http://scfchildren.org/index.php en lisabruegg@comcast.net Copyright 2010 2010-03-12T16:58:08+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/ralph-w.-brenner-endowed-chair/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/ralph-w.-brenner-endowed-chair/#When:16:58:08Z {summary} Coming soon... 2010-03-12T16:58:08+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/child-protection-program/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/child-protection-program/#When:16:53:09Z {summary} The Child Protection Program (CPP) at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is funded in part by SCFC and provides a safe, calm, private environment for victims of child abuse in which a traumatized young child receives a thorough medical examination, required treatments, forensic interviews and critical counseling services. The Child Protection Program began in 2005 with an outpatient program 1/2 day per week and currently have 2 full days per week of outpatient clinic, an inpatient consult service, and a 24/7 telephone consult service. The Child Protection Program have standardized and improved the quality of care to abused and neglected children throughout the hospital. By building stronger collaborations with law enforcement, the Department of Human Services, the District Attorney's Office and Philadelphia Children's Alliance, CPP have improved communication to ensure a timely and complete investigation, and help families nagivate through the legal system by explaining the services that are available for victims of abuse and their families. In 2008, there were 96 inpatient consults.  In 2009, there were 137 patient consults, mostly for physical abuse. In 2008, 334 patients were referred to the outpatient program, with 242 attending the appointment.  In 2009, CPP scheduled 533 patient visits, with 336 patients showing for the appointment (63% show rate).  Most outpatient appointments are for sexual abuse. The CPP implemented the Child Maltreatment Committee which meets monthly to improve patient care, hospital policies and procedures. Commitment to education: CPP developed and implemented a curriculum on child abuse for pediatric residents, fellows, medical students and regularly provide educational sessions to: Pediatric, sub-specialty, emergency, nursing, child life, social work, radiology and other departments at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, Special Victims Unit Children and Youth Services Community Pediatrician Scope of Problem: Each year approximately 900,000 cases of child abuse are confirmed in the U.S. (12.1 per 1000 children).  Of these 64% suffered neglect, 16% suffered physical abuse, 8.8% suffered sexual abuse and 6.6% suffered emotional abuse, with an estimated 1530 child deaths as a result of child abuse each year (2 deaths per 100,000 children). These numbers are thought to be an underestimate of the true incidence. 1 in 4 to 5 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18.  In Philadelphia, it is estimated to be one in three. Child abuse and neglect has been shown to have long term negative physical, behavioral and mental health effects. To address the unique needs of this victimized population, the CPP developed multi-disciplinary team including physicians, social worker, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE), Child Life Specialist, Medical Assistant and Administrative Assistant.  The clinicians and social workers have received extensive training in the area of Child Abuse and Neglect.  2010-03-12T16:53:09+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/farm-to-families/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/farm-to-families/#When:16:42:12Z {summary} Farm to Families will ensure that hundreds of North Philadelphia families get fresh, local food into their kitchens each week. Our goal is simple: Every child eating fresh healthy foods at every meal.  Through Farm to Families, hundreds of households will have access to fresh food from local farmers, and parents will know how to use new and familiar ingredients in healthy meals for their families. Farm to Families is a highly structured, proactive grantmaking portfolio focused on food access in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Our strategies include: Production and distribution via CSA: An innovative, market-based solution to increase food access Nutrition education: Informing the CSA membership about how and why to eat fresh, healthy foods Policy change: Increasing access by making food more affordable and available CSA is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm and a community of supporters which provides a direct link between the production and consumption of food.  Supporters cover a farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season's harvest.  CSA members make a commitment to support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower.  Members help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment maintenance, labor, etc.  In return, the farm provides, to the best of its ability, a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season.  Becoming a member creates a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it. This mutually supportive relationship between local farmers, growers and community members helps create an economically stable farm operation in which members are assured the highest quality produce, often at below retail prices.  In return, farmers and growers are guaranteed a reliable market for a diverse selection of crops. View Farm to Families video     2010-03-12T16:42:12+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/community-oral-health-initiative/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/community-oral-health-initiative/#When:16:35:22Z {summary} SCFC’s Community Oral Health Initiative improves the oral health of children and families in North Philadelphia through community awareness and partnerships, education, early intervention and treatment. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a major program component, is equipped with dental operatories, an instrument processing center and office space. It visits patients at Head Start facilities, early childhood centers, elementary schools and summer camps.  New and continuing care patients get a thorough exam and dentists take immediate action—fillings, crowns, sealants, fluoride treatments—to arrest disease and decay.  Program dentists and hygienists visit the sites and patients annually, providing comprehensive care on an ongoing basis. Children, families and community members are invited to educational presentations at community meetings, health fairs and other local events. Elementary, middle and high school students receive age-appropriate learning opportunities at schools in targeted areas.  