnership For Community Leadership) and Imam Qareeb Bashir (Islamic Center of Ewing).
South Ward Dedicates Family Success/Parent Child Center
During the ribbon cutting of New Jersey's newest Family Success Center in Trenton's South Ward at Children's Home Society on Clinton Avenue, officials from Children's Futures (CF) the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Children's Home Society (CHS of NJ) celebrated another location to benefit children and families. Nearly 200 people, including families, neighbors, social service agency representatives, organizational Board of Director members and clergymen welcomed the addition of the center located in the historic Roebling Complex. A "Cat in the Hat", a "Little Bo Peep" and a face painter entertained children as adults toured the spacious, brightly lit center. The new Family Success/Parent Child Center offers separate play areas for infants and toddlers, as well as settings for group programs, individual counseling, computer training for parents, and a job search area.
CHS of NJ was one of 20 grant awardees chosen to receive DCF funding through a competitive process last year. Trenton's other DCF-designated Family Success/Parent Child Center, also under the day-to-day operation of CHS of NJ, is located at 1554 Princeton Avenue. in Trenton's North Ward.
Children's Home Society of New Jersey President and CEO Donna Pressma looks on with CHS of NJ Board Member Rev.
Julio Guzman (behind) children from the Maya Program perform a musical number at the dedication.
The official ribbon cutting featuring children, parents staff and dignitaries.
Mercer County Chamber's Young Business Leaders to Assist CF Holiday Toy and Book Drive
The Young Business Leaders Council (YBLC) of the Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced its newly formed partnership to contribute to Children's Futures' annual holiday toy and book drive event in December. The council, composed of thirty-one young professionals from a wide array of Mercer County-based organizations, chose Children Futures from a pool of fifteen nonprofit applicants seeking assistance from the YBLC in 2008.
"Each applicant we considered makes a positive impact on Mercer County," said Alex Opiela, YBLC member and Business Advisor at PNC Bank in Hamilton. "We felt that our group could collectively make the biggest difference for Children's Futures through the council members' diverse employment backgrounds, network of contacts and personal skill sets."
The YBLC will be involved with planning the eighth annual event for Children's Futures, Inc., whose mission is to improve childhood health and development outcomes in Trenton from prenatal to age three. Additionally the council will generate sponsorships, create a network of collections points for the drive and distribute the donations. On average, the toy and book drive generates enough donations (toys & cash) to reach nearly 500 Trenton families. Gifts cards in the amount of $25 are purchased with cash donations and distributed to the families throughout Trenton.
"We are honored, excited and eager for the opportunity to partner with the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce Young Business Leaders Council to strengthen our 2008 holiday toy/book drive event," said Spencer L. Lester, Financial Officer of Children's Futures. "We all have an interest in children; therefore, together we can build a stronger community to help build awareness of early childhood issues as well as continue to create smiling faces not only on children, but on parents as well!"
To become a sponsor of the Annual Children's Futures' Holiday Toy and Book Drive or for more information on how to become involved, please contact Alex Opiela III at alex.opelia@pnc.com or Spencer L. Lester at slester@childrensfutures.org .
The YBLC is comprised of emerging business leaders seeking to enhance their leadership skills, network with colleagues, and participate in competitive projects that will benefit them professionally, while at the same time positively impacting the Chamber of Commerce and its surrounding business community. The Class of 2008 has representatives from twenty-nine Mercer County-based organizations and is exclusively sponsored by Merrill Lynch.
(Left to right) Children's Futures' Financial Officer and Annual Holiday Toy and Book Drive originator Spencer L. Lester with Executive Assistant Iris Rawls sorted donated holiday toys for distribution last December with help from UIH Family Partners' Client Services Specialists Rashidah White and Lori Ray from the CF Father Center.
Links to News Articles
Delaying Pregnancy Can Carry Consequences
CNN reports on the consequences that may occur when delaying
pregnancy.
Infant
Feeding And The Development Of Obesity
Medical News Today
describes new insights into possible associations between infant
feeding and health outcomes such as obesity.
Kids
of Substance-Using Moms Have Smaller Brains
A mother's
substance use during pregnancy can mean a smaller brain for
her child, according to a report in Reuters Health.
Prenatal
omega 3 link to smarter babies
United Press International
describes research that shows Omega-3 fatty acids in the last
months of pregnancy increase a baby's cognitive and motor skills,
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 Offers Information About 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 link to CitySmiles.org
April 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' partners offer 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 609-695-1977 (ext. 109) or email tbellamy@childrensfutures.org. The locations of CF's centers and English and Spanish versions of the April 2008 calendar may be found here »
April 2008
Saturday, April 19:
Mothers United with their Daughters Fellowship Breakfast/Brunch Program: $10 per person; 10 a.m.; Princeton Deliverance Center Dining Hall, 301 Southard Street.
