Toshiba Leads Fundraiser

Toshiba Business Solutions is coordinating an electronics recycling fundraiser to benefit Community Services for Children, Inc. on Friday, August 22, 9 am – 3 pm, and Saturday, August 23, 9 am – noon, at the Donley Children’s Campus, 1520 Hanover Avenue, Allentown (on the grounds of Allentown State Hospital).

All kinds of electronics devises will be accepted for $2 each (TVs $20), including computers, printers, laptops, fax machines, servers, cell phones, monitors, copiers, telephones, and scanners.

“We are committed to supporting our community and keeping our Earth clean,” said James R. LeVan, Team Sales Manager, Toshiba Business Solutions, Eastern Pennsylvania region.

The fundraiser is also generously supported by the Eastern Business Journal and Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. AERC Recycling Solutions is handling the recycling.

Community Services for Children, Inc. prepares children and their families to succeed in learning and in life. Programs include Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, Child Care information Services of Lehigh County, and the Northeast Regional Key.

For additional information, call Sara George, 610-437-6000, ext 2101; or visit www.cscinc.org.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Susquehanna Bank Helps Kids

A big thank you to Randy Wenhold, Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager at Susquehanna Bank’s 11th & Hamilton branch, for spearheading a Back to School book and supply drive on behalf of CSC’s Allentown Pre-K Counts School, which is moving into new classrooms down the street from the bank this September. Books and supplies are accepted at all of Susquehanna’s branches throughout the area.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Depressed Moms Topic

The Institute for Child and Family Development will hold a full-day conference November 14, 2008, entitled ‘How Maternal Depression Affects Babies and Young Children.’ Program presenters are well-known, published experts in their field: Dr. Gerard Costa and Dr. Andres Pumariega. The conference will be held at the Best Western Hotel & Conference Center.  Two Rivers Health & Wellness Foundation is the Speaker Sponsor for the conference.  Crayola has provided additional support. The full-day program is $150. Act 48 credits and CEUs are available.

It is not uncommon for mothers to experience depression soon after childbirth and during the first year of the baby’s life. Early identification and treatment of maternal depression is important for mother, baby, and family. Major depression in the postpartum period is a significant public health concern that poses risk to the quality of the mother-infant relationship during a critical period for the development of attachment. Inadequate attachment or failure to attach is associated with developmental delay, behavior issues, and other challenges in infants and young children, which adversely affect learning.

The prevalence, symptoms, and risks associated with postpartum depression and the impact on maternal functioning, mother-infant and family relationships, and consequences for child development and subsequent psychopathology will be described and explored in this conference. Presenters will discuss strategies for early screening and identification of postpartum depression, as well as assessment and treatment approaches for supporting positive family relationships, emotions, attention, and behavior regulation in young children.

The Institute for Child and Family Development is run by Community Services for Children, provider of Head Start and other early education programs and services. For additional information or to register, please call 610-432-7300.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Family Fun Day

Community Services for Children is hosting “Family Fun Day,” Saturday, July 19, 2008, 10 am – 2 pm, at its Donley Children’s Campus in Allentown. The event is free for parents and their younger children.

We are all living a fast-paced life. We’re overbooked and don’t always have the time we’d like to spend with our children. How do we make the most of limited time with our kids? Parents and children can discover the secret to successful parenting at the Family Fun Day. Activities will include Parent & Child Games, Creating Family Traditions, Learning to Talk with Our Kids (and have them listen!), Story-telling in English and Spanish, prizes, and summer-time food.

Community Partners will be on hand with tips and tricks for increasing family quality time and fun. They include Blue Cross (offering a free raffle and give-away), Boy Scouts Minsi Trail Council, Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Hispanic Community Center, Pennsylvania Migrant Education, Weed and Seed, and Wildlands Conservancy.

Community Services for Children is located at 1520 Hanover Avenue. For more information or to register in advance for this free fun-filled day, call Alvaro Castillo, 610-437-6000 at extension 2108.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Summer Story Time

The Family Library at Community Services for Children, Allentown, provides a free summer reading program for children ages 3 to 7. The program runs about an hour beginning at 11:30 am on Mondays, and includes a story and fun hands-on project.

Children of all ages are also invited to join the Summer Reading Club. Prizes will be given for each 10 picture books (younger readers) or 100 pages of reading (older children). A reading log may be picked up at the Library or by visiting CSC’s website: www.cscinc.org (check under “Parents”).

While visiting the Library, children and parents are also invited to use the computers, play with toys and games, and borrow tapes, books, toys, and games.

The Library’s summer hours are weekdays, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm (open til 7:30 pm on Tuesdays). There is no charge to belong or borrow items from the Library.

The Family Library is located on CSC’s main campus, 1520 Hanover Avenue. Parents may call for further information: 610-437-6000, ext 3140.

