September 19, 2008

In This Issue

• Impact of Children's Futures
  • Expanded Father Center Opens to Rave Reviews
  • Hundreds of Trenton Latino Families Convene to Learn About Safety
• Links to Print/Electronic Coverage
  • Tag, You're Healthy! RWJF Invests in Recess
  • Heart Murmur Not Necessarily a Problem
• Upcoming Community Events Calendar
  • Child Care Connection's 20th Annual Early Care and Education Conference
  • Second Annual CHANGE Coalition Trenton Parent Empowerment Summit-Next Saturday
• Ongoing Community Activities
  • CitySmiles Offers Information Throughout the Year on Children's Programs
  • Mom's Quit Connection Offers Training to Reduce Smoking

Impact Of Children's Futures

Expanded Father Center Opens to Rave Reviews

"There is such great energy in this place. You can just tell that good and important work happens here."

That's how one visitor described his first impression of the new second floor location of the CF Father Center at UIH Family Partners on 4 North Broad Street in downtown Trenton. For years, in a smaller fourth floor setting, the Father Center has provided thousands of men with culturally sensitive parenting education, work readiness and job placement assistance, computer literacy training and anger management programs...all provided to help fathers learn to become Dads.

This past Monday, dozens of fathers, friends, colleagues, and stakeholders from across Mercer County's social and human services community dropped by to celebrate the new facility, view the expanded 4000 square foot space customized to better meet clients' needs and sample refreshments generously donated by NAMI Mercer. The center offers such features as a new computer lab and a spacious classroom, study and meeting areas. Visitors were also impressed by the expansive "Wall of Fame" that celebrates in pictures the accomplishments of men who have been participants in UIH Family Partners' Fatherhood Programs.

Many visitors commented that their favorite area was the Center's colorful parent/child activity corner, brimming with books and toys and even a children's computer - a place where Dads and their children can read, play, bond and dream together.

A highlight of the celebration was when Daryl Nicholson of Trenton, a participant in Father Center programs, spoke about the challenges and rewards of being a dad, and the importance of spending time with and loving one's children. Earlier this year, Mr. Nicholson was recognized as an exemplary father with his induction into the Platinum Dads Class of 2008. Platinum Dads is an annual awards event sponsored by UIH Family Partners, Children's Futures and the Trenton Housing Authority celebrating the contributions of outstanding, responsible and involved fathers from across Mercer County. For more information about the Father Center, please call Ed Gittens at (609) 695-3663.

Scenes from the new Father Center:

The Father Center's Damian Castagne helps program participants develop their computer literacy skills.

Platinum Dad Daryl Nicholson shares some thoughts on the Father Center and the responsibilities of fatherhood with Ed Gittens, UIH Director of Fatherhood Programs (left) and UIH Family Partners Board President, Jeffrey Bartolino (right).

Guest Samirah Abdul-Fattah, Project Director at the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, learns more about the Father Center from UIH Family Partners' Nelson Marrero.

(Photo Credit Judith Arnold)

Trenton Latino Families Convene to Learn About Safety

Last Saturday's Latino Parenting Conference, "On the Road to Safety", drew more than 300 families, children, volunteers and community partners from 29 different agencies to talk about safety issues affecting Trenton's Latino community. Presented by Children's Home Society of New Jersey at the Children's Futures (CF) /Department of Children and Families (DCF) South Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center, the event also featured staff from the CF/DCF North Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center.

According to Maritza, Maritza I. Raimundi-Petroski, MPA Director of Family Support Services for Latino Outreach and Parenting Education Programs and director of the South Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center at CHS of NJ, this third annual conference, organized by parent volunteers, focused on educating parents and extended family members about safety issues through interactive workshops, panel discussions, direct interaction with community agencies/providers and one-on-one consultations with safety experts.

During the conference, representatives from the Mercer County Sheriff's Office provided infant car safety checks and City of Trenton Project Impact Van staff performed health screens. The National Latino Peace Officers Association sponsored its first National Child Identification Program in Mercer County receiving 126 applications from parents who requested child identification cards and fingerprints for their young children.

The wide-ranging conference features safety topics that included: safe food handling practices natural disaster preparedness,, stranger danger, poison prevention, school violence, bullying, home safety, infant car safety, fire/safety plans, crime prevention and civic involvement/responsibility, child abuse and neglect, immigration safety issues, bicycle safety, newborn/infant safety, lead poisoning prevention, gun violence prevention, CPR and first aid.

