news & updates Overview Weekly Briefing: Volume 2, Number 05
| Weekly Briefing: Volume 2, Number 05 |
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February 1, 2008
In This Issue
Impact of Children's FuturesCF Convenes Parents to Help Build a More Tolerant Society for their Children and Families Toddlers quietly played with toys and babies slept while parents gathered at Children's Futures' East Ward Center on Monday morning to discuss ways their children could grow up in a safer, more tolerant society. A "Building Bridges" pilot program (the brainchild of East Ward Center at St. Francis Medical Center director Lenore Scott and South Ward Centers at El Centro/Catholic Charities director Roberto Hernandez) brought together parents from diverse backgrounds and different Trenton neighborhoods to share concerns about what divides residents and find ways to reach common ground. The parents specifically discussed safety, culture, racism and ways to better understand others. "All of the parents expressed a desire for their children to inherit a society that had more trust and respect," Ms. Scott said. The parents bonded as they shared their passions to develop their children's health, education and spirituality. According to Mr. Hernandez, "As a community, we are looking at the commonalities versus the differences and that's how we are going to make strides." Anyone interested in learning more about the "Building Bridges" program's next session or the various services and workshops for children and families provided through the centers, should call Ms. Scott at 609 599-5332 or Mr. Hernandez at 609 394-2056.
Moms Enhance Computer Literacy Skills at New South Ward Family Success Center A program to enhance the computer literacy skills of moms so they are better prepared for the job market and more capable of researching health issues is underway at the new South Ward Family Success/Parent Child Center at Children's Home Society of New Jersey (CHS of NJ) on South Clinton Avenue. According to CHS of NJ director of family support services, Latino outreach and parenting education programs Maritza Raimundi-Petroski, "We are continuously getting requests for classes that are directly related to personal and professional development. Computer classes can help our families gain needed skills for everyday living. Our families are eager to learn, particularly when they have children and they are involved in their education." Attendees at these twice weekly sessions describe the training as a great way to learn new skills while building friendships with other parents of young children. One mom said, "The class was really good. I hope they continue giving these types of classes. We learned a lot." This center is jointly supported by Children's Futures and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. For more information about this or any other program at this new center, please contact Ms. Raimundi-Petroski at 609 695-6274 (ext. 160) or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
CF-Inspired Youth Communications Partnership Begins Fourth Year A Trenton Public Education Foundation (TPEF) mentoring program that grew from a Children's Futures-sponsored series of journalism and communications seminars began its fourth year on Tuesday with mentors from organizations and media outlets pledging their support to enhance students' communications skills. Called the Trenton Youth Communications Partnership, the program offers more than a dozen Trenton Central High School students opportunities to research issues and tell stories of childhood development, health and survival. The students will visit media outlets and corporate and organizational communications departments to learn about news gathering, reporting via print and electronic media, branding, marketing and public relations. After rotating through the mentor organizations, each student will research a health topic provided by Children's Futures and choose a mentor to help communicate his or her story through either an awareness/marketing campaign, a television news program, a series of radio news briefs or a newspaper article. According to TPEF president Pamela Pruitt, who is also vice president for development at WIMG/Morris Broadcasting, "This program expands the educational opportunities of students by enabling them to learn new channels of communicating and link their experiences to potential academic and career development interests." Collaborating with Children's Futures as this year's mentoring organizations are:
The public is invited to meet the participating students and mentors at a "Kick Off" event on Friday, February 15th at Trenton Central High School (Please see the Community Activities section below for more information.)
Columnist Describes CF's Impact on Organizational Teamwork Throughout Trenton Writing Thursday about the impact of teamwork in the community, the Trentonian's award-winning columnist L.A. Parker described the Children's Futures' initiative in this way:
Here is a link to Mr. Parker's complete column: http://www.trentonian.com/ CF SpotlightHealing Children: Capital Health System's Pediatrics Emergency Services Program From a baby's first day of life, parents begin learning about the importance of access to emergency care, particularly when the unexpected happens at hours when private doctors' offices are closed. The pediatric emergency room at Capital Health System's (CHS) Mercer Campus on Bellevue Avenue is open around the clock, every day of the year, to serve children in need. Last year, the CHS Pediatrics Emergency Services Program handled nearly 20,000 visits. While the department treats children from birth up to 17 years of age, the majority of admission diagnoses are for children from birth to three years old. The top reason for visits among newborns to children three years old is respiratory distress/asthma (see related story about addressing pediatric asthma in Trenton in Weekly Briefing, Vol. 2, Issue 4). Approximately 70 Trenton-area pediatricians have privileges at CHS, which helps with the important follow-up communication between the pediatrics emergency services staff and the private physicians' offices after children are treated. Pediatric Emergency Care services are provided in a separate area from the hospital's main Emergency Room. "We're a child-friendly environment staffed by pediatricians and certified pediatric emergency nurses," said Clinical Nurse Specialist Margaret (Cookie) Estlow, R.N., MSN, APN, BC. While an overwhelming majority of Trenton's children are welcomed into the world at CHS, some parents may not know about the breadth of emergency pediatric services there. For example, CHS provides stabilization for critically ill and chronically ill children with treatment care issues such as metabolic disorders and severe problems related to prematurity. Nurse Manager of Pediatrics Heather Keller, RN, BSN, CEN, lauded the entire CHS pediatric ER team for their passion and commitment and singled out the nurses for particular praise. "The nurses are so dedicated to their jobs...they all find being able to save lives and provide specialized quality care rewarding," Ms. Keller said. Both Ms. Keller and Ms. Estlow also acknowledged CHS director of pediatric ER services Zach Kassutto, M.D., and director of maternal child health services Pamela Graziadei, R.N., MSN, CNAA, BC for their leadership in helping to build a high quality and unique pediatric emergency center for children. For more information about the program, please call 609 394-4466.
Links to News ArticlesNew Thoughts On Language Acquisition: Toddlers As Data Miners Racial Disparity in Infant Mortality Rates Widens in USA Time Sure to Cure Kids' Common Colds Community ActivitiesFebruary 2008Friday, February 1 to Thursday, February 28:
Friday, February 8:
Saturday, February 9 and Sunday February 10:
Tuesday, February 12:
Friday, February 15:
Tuesday, February 19:
Tuesday, February 28:
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