The summer story time program is funded by The Hommer Foundation.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Save the Date Oct 17

CSC’s 13th Annual Donley Awards and Children’s Gala is set for October 17, 2008, at the Candlelight Inn, 6 pm. We are proud to honor the lifetime work of Dolly and Lee Butz as well as The Women’s Leadership Initiative for their extraordinary efforts to assist the development of women AND children. New this year is featured speaker Arthur Rothkopf, Senior Vice President of the US Chamber of Commerce (former president of Lafayette College), who will address the importance of quality early childhood education for a competitive workforce and community development. For sponsorship and ticket information, call Sara George in the Development Office, 610-437-6000, ext 2101.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Programs Fight Obesity

Lehigh Valley, PA — Community Services for Children was recently chosen by the US Office of Head Start to be one of 24 agencies nationwide to implement their new initiative to prevent childhood obesity. Called “Little Voices for Healthy Choices,” the innovative program involves infants and toddlers along with their parents and teachers.

Particularly unique to the program is the involvement of a parent in the initial training team who will bring to CSC’s Early Head Start program training tools to improve nutrition and exercise levels, contributing to the overall healthy development of infants and toddlers. Among other changes to CSC’s Early Head Start program will be an emphasis to help parents ensure their young children have at least 30 minutes of structured (such as planned dancing to music) and 30 minutes of unstructured activity (including child-chosen play) per day.

“This program will get all of us moving – parents alike,” says Heather Held, the CSC Head Start parent chosen to participate in the initial training. “I especially appreciate that Head Start wants parents involved right from the beginning. That is, after all, the true Head Start difference from other early childhood programs,” she adds.

CSC is also implementing “I am Moving, I am Learning,” obesity-fighting program for its preschool children enrolled in Head Start. This project provides strategies and resources for infusing quality physical movement and healthy nutrition choices within the current curriculum and daily classroom routines.

“By helping children, families and staff make healthy food choices and by implementing physical activity throughout the day, children and families will be developing healthy habits that will last a lifetime and reduce the incidence of obesity. Children enrolled in our Head Start classrooms will have at least 60 minutes of both planned and unstructured activity every day. And, what’s really going to be fun, this philosophy will filter into all our meetings, too. In time, we’ll have staff participate in moving to music for a few minutes before every meeting,” says Lora Lesak, Director of Health & Nutrition at CSC.

“Everyone should move around every hour or so. We all need an hour of activity a day – it doesn’t need to be all at once,” continues Mrs. Lesak, a certified nurse practitioner. “The research is very clear – we learn better and are more productive when we move around every hour or so.”

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Maternal Depression Conference

Community Services for Children’s Institute for Child and Family Development is holding a conference addressing ‘How Maternal Depression Affects Babies and Children,’ Friday, November 14, 2008, at the Best Western Hotel & Conference Center off Rt 22 and 512 in Northampton County.

It is not uncommon for mothers to experience depression soon after childbirth and during the first year of their baby’s life. Early identification and treatment of maternal depression is important for mother, child and family. Major depression in the postpartum period holds a significant public health concern, posing a risk to the quality of the mother-infant relationship during a critical period for development of attachment.

Speakers Dr. Roseanne Clark and Dr. Andres Pumariega will address prevalence, symptoms, and risks; the consequences for child development and subsequent psychopathology; screening and treatment; and how to support positive family relationships.

Dr. Clark is Associate Professor in the Dept of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Medical School and Director of the Parent-Infant and Early Childhood Clinic and the Postpartum Depression Treatment Program.

Dr. Pumariega is Chief of Psychiatry, Reading Hospital and Medical Center, and Professor of Psychiatry at Temple University Medical School.

Both speakers have authored numerous journal articles on this and related topics.

The conference will include continental breakfast and lunch. To be added to our mailing list or for further information, call 610-432-7300 or 610-437-6000, ext 2106.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Head Start Enrollment Begins

Lehigh Valley, PA – Head Start of the Lehigh Valley, operated by Community Services for Children (CSC), began enrolling children for the 2008-09 school year in March. Pregnant women or families with children up to age 2 may be eligible for Early Head Start. Families whose child will be age 3 by late summer may be eligible for Head Start preschool. Income determines eligibility for these free early education programs. Families with incomes up to 100% of poverty ($21,200 for a family of 4, for example) are eligible.

CSC’s Head Start preschool has a variety of options available to meet family needs. These include both home and classroom options. A variety of classroom options are also available including part-day (generally 4 hours) and full-day (generally 6 hours) as well as part-year (September through May) and full-year options. Classrooms are operated in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Slatington, and on the grounds of Lehigh Career and Technical Institute in Schnecksville.

Early Head Start is a year-round educational program serving pregnant women, infants, and toddlers up to age 3 and their families. This home-based program prepares the child for Head Start preschool at age 3.

All Head Start Prenatal to Five program options involve parents in family services, parenting classes, access to community resources, and other activities. Head Start also ensures that children have up to date immunizations and have medical and dental exams.

CSC’s classrooms are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which is recognized as the gold standard in early education, as well as by the Middle States Commission. Very few preschools in the country have this distinction. For information on the programs or to enroll, call 610-432-5700

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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Healthy Marriage Groups

A healthy marriage helps families stay strong. Are you interested in making your marriage stronger? The Head Start program, which is run by Community Services for Children, is forming marriage workshops now. Topics include communication, parenting, dealing with conflict, making decisions together, and much more. The workshops are available in Spanish and English. The workshops are free to married couples enrolled in Head Start, Early Head Start, the Parent Child Home Program, the Child Care Subsidy Program and Pre-K Counts Preschool. Call Alvaro at 610-437-6000 for more information.

3S33d_admin September 21st, 2010

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