Key organizations and individuals participating in the panel discussions included the Trenton Police Department, the Trenton Fire Department, the Trenton Board of Education, the Division of Youth and Family Services, and Capital Health System, South Ward Councilman Jim Coston and Assistant School Superintendent Elizabeth Ramirez.

Two Latin sororities and fraternities offered supervised child activities so parents could concentrate on the seminars.

Scenes from 3rd Annual Latino Parenting Conference:

Staff members Sarah Watermulder, Julie Blumenfeld, Maritza Raimundi-Petroski, Lori Reyes, Isaira Rosario, and Cordelia Hill

Panelists (L-R) Maritza Raimundi-Petroski, Rev. Jim Coston (in back), Maria Class, LPN (Capital Health System), Patricia Alulema, MA (Moderator, Associate Producer CBS News Int'l), Dr. Christine Cote (CHS of NJ Board Chair, of J&J), Christopher de Jesus, Principal of Ulysses S. Grant School, Janet Alverio Snead, MSW (Division of Youth and Family Services) and Dr. Luis A. Gongora Chong (Ex General Council of Ecuador)

(Photo Credit Val Noble)

Links To Print/Electronic Coverage

Tag, You're Healthy!
MarketWatch reports on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's investment in recess to improve children's health and learning at 650 low-income schools.

Heart Murmur Not Necessarily a Problem
Children's Futures' Board Member Dr. Kendall Sprott, Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, writes about children's health and development issues in his weekly column for the Star Ledger..

Upcoming Community Events Calendar

September 2008

Saturday, September 20:

Child Care Connection's 20th Annual Early Care and Education Conference: Hyatt Regency, Route 1 in Princeton; Day-long professional development opportunity will offer a wide spectrum of educational workshops for child care professionals including an administrators' track for center directors, keynote address and exhibitors. For information go to www.ccc-nj.org or contact Beth Gardiner at (609) 989-7940 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Monday, September 22:

No I Won't and You Can't Make Me: free; 10 a.m-2 p.m.; FSO of Burlington/Mercer Counties; IBIS Plaza Office Suites 400; 3535 Quakerbridge Road; Hamilton, NJ.; Session on preventing power struggles and effective disciplining. For information, please call 609-586-1200.

Open House to Explore MercerResourceNet: free; 2. to 5 p.m. Capitol County Children's 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 MercerResourceNet: free; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Capitol County Children's 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 MercerResourceNet: free; 4 to 7 p.m. Capitol County Children's 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 .

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 at 609 656 4900 X 5669 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 MercerResourceNet: free; 2. to 5 p.m. Capitol County Children's 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 .

Explosive Child: free (includes free child care); 6-8 p.m.; FSO of Burlington/Mercer Counties; IBIS Plaza Office Suites 400; 3535 Quakerbridge Road; Hamilton, NJ. Sessions on consecutive Tuesdays will teach a sensitive approach to understanding and helping an easily frustrated and explosive child. For information, please call 609-586-1200.

Saturday, September 27:

HOLD THE DATE: Second Annual CHANGE Coalition Trenton Parent Empowerment Summit: free; 9 to 3 p.m. Joyce Kilmer School. There are still sponsorship opportunities to showcase your organization or business before hundreds of Trenton parents. Please contact Cecilia at (609) 695-5811.

October 2008

Thursday, October 23

HOLD THE DATE: Second Annual Kidsbridge Humanitarian Awards Reception is scheduled for Thursday evening, October 23 at Jasna Polana in Princeton. For more information, please contact Lynn Azarchi at (609) 581-0239.

December 2008

Thursday, December 11

HOLD THE DATE: Children's Futures' 8th Annual Holiday Toy & Book Drive Celebration in Association with the Mercer County Regional Chamber of Commerce Young Business Leaders Council, the City Of Trenton and Capital City Entertainment; 6 p.m. to midnight; Trenton Marriot at Lafayette Yard. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Spencer Lester ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Bill Rovner ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) at Children's Futures or call 609-695-1977. You may also contact Janell Petrocelli ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) at the Mercer Chamber or call 609.689.9960 x18.

Ongoing Community Activities

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 .

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

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.