May 2006
May 2006 Monthly Update
"Economists report that investing in high-quality preschool is sound economic policy, providing dividends through dollars saved in grade retention and the cost of remedial and special education. Further dividends are realized through dollars contributed to the society through taxes paid by qualified, productive workers." Judy Johnson, Illinois Early Learning Council
- Jack Hartmann to Perform for City’s Kindergartners and Preschoolers
- CHECHS Supports 12th Annual Community Baby Shower
- Funding for Oral Health Program for Hampden County Included in House Budget for FY07
- Home Visiting Workgroup Completes Survey
Jack Hartmann to Perform for City’s Kindergartners and Preschoolers; Free Performance for Children and Families at 6:30 p.m. in Forest Park
On Thursday, May 25, the MassMutual Center will ring with the music of Jack Hartmann, nationally known children’s educational singer and songwriter, as he entertains preschoolers and kindergartners from the public and private early education centers. The 10 a.m. performance is part of a day-long series of events organized by the School Readiness Committee of the Springfield Public Schools/Quality Full-Day Kindergarten Grant. CHECHS’ Culture and Recreation Workgroup is working with the committee on the day’s events.
Hartmann will also present a workshop for teachers in the afternoon and a FREE performance for families at Forest Park (near the greenhouse and the shuffleboard courts) from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Hartmann writes and performs songs with a wonderful diversity of musical styles including pop, hip hop, rap, country, reggae, rock n’ roll, gospel and R&B. Teachers love his work because his songs help children learn essential reading, math and social skills. Children love his songs because they have a great beat and they can enjoy his “educational music that’s fun and fun music that’s educational.”
For further information, contact Mary Franco at FrancoM@sps.springfield.ma.us.
CHECHS Supports 12th Annual Community Baby Shower
The May 13, 2006, Community Baby Shower moves to the MassMutual Center for the first time, and CHECHS is once again supporting this effort, as part of its involvement with the Maternal Child Health Commission of the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services. The event is free of charge and open to the public and will be held from 1 – 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. The mission of the event is to promote healthy birth outcomes by providing important maternal/child health information to pregnant/parenting women, men and their families, with the belief that strengthening families through education and support will help to nurture and protect their children.
The twelfth annual Community Baby Shower expects to draw more than last year’s 350+ mothers, fathers and parents-to-be and will offer the latest information on child-rearing strategies. Participants can expect to learn from workshops on such topics as family fitness and nutrition, preventing lead poisoning, car seat safety, coping strategies for new parents, music for infants, and post-partum depression.
For further information contact Sandra Johnson, Dept. of Health and Human Services, sjohnson@springfieldcityhall.com.
Home Visiting Workgroup Completes Survey
To inform its work, the CHECHS Home Visiting Workgroup has completed a survey of home visiting programs in Greater Springfield. Co-chaired by Joni Beck-Brewer, M.S.P.C.C., and Marie Peirent, THOM Springfield Infant Toddler Services, the group identified organizations with home visiting components for families with newborns and surveyed them to determine the purpose of the home visits, structure and scope, resources, staffing, funding sources, program capacity and interest in becoming involved with a potential initiative to increase the number of families with newborns who receive a home visit.
The Home Visiting workgroup, (formerly Strengthening Support and Services to Families workgroup) is made up of representatives from Baystate Medical Center, Child Guidance Clinic, City of Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Family Life Center for Maternity of Mercy Medical Center, M.S.P.C.C., Health New England, Mason Square Neighborhood Health Center, New North Citizens council, North End Outreach Network, Springfield Family Support Program, Valley Infant Development Services, Vietnamese Health Project of Mercy Medical Center, and other providers of services for very young children.
For further information contact Sally Fuller at sfuller@davisfdn.org.
Funding for Oral Health Program for Hampden County Included in House Budget for FY07
The House of Representatives has passed an amendment that will allocate $500,000 to fund the Hampden County Preschool Oral Health Project. The amendment, sponsored by Representative Gale Candaras, would enable Partners for a Healthier Community to expand the scope of the Springfield Open Wide Pilot Oral Health Project, a child-focused program aimed at reducing dental decay by educating young children and their families on good oral health practices.
The Open-Wide Pilot Project, to be part of the Department of Early Education and Care, is a multi-pronged approach aimed at providing oral health screenings, preventive measures (fluoride varnishes), and referrals for additional oral health care to children from birth through 5 years old; providing education and training to parents and caregivers; and implementing oral health curriculum and brushing times into existing early education and care settings.
The House budget, which includes the amendment, has now moved to the Senate for debate and vote.
For further information contact Catherine Benoit at Partners for a Healthier Community, Catherine.Benoit@bhs.org.