In This Issue

• Impact of Childrens Futures
  • Strengthening Families Through Early Child Care Partnership with CCF and DCF
  • Seminars and a Proclamation Highlight World Breastfeeding Week Focus at CF Centers
  • Hundreds of New Books Distributed to Trenton Children During Puerto Rican Day Parade
• Links to Print/Web Articles
  • Risk of Post-Partum Suicide
  • For Babies, the Flip-Side of Back to Sleep
  • Pre-Pregnancy Diabetes Tied to More Birth Defects
• Upcoming Community Events Calendar
  • Public Invited to Help Shape Vision of South Ward Family Success Center at CHS
  • Back to School Motivational Event Next Week
  • MercerResourceNet.org Open Houses Set
• Ongoing Community Activities
  • CF Center-Based Programs for Parents and Children
  • Pre-School Registration for 2008-2009 School Year
  • Womanspace Seeks Domestic Violence Victim Response Team Volunteers

Impact Of Childrens Futures

Strengthening Families Through Early Child Care Partnership with CCF and DCF

Childrens Futures work with the Child Care Connection (CCC), Mercer Countys child care resource and referral agency, and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF), is helping child care centers prevent the occurrence of child abuse and neglect in families. This is part of the Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education Initiative that is inaugurating a first-in-the-nation, statewide parent leadership team. During a regional workshop on Tuesday attended by representatives from CCC, parents, and child care center directors from throughout Central New Jersey, Rev. Darrel L. Armstrong, Director of the Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships of the N.J. Department of Children and Families (DCF) described the role early care and education centers play in preventing child abuse and neglect. The earlier we can reach parents and families the better, he said, noting the systematic ways these centers are able to impact a large number of very young children. He characterized the initiative as being community-based and strength-focused with universally accessible services for families. The program is based on five research-based protective factors to promote optimal development and strong families including: Parental Resilience, Social Connection, Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development, Concrete Support in Time of Need, and Social and Emotional Competence of Children. Alice Lightner, a Trenton mother of six children (five of whom have attended Carolyn Stokes Day Nursery) is participating on the statewide parent leadership team. She said, Its important to encourage your children to do their best. Empowering parents produces better children in the classroom, at home and in life.

While the other child care resource and referral agencies throughout the state are each working with five child care centers, Child Care Connection is working with ten centers with five funded through the State initiative and another five supported by Childrens Futures. Participating centers include Carolyn Stokes Day Nursery, Mercer County CYO Preschool, Stepping Stones Learning Institute, CDI-Head Start, Mercer Street Friends-Hamilton Avenue Day Care, True Servant Preschool Academy, Maple Stream Road Preschool, Deeper Life Childcare Development Center, Better Beginnings, and The Village Learning Center. For more information on the Strengthening Families through Early Care and Education Initiative, please contact Beth Ann Gardiner, CCCs director of training, at 609-989-7770, ext. 139 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <> .

Reviewing some information about the Strengthening Families initiative are (from left to right) CCCs education program coordinator Cindy Jackson, parent Alice Lightner, director of the Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships of the N.J. Department of Children and Families (DCF) Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong, CCCs Family Child Care Network Coordinator Anjeron Smith, CCCs director of training Beth Ann Gardiner and CCC trainer Maisah Foote.

Pat Stanislaski from the DCF Office of Early Childhood Services, told workshop attendees, We are looking at families from a whole new perspective. The initiative focuses on what parents are doing right that we can build on.

Seminars and a Proclamation Highlight World Breastfeeding Week Focus at CF Centers

Since Monday, more than 200 residents have participated in breastfeeding seminars presented by Capital Health System lactation experts at Childrens Futures centers and at the Henry J. Austin Health Center in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week. During one of the seminars on Thursday at the Catholic Charities/Childrens Futures South Ward Parent/Child Center on Home Avenue, Trentons Director of Health and Human Services Carolyn Lewis-Spruill presented a City Proclamation on behalf of Mayor Douglas H. Palmer. The Proclamation designated August as Breastfeeding Month in Trenton. Director Lewis-Spruill thanked the CF staff for getting the word out about this important issue. Breastfeeding helps mothers with their own nutrition as well as their babies because breastfeeding mothers become more careful about what they put into their own bodies. Once mothers understand the benefits of breastfeeding, they are more inclined to do it, she said.

Capital Health System offers a lactation support line (609-394-4163) for residents with questions about any aspect of breastfeeding. In addition, a Milk Bank" has been developed for women to donate extra milk for babies who are sick. Some of this milk is also sent to South Africa for babies with HIV/AIDS.

