DATE, TIME, AND PLACE: Wednesday, Sept. 29, 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Danforth Recreation Center, 200 West Avenue Rochester, 14611
WHAT: A graduation for approximately 30 young moms who completed three successful years in the Building Healthy Children program. The ceremony includes one participant speaking about how BHC helped her and her family. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the graduates' children will present their mothers with a surprise gift.
BACKGROUND: Located at the University of Rochester's Mt. Hope Family Center, Building Healthy Children is an innovative community collaboration addressing the needs of low-income, high-risk young mothers and their children.
Monroe County has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in New York State and teen families face increased risks for child abuse, neglect, emotional difficulties, behavioral problems, and ultimately foster care placements.
The Building Healthy Children program seeks to stop these problems before they start. The program brings together Strong Pediatrics' medical talent and the Society for Protection and Care of Children's expertise in social work with Mt. Hope Family Center's evidence-based clinical therapy. Through a comprehensive approach, physicians, social workers and psychologists reach out to young mothers with evidence-based support. They provide parenting education, parent-child attachment and maternal depression therapy, along with food, housing and transportation support for three years.
The Monroe County Department of Human Services and The United Way of Greater Rochester fund BHC.
ATTENDING:
- Sheree Toth, Ph.D., executive director of the Mt. Hope Family Center
- Kelly Reed, commissioner of Monroe County Dept. of Human Services
- Cindy Lewis, director of Child Protective Services, Monroe County Dept. of Human Services
- Patricia Davis, director of Community Investment, United Way of Greater Rochester
- Lisa Butt, CEO of Society for Protection and Care of Children
- Mardy Sandler, Clinical Manager, Strong Pediatrics
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Sarah Smith sarah.g.smith@rochester.edu 585.275-2991 x 238 (office)