SCFC’s 5-Point Approach to Community Oral Health Services Treatment: The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provides comprehensive and continuous oral health care through individual hygiene instruction and preventive and restorative therapies. Education: My Marvelous Mouth improves oral health literacy by creatively educating children about the importance of having a clean and healthy mouth. Awareness: The Diamonds and Pearls public oral health literacy campaign promotes public awareness of oral health issues. Prevention: My Baby’s Smile provides prenatal oral health services to improve the oral health of pregnant women in order to decrease the risk of dental disease in their babies and increase the oral health knowledge of the whole family. Early Intervention: Pediatric Partners prevent dental disease in children by intervening early in the process with oral assessments, education of parents, application of fluoride varnish, and referral to a dentist as needed. 2010-03-12T16:35:22+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/volunteer-sign-up/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/volunteer-sign-up/#When:05:03:16Z {summary} 2010-03-02T05:03:16+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/recent-community-grant-awards/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/recent-community-grant-awards/#When:09:13:42Z {summary} The Village of Arts and Humanities - $10,000 Village Urban Farm Project: This spring, the Village of Arts and Humanities will create a small urban farm at the corner of 11th and Cumberland. Prompted by the success of an herb garden this past year, the Village has met with Teens 4 Good and the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP), who have agreed to partner in expanded the youth urban agriculture program. POP has agreed to donate an extensive fruit orchard in the spring, and Teens 4 Good has offered to plant a vegetable garden and run their programs at the Village, hiring 15 teens to tend the gardens over the summer and using their current connections to sell the produce at Farmer’s Markets and giving a portion to the Food Trust. The Village will provide outreach and organize summer camps where the teens will work with 5-12 year olds for 6 hours per week to learn about worms, weeding, plants, and basic cooking. Parents are involved too – the teens prepare meals from the gardens for our monthly parent/guardian evenings. We will conduct a nutritional study of corner stores within walking distance, and will be working with them to provide fresh, low-cost produce. Lastly, the gardens conclude with a Fall Harvest where our children organize a parade through the neighborhood, delivery baskets of bounty with recipes and health tips to over 800 residents. The Village Urban Farm will work towards being an sustainable project to have long-term impact on elevating awareness of healthy food through North Philly's largest population – its children. Squash Smarts, Inc. - $10,000 Fitness Initiative: Our goal is to help every student in grades 8th-12th earn a national squash ranking and expose them to a variety of new peers, competitors and venues. This requires that each student competed in at least four (4) tournaments per year. Similarly, students in grades 6 & 7 are exposed to competitive play through a set schedule of intra- and inter-club matches with local middle and high school teams. Finally, two NUSEA events (Teams and Individuals) bring together students from all of the National Urban Squash & Education programs around the country. A partial list of the camps our students attended last summer: Racquet Club of Philadelphia Squash Camp, NUSEA Embrace Camp, 1-Day and 5-Day Outward Bound, Navy Squash Camp, Holleran Squash Camp, Geoff Mitchell Squash Camp, Tyler School of Art at Temple, College Settlement Camp, Philly Improv Theatre Camp, Wearable Art Camp at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts. Two of our seniors were selected for the Ford Williams Scholarship to the Universal Squash Camp in England. Students are rewarded with their choices of summer camps in specialized interests, all paid for by SquashSmarts. Daily, our students are provided snacks and refreshment after school. Our goal is to provide healthy and nutritious alternatives for snacks, including vegetables and fresh fruit. Our staff works diligently to arrange and transport students to tournaments and research and register our students for their respective summer camp opportunities. Lutheran Settlement House - $5,000 CAMP (Children’s and Mom’s Project): CAMP provides medical advocacy services to victims of domestic violence and their children in a pediatric hospital setting. This innovative program was first implemented at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in 2004, and was expanded to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 2007. The program was developed in recognition of research showing that one of the most effective ways to prevent child abuse and neglect is intervention in domestic violence, and represents the region’s first on-site domestic violence program in a pediatric setting. A primary focus of CAMP is the intensive training of clinical and non-clinical staff, as well as medical school faculty and students on the scope of domestic violence, the tools to detect and document abuse, and appropriate care, referral and follow-up. Pediatricians refer patients who have a positive screen for domestic violence to an LSH Counselor, who is available both on-site at the hospital and via pager for crisis intervention and more in-depth counseling services. All services are focused on increasing the safety for both mothers and children, providing supportive counseling services for the care-taker, increasing awareness for caretakers of the impact that witnessing domestic violence has on their children, and connecting children to counseling services where appropriate. The LSH counselor also offers trainings in the neighborhoods surrounding the hospitals in order to raise community awareness of domestic violence issues. 2010-03-01T09:13:42+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/scfc-launches-farm-to-families/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/scfc-launches-farm-to-families/#When:08:21:27Z {summary} 2010-03-01T08:21:27+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/scfc-spring-community-grants/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/scfc-spring-community-grants/#When:08:16:53Z {summary} 2010-03-01T08:16:53+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/programs1/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/programs1/#When:19:33:36Z {summary} Community Oral Health Initiative SCFC’s Community Oral Health Initiative improves the oral health of children and families in North Philadelphia through community awareness and partnerships, education, early intervention and treatment. Read more >> Farm to Families Farm to Families will ensure that hundreds of North Philadelphia families get fresh, local food into their kitchens each week. Read more >> Child Protection Program The Child Protection Program at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is funded in part by SCFC and provides a safe, calm, private environment for victims of child abuse in which a traumatized young child receives a thorough medical examination, required treatments, forensic interviews and critical counseling services. Read more >> Ralph W. Brenner Endowed Chair Coming soon... Read more >> 2010-02-27T19:33:36+00:00 http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/mailing-list-signup/ http://scfchildren.org/index.php/site/mailing-list-signup/#When:06:05:04Z {summary} 2010-02-26T06:05:04+00:00