Capital Health System lactation specialist Joy Rees presents breastfeeding seminar to women at the East Ward Parent Child Center earlier this week at St. Francis Medical Center.

City of Trenton Health and Human Services director Carolyn Lewis-Spruill (second from left) presents a City Proclamation from Mayor Douglas H. Palmer declaring August 2008 to be Breastfeeding Month in Trenton. Also pictured are (from left) Capital Health System lactation specialist Julie Blumenfeld, MSN, Childrens Futures director of family support interventions June Gray and Sandra Pinto from the Catholic Charities/Childrens Futures South Ward Parent Child Centers on Home Avenue and on South Broad Street.

Hundreds of New Books Distributed to Trenton Children during Puerto Rican Day Parade

Last Sunday was a banner day as Childrens Futures took the Trenton READS program to the streets by way of volunteers who flanked the initiatives float and distributed books and resource materials during a two mile parade in the East and North Wards of Trenton. Nearly 400 new books were handed out to children and families..

Organizations contributing to the event by donating books or lending materials for the CF/Trenton READS Float included St. Francis Medical Center, the Trenton Public Library, Childrens Home Society of New Jersey, Classics Book Store, Campfire USA/Reach Out and Read and Mercer County Community Colleges Kelsey Theater.

Volunteers from CFs centers and the Central New Jersey Maternal and Child Health Consortium program stuffed approximately 400 bags full of new childrens books and information about Trenton resources for distribution to families during the 31st Trenton Puerto Rican Day Parade last Saturday.

Volunteers lead the CF Float turning onto Hamilton from Chambers Street before enthusiastic residents.

Leading the CF contingent and sporting a red and white Cat in the Hat Hat, seven-year-old Ilijah Rodriguez encourages onlookers to read.

Volunteer readies bags of childrens books and resource information for distribution to parade spectators.

CF Seeks Vice President for Program Management and Development

At Childrens Futures (CF), our nonprofits mission is to improve child health and development outcomes for children from prenatal to age 3 in Trenton, NJ, to ensure every child enters preschool healthy and ready to learn. CF is searching for an individual to serve as Vice President for Program Management and Development with a passion for creating and supporting community-level change. This position reports to the CF President.

Candidates should have an advanced degree (Masters or higher), 10 years of senior leadership with 5 years of management experience in: early childhood health and development; strategic planning; fiscal analysis; project management; grant writing; and contract development/monitoring. Candidates must also possess strong written, verbal and group facilitation skills with ability to represent CF in health, policy, legislative, community and philanthropic settings. Knowledge of federal, state and local public/private funding sources is essential.

The position offers a competitive salary and benefits. Interested parties should mail a cover letter with a resume/CV and references to: Att: CF Human Resources, 28 W. State St., Suite 305,Trenton, NJ 08608 or email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 8/15/08. For more details on this position, please click here.

Links To Print/Web Articles

Risk of Post-Partum Suicide
Although maternal suicide after giving birth is a relatively rare occurrence, suicide attempts often have long-lasting effects on the family and the infant, according to research described in PsychCentral.

For Babies, the Flip Side of 'Back to Sleep'
The Los Angeles Times reports on a national survey of 400 pediatric physical and occupational therapists that found that two-thirds of therapists reported increases in motor delays in infants who spend too much time on their backs.

Pre-Pregnancy Diabetes Tied to More Birth Defects
Diabetic women who get pregnant are three to four times more likely to have a child with birth defects than other women, according to new government research reported by the Associated Press.

Use Of Cleaning Products During Pregnancy Increases Risk Of Asthma In Young Children
ScienceDaily reports on a longitudinal study that shows women who use a lot of household cleaning products when they are pregnant, or shortly after giving birth, are increasing their childs risk of developing asthma.

Editorial: Corzine's Education Legacy
This Bergen Record editorial describes Governor Jon Corzines efforts to expand state-funded preschool programs to reach all low-income children as nothing less than an educational milestone.

Upcoming Community Events Calendar

August 2008

Monday, August 11:

UIH Family Partners Annual Golf Classic: $150 per person; Lunch/Registration 11 a.m. Shotgun start 1 p.m.; Mercer Oaks West Country Club in Princeton Junction, NJ; proceeds support programs for more than 600 families. For more information, please call Ed Gittens at (609) 695-3663 (ext. 215).

