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 16 | April 28 to May 2, 2008 |
In This Issue
- Impact of Children's Futures
- Wilkinson Proud of Area's Renewed Focus on Fathers
- Centers Offer an Expanded Range of Programs to Strengthen Families
- Annual Report Details Gains Made in 2007 for Trenton's Children and Parents
- Links to News Articles
- Factors Affecting Survival, Disability of Extremely Premature Infants Identified
- Helping the Vulnerable-Targeting Lead Paint
- CC: Breastfeeding Rates Up
- Community Activities
- Community Health Fair in South Ward Celebrates "Cover the Uninsured Week"
- Trenton Spirit Walk at Cadwalader Park
- Adults and Children Together Against Violence Workshop
Impact of Children's Futures
Wilkinson Proud of Area's Renewed Focus on Fathers
As she prepares to step down from her 11 year tenure as Executive Director of UIH Family Partners (formerly Union Industrial Home for Children), Zuline Gray Wilkinson believes Trenton is better positioned than ever before to make positive changes in the lives of fathers.
The architect of the annual UIH Fatherhood Conference and the upcoming Platinum Dads celebration, Wilkinson also was the driving force behind The Mercer County Ex-offender Reentry Partnership. This group consists of organizations throughout the region working to ease the transition of men returning to the community from incarceration.
Along with Children's Futures and the 26-member Trenton Men's Collaborative, UIH Family Partners has produced a more comprehensive approach to working with fathers through such programs as adult male mentoring, anger management and relationship counseling and technology education. Deflecting credit for improving father engagement in the lives of their children, Ms. Wilkinson preferred to praise others. "Children's Futures was the vehicle that unified many organizations in our community to address fatherhood by leveraging the issue and making it a greater focus," Ms. Wilkinson said.
Moving from UIH (the oldest family and child agency in New Jersey founded in 1859), she will soon become Vice President of Clinical and Multi-Cultural Family Practice at The Home for Little Wanderers, a Boston-based organization soon to celebrate its 210th birthday. Ms. Wilkinson is leaving her Bellevue Avenue office with more than books and memorabilia. "I take with me an indelible imprint of the dedicated men and women who are committed to making Trenton a healthy place for children to grow and who share my belief that strengthening fathers strengthens families," she said.
In addition to its fatherhood work, UIH Family Partners offers residential services for pregnant and parenting teenage girls. The UIH Family Partners' Board is expected to announce Ms. Wilkinson's acting or permanent successor shortly.
UIH Family Partners Executive Director Zuline Gray Wilkinson leaves Trenton later this month for a new position in Boston.
Centers Offer an Expanded Range of Programs to Strengthen Families
One calendar can no longer hold the growing number of programs for expectant parents and parents of newborns and toddlers available at Children's Futures' centers located throughout Trenton. For the first time, individual center calendars provide information on programs (dates, times and contact information) to enhance parenting knowledge and child health and development. Children's Futures' partners offer these free sessions to improve literacy, promote nutrition, build children's musical awareness and encourage parent/child bonding. For example, program participants get an opportunity to build a family library of their own by receiving a free bilingual book each week at the South Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center at Children's Home Society (685 South Clinton Avenue-609-695-6274).
At the end of the series of programs, families receive a total of eight to ten age-appropriate and culturally-appropriate books to enhance parent-child interactions at home and promote bonding and early literacy. In addition to the books and the reading activities, families work on arts and crafts (see photo below) during each session and put together an art exhibit of their work. Music rounds out the program as families learn how to make musical instruments from everyday household items. This program is offered free of charge on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A daytime program will be offered this summer. To view the CF's center-based programs, please click here. For more information, please call Tonya Bellamy at 609-695-1977 (ext. 109) or email tbellamy@childrensfutures.org.
Following a session with books and reading, parents and children bond with arts and crafts at the South Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center at Children's Home Society.
Annual Report Details Gains Made During 2007 for Trenton's Children and Parents
Children's Futures' 2007 Annual Report features families, policy leaders, agency directors and medical experts describing their views about the progress the initiative made in 2007. The report also details how Children's Futures' core functions (partnering, advocacy, technical assistance, convening, disseminating best practices and collecting and synthesizing data) are helping to strengthen parenting, improve primary care, enhance child care and support the community. If you would like to receive a copy of this publication, please email Bill Rovner with your name and address or call 609-695-1977 (ext.103). An electronic version of the Children's Futures' 2007 Annual Report is available here » (PDF).
Cover of CF's 2007 Annual Report. The publication is available upon
request and may be also be found online in PDF format here »
Links to News Articles
Factors Affecting Survival, Disability of Extremely Premature Infants Identified
According to a Yale University School of Medicine release, four additional factors that can help predict a preemie's outcome have been identified by the National Institutes of Health Neonatal Research NetworkHelping the Vulnerable
The dangers posed by lead poisoning across New Jersey and in Trenton are described in this story by The Times of Trenton.CDC: Breastfeeding Rates Up
WebMD reports on increases in breastfeeding rates nationally.
Community Activities
May 2008
Friday, May 2:
Deadline for Submitting 2008 Platinum Dads Nomination Forms: 4:30 p.m. 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 Celebrates Cover the Uninsured Week: free; 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; 327 South Broad Street; Event includes resources for health insurance, health screens, eye exams, blood pressure and cholesterol screening, food, raffles, gifts and more. Sponsors include El Centro de Recursos de Catholic Charities/CF South Ward Parent Child Center, Hispanic American Medical Association, Robbins Annex and Robbins School. For more information, please call Sandra Pinto at 609-394-3617 or email spinto@cctrenton.org.
The 3rd Annual Isles Trenton "Spirit Walk": free; 9 a.m. registration; walk begins at 10:15 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.
Mother's Day Origami Gift Workshop: Free (refreshments included); 2 to 4 p.m.; Learn how to make beautiful origami gifts for mom at Classics Used and New Books, 17 South Warren in downtown Trenton. For more information, please contact Eric Maywar at book_cellar@mindspring.com.
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.
Tuesday, May 6:
Community Connection Resource Fair/Workshop for Parents: free; 5:30 to 7 p.m.; 3535 Trenton Board of Education, 108 North Clinton Avenue. Learn about legal services, housing services and more. For more information, please call 609-656-4900, ext. 5607 or 5720.
Thursday, May 8:
Trenton Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition: free; lunch provided; 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Thomas Edison State College, Prudence Hall, 101 West State Street. For more information please contact btift@cnjmchc.org
Saturday, May 10:
KidsAbilities Carnival: free; refreshments provided; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Children's Specialized Hospital, 3575 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. For more information/registration, please call 609-631-2802.
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 609-394-3617 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:
Trenton Heritage Days: free; Statehouse Complex, West State Street, 12 to 8 p.m.
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.
Sunday, June 8:
Trenton Heritage Days: free; Statehouse Complex, West State Street, 12 to 7 p.m.
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
Ongoing 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 visit CitySmiles.org
Camp Fire USA of New Jersey: Children's Futures' Community partner in the Trenton Reach Out and Read program is again selling discounted tickets for Six Flags Great Adventure. All proceeds benefit Camp Fire programs for the prevention of violence, child abuse, abduction and substance abuse The $30 ticket is good for any one day admission to the theme park for adult or child. To order tickets: Check or money order should be made payable to Camp Fire USA ($30 per ticket and $3 per order for postage and handling) and sent to Camp Fire USA New Jersey Council, 535 East Franklin Street, Trenton, NJ 08610. For more information, please call: (609) 695-8410.
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.