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 fgccorp.org.
Monday, April 21:
The First Trenton Family Law Clinic, a Joint Project of Children's Home Society, the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF), Legal Services of NJ, and Womanspace, for Low-Income Households; free; 12 noon to 7 p.m.; Children's Home Society, 635 South Clinton Avenue in the Roebling Complex. Attorneys will be conducting presentations and offering private consultations on April 21 between Noon and 7 PM at the Children's Home Society in Trenton. An immigration attorney will also be available. See below for more details. Interpretation into Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Polish, and Spanish, will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Please call (877) 452-5333 for more information.
Tuesday, April 22:
21st Annual Trenton Clean Communities Litter March: city-wide; You can join one of two dozen teams which will fan out across the city collecting debris and recyclables. For more information, please call 609-989-31251.
Wednesday, April 23:
Pregnancy 101 Free Workshop Open to all Expecting Mothers and Fathers in Trenton: free; city-wide; six week series held from 4 to 5 p.m.; Children's Futures' East Ward Parent/Child Center at St. Francis Medical Center's Crean Hall (School of Nursing) on the 4th floor. For more information, please call Roseanne Best-Dougherty, RN at 609-599-5330.
Saturday, April 26:
Men's Prostate Cancer Education and Awareness Program Featuring Daniel Fram, M.D., Clinical Director, Capital Health System Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Health System; free; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shiloh Baptist Church, 340 Rev. S. Howard Woodson Way.
Sunday, April 27:
Fourth Annual "Trenton Real Men Cook" Prostate Cancer Awareness Program Featuring Prominent Trenton Men Sharing Samples of Their Personal Recipes from Appetizers to Desserts: $10 Donation requested at door; 1 to 4 p.m.; Trenton War Memorial. For more information, please call 609-895-0101.
May 2008
Friday, May 2:
Deadline for Submitting 2008 Platinum Dads Nomination Forms: For more information, please call Ed Gittens at 609-695-3663.
Saturday, May 3:
El Centro/Catholic Charities Community Health Fair at the Children's Futures' South Ward Parent/Child Center at South Broad Street: free; 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m..; 327 South Broad Street; Event includes health screens, eye exams, blood pressure and cholesterol screening, food, raffles, gifts and more. Sponsors include El Centro de Recursos de Catholic Charities, Hispanic American Medical Association, Robbins Annex and Robbins School. For more information, please call Sandra Pinto at 609-394-2056 or email spinto@cctrenton.org.
Mother's Day Origami Gift Workshop: Free (refreshments included); 2 to 4 p.m.; Learn how to make beautiful origami gifts for mom. Classics Used and New Books, 17 South Warren in downtown Trenton. For more information, please contact Eric Maywar at book_cellar@mindspring.com.
The 3rd Annual Isles Trenton "Spirit Walk": free; 11 a.m.; Cadwalader Park; Trenton church choirs, praise dancers, singers and musicians will provide entertainment throughout the day. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The "Spirit Walk" is supported by a grant from the New Jersey Health Initiatives program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For information about how you or your organization can participate, please call Isles at 609-341-4700.
Monday, May 5:
Grand Opening of the Family Support Organization of Burlington/Mercer Counties: free; 5 to 8 p.m..; 3535 Quakerbridge Road, IBIS Plaza Suites 400 in Hamilton. Tour, refreshments and learn about workshops an classes. Please contact 609-586-1200 for more information.
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 22:
Womanspace, Celebrating its 30th Year, Presents the 2008 Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award Dinner Event Honoring Author and Filmmaker Dr. Jean Kilbourne; $150; 6 p.m.; Princeton Hyatt Regency in the Carnegie Center, in Princeton, New Jersey; Womanspace is the lead agency in Mercer County serving domestic violence and sexual assault victims and their families. Womanspace operates the NJ statewide domestic violence hotline, 1-800-572-SAFE. Other programs include 24-hour hotlines, crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy, housing and domestic abuse training for the Children's Futures' initiative. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to acquire tickets, please call 609-394-0136 or visit WomanSpace.org.
Special Education Workshop: free; 6 to 8 p.m.; Learn the ABC's of Special Education Services; 3535 Quakerbridge Road, IBIS Plaza Suites 400 in Hamilton. Please contact 609-586-1200 for more information.
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, IBIS Plaza Suites 400 in Hamilton. Please contact 609-586-1200 for dates, times and registration information.
Saturday, May 31:
UIH Family Partners "Communi-Tea Celebration": $45 per person in advance; 2 to 4 p.m.; Grace Cathedral, 1217 Calhoun Street. For more information, please contact 609-695-1492.
June 2008
Saturday, June 7:
Save the Date: Third Annual Platinum Dads Celebration: $25 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.