Public Invited to Offer Views on Vision for South Ward Family Success Center/Parent Child Center at Childrens Home Society: free; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; transportation, child care and dinner will be available; 635 South Clinton Avenue at the Childrens Home Society of New Jersey. For more information, please contact Maritza I. Raimundi-Petroski, MPA, Director of Family Support Services, Latino Outreach and Parenting Programs at 609-695-6274, Ext. 160.

Tuesday, August 12:

Reach Out and Read Celebration During National Health Center Week: free and open to the public; 1:30 p.m.; Henry J. Austin Health Center, 321 North Warren Street. Congressman Rush Hold and former Congressman Bob Franks expected to attend. For more information, please call Bonnie Baker at (609) 278-5984 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <>

Wednesday, August 13:

Help is Here Express National Bus Tour Connecting Residents Who are Having Trouble Affording Prescription Medications with Patient Assistance Programs: free; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Henry J. Austin Health Center; 321 North Warren Street. For more information about the bus, please contact Lucy Montgomery at (215) 766-7951.

Thursday, August 14:

Boys of Distinction Girls of Grace (B.O.Y.D.) Back to School Motivational Event Featuring Author Rahfeal Gordon: $25 (includes lunch); 12 p.m..; Roman Hall in Trenton, 100 Whittaker Avenue. For information, please contact Bruce Boyd at 609-393-3132 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <>

Saturday, August 23:

Community Fest, Back to School Event and Health Fair: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m..; Grace Cathedral Fellowship Ministries, 1217 Calhoun Street in Trenton; featuring food, games, school supplies. Please call Corrine Grooms for more information at 609.658.3682.

Monday, August 25:

4th Anniversary Celebration of Trentons Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Consumer Coalition: free (includes dinner); 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; Princeton Deliverance Center, 301 Southard Street in Trenton. Please RSVP by August 20th by calling Shardae Morris at 732-937-5437.

September 2008

Saturday, September 6:

Community Health Fair: free; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Francis Medical Center School of Nursing/Crean Hall on St. Francis Place. Event features physical examinations and immunizations for Trenton School students as well as screenings for everyone. For more information, please call 1-877-452-5333.

Saturday, September 13:

3rd Annual Latino Parenting Conference-Safety in the Latino Community: free; 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Childrens Home Society of New Jersey, 635 South Clinton Avenue in Trenton. Organizations interested in reserving a community resource table or if you have any families who may be interested in attending, please call Maritza Raimundi Petroski at 609-695-6274 (ext. 160). Space is limited to 150 individuals and 25 community organizations.

Monday, September 22:

Open House to Explore MercerResource.net: free; 2. to 5 p.m. Capitol County Childrens Collaborative, 3535 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. MercerResourceNet.Org is a complimentary web tool providing a wide range of information about support, resources and services for families in Mercer County. To RSVP or for more information, please call 609-584-0888 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tuesday, September 23:

Open House to Explore MercerResource.net: free; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Capitol County Childrens Collaborative, 3535 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. MercerResourceNet.Org is a complimentary web tool providing a wide range of information about support, resources and services for families in Mercer County. To RSVP or for more information, please call 609-584-0888 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wednesday, September 24:

Open House to Explore MercerResource.net: free; 4 to 7 p.m. Capitol County Childrens Collaborative, 3535 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. MercerResourceNet.Org is a complimentary web tool providing a wide range of information about support, resources and services for families in Mercer County. To RSVP or for more information, please call 609-584-0888 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wednesday, September 24:

Open House to Explore MercerResource.net: free; 2 to 5 p.m. Capitol County Childrens Collaborative, 3535 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. MercerResourceNet.Org is a complimentary web tool providing a wide range of information about support, resources and services for families in Mercer County. To RSVP or for more information, please call 609-584-0888 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <>

Wednesday, September 24:

Trenton Board of Education, Office of Early Childhood 2nd Pre-K Fair: free; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trenton Board of Education, Ellis Auditorium, 108 North Clinton Avenue in Trenton. Parents will also be able to register each child for school on the day of the Pre-K Fair if proper documentation is presented. To sign up. please call Denise Holguin@609 656 4900x5669 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <>

Thursday, September 25:

Open House to Explore MercerResource.net: free; 2. to 5 p.m. Capitol County Childrens Collaborative, 3535 Quakerbridge Road in Hamilton. MercerResourceNet.Org is a complimentary web tool providing a wide range of information about support, resources and services for families in Mercer County. To RSVP or for more information, please call 609-584-0888 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Ongoing Community Activities

CF Center-Based Programs for Parents and Children: Free programs at Children's Futures' centers provide families with the support they need to be empowered to succeed in life. Children's Futures' partners offer sessions to improve literacy, enhance employment opportunities, promote health, safety and good nutrition, address behavioral health issues, and encourage parent/child bonding and educational achievement. For more information on July, 2008 programs, please call Tonya Bellamy at 609-695-1977 (ext. 109) or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Pre-School Registration for 2008-2009 School Year: Beginning July 1, 2008, the Trenton Public Schools' Early Childhood Department will begin registering children every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning from 8:30am-11:00am. Children are eligible for free preschool if they turn three or four by September 30th and are Trenton residents. An appointment is needed in order for parents to complete the registration process for each eligible child. For appointments, please call 609 656-5667. Documents needed for registration: Child's Birth Certificate, Vaccination Record, 2 Current Proofs of Address (within 30days of registration date) utility bill, lease, home telephone, or cable bill will be accepted.

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or link to CitySmiles.org

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.

Moms Quit Connection provides free training to clinicians to help them help families provide smoke-free homes to growing children. This is a statewide program of the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative funded by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. For more information, please contact Cathy Butler, BSW, CSW at 856-665-6000 (ext. 229) or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Swim Classes at the YMCA: The Greater Trenton Area Y.M.C.A. is now offering Adult and Youth swim lessons. Lessons are available every Saturday until August 30, 2008. Youth class- 9am to 10:30 (starting at 3years old) Adult class- 10:30 to 12:00 noon

Location-Greater Trenton Area YMCA 431Pennington Ave. Trenton, NJ Fee: $40.00 plus Associate Membership $25.00 total -$65. Pre-registration is required. Please call 609-599-9622 for more information.

Pre-School Center Openings still available at Greater Trenton YMCA for September: The Pre-School Center serves children living in the City of Trenton 3-5 years of age and is an all-day program. Please call 609-599-9622 for more information

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Camp Fire USA of New Jersey: All Six Flags Great Adventure Tickets Available Through Camp Fire USA of New Jersey Have Been Reduced to $20 Each. The $20 ticket is good for any one day admission to the theme park for adult or child. Camp Fire USA New Jersey Council, Children's Futures' Community partner in the Trenton Reach Out and Read program, is selling the discounted tickets for Six Flags Great Adventure as a fundraiser. All proceeds benefit Camp Fire programs for the prevention of violence, child abuse, abduction and substance abuse To order tickets: Send check or money order made payable to Camp Fire USA ($20 per ticket and $3 per order for postage and handling) to Camp Fire USA New Jersey Council, 535 East Franklin Street, Trenton, NJ 08610. Tickets may also be picked up at the Camp Fire office. For more information, please call: (609) 695-8410.

Womanspace: Womanspace is seeking volunteers to join the Domestic Violence Victim Response Team (DVVRT) & Sexual Assault Support Services Advocate Team (SASS). Team members respond to local police stations or hospitals and meet with victims, providing them with support, information and referral. In the past ten years the teams have gone on 3,785 call-outs and served over 5,000 residents of Mercer County. DVVRT and SASS volunteers support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault when they need it most. Qualifications include the ability to communicate well with others and be a good listener, ability to maintain confidentiality, 18 years of age and resident of or employed in the Mercer County area, valid driver's license and available transportation, no criminal history or prior history as a defendant in a domestic violence or sexual assault related matter, and availability to attend classes and meetings. Volunteers will receive 80+ hours of extensive, specialized training on topics including the law, sensitivity to the needs of victims and their children, and how to provide appropriate responses at a very critical time. Trained volunteers need to be "on call" (available to respond to call-outs) for two to four shifts a month. Training begins on Tuesday, September 9, 2008. Interested persons must submit to a background investigation, including fingerprinting. Bilingual individuals (especially those fluent in Spanish, Polish, and American Sign Language) are encouraged to apply. Applications must be received by Monday, August 4, 2008. For more information, please contact Heidi Mueller at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Alison Daks at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (609) 394-0136.

Mercer County Office of the Youth Advocacy Programs, Inc. will partner with Macy's this year for the annual Shop For A Cause, to be held on September 20, 2008. For a $5 donation to YAP, people will be able to shop all day, at any Macy's of their choosing, and receive 20% off their purchases for most items, and 10% for many others. For more information, please contact Dan Winter, Lisa Wojtczuk, or Christina White at 609-637-0896.