YCPO - December, 2016

Hello Fellow Kiwanians!

Fact: Medical equipment, treatment and facilities designed for adults just don't fit when treating an ill or injured child.
Fact: It costs around four times as much money to treat a child as it does to treat an adult with the same ailment.
(Bulletin Kiwanis International "Children's Miracle Network”)

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS AND KIWANIS….A STRONG PARTNERSHIP

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals was founded with the sole purpose to: help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals; keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.

The organization was founded by Marie Osmond and her family, and John Schneider, Mick Shannon and Joe Lake.
Kiwanis International was the first association based sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, joining the charity as a partner in 1982. Key Club and the many other arms of Kiwanis joined later on as they became recognized programs of Kiwanis.

In 1997, Key Club made Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals an official charity of choice for their members to support. Kiwanis-raised funds have enabled the networks' 170 member hospitals to provide medical care, research and education to benefit children. Since 1983 Kiwanis has donated more than $25 million to CMN hospitals. CMN hospitals train 60% of pediatricians and 80% of all pediatric specialists.

There are 6 CMN Hospitals in New England.

•         Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA. serves eastern MA and eastern and southern New Hampshire

•         Baystate Children's Hospital, Springfield, MA.

•         Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME. serving children and families from all over northern New England.

•         Vermont Children Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT.

•         Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT.

•         Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence RI.

How Can Kiwanis Clubs Help?

• 1. If you Club is located near a CMN Hospital, contact an administrator and ASK how your Kiwanis Club can help. Maybe volunteers are needed to help at the information desk etc.

•  2. Fundraising ideas:
organize a "Miracle Mile of Quarters" fundraiser
organize "Duck Races" with your Key Club
sell "Miracle Balloons"
for information on these fundraisers and other ideasgo to: www.KiwanisOne.org/partners or go to: www.KiwanisOne.org/ycpo and read the news bulletin on CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK
My hope is that I have given Club members "food for thought"; new projects are just a heartbeat away! We can all do our part to make our communities a better place in which to live.

•  Sincerely,
Ava Adams, District Chair 2016-17
Early Childhood Development/Y.C.P.O.
Scarborough, Maine
New England and Bermuda District!
email: faithava2008@yahoo.com

YCPO - November, 2016

Good Morning Fellow Kiwanians!

Fact: 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely each year.
Fact: Premature birth is the number 1 killer of newborns.
Fact: Premature babies cost ten times more than healthy babies.(www.marchofdimes.org)

This month ad next month  I will focus on two Kiwanis Partnerships: March of Dimes and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals

 I.The March of Dimes is working to improve the health of babies worldwide. Every year more than 2.1 million babies are born prematurely or with birth defects.throughout the world. More than half a million babies are born too soon in the United States annually. Our country’s premature birth rate has risen by 36 percent over the last 25 years.

Premature birth costs society more than $26 billion a year and takes a high toll on families. Babies born just a few weeks early are at risk of severe health problems and lifelong disabilities. Premature birth is the number 1 killer of newborns.

From the MARCH OF DIMES ANNUAL REPORT:
“Our research advances over the past 75 years are still improving health and saving lives today. Since launching our national Prematurity Campaign, preterm birth rates have reached a 10-year low. In 2012, we led the drive to eliminate elective deliveries before 39 completed weeks of pregnancy with nearly 100 prominent hospitals. And we now offer comfort and support to families with a baby in newborn intensive care in more than 128 hospitals around the country”

November is Prematurity Awareness Month
Did you know 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely? More than half a million babies are born prematurely in the United States each year. Premature birth is the #1 cause of death during the first month of life. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon can face serious health challenges and are at risk for lifelong disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, lung problems and vision and hearing loss. November is when the March of Dimes focuses everyone's attention on the impact premature birth has on babies and families.! Throughout the month of November and on World Prematurity Day, November 17, Kiwanis International can support the March of Dimes mission by raising public awareness of the serious issue concerning premature babies.

Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait®

Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait® (HBWW) is a comprehensive initiative by the March of Dimes to prevent preventable preterm birth, with a focus on reducing elective deliveries before 39 weeks gestation. HBWW involves an education and awareness campaign, hospital quality improvement and community intervention programs. These strategies are focused on interventions and activities that have the potential to make an immediate, substantial and measurable impact on preterm birth.

How can Kiwanis Clubs help?
• 1. Help raise public awareness of this serious issue and help to educate mom-to-be and health care providers. The March of Dimes will provide brochures and pamphlets which can be distributed to doctor's offices, clinics, grocery stores etc.

• 2. Donate your car, truck, van, bus, boat or motorcycle to the March of Dimes. They provide fast, free towing from all 50 states. Even if your vehicle isn't running, you can still make a donation and get a tax credit if you itemize deductions on your income tax return.

• 3. Work with your Key Club and get started on organizing a March for Babies Walk which happens in April or May. Go to www.marchforbabies.org and search for a walking event in your area or type in your zip code into the search engine.

• 4. Make a difference by buying books from the online bookstore, Better World Books. This organization donates a portion of every sale to support literacy initiatives worldwide; helping to raise funds for the March of Dimes and UNICEF.

My hope is that I have given Club members "food for thought"; new projects are just a heartbeat away! We can all do our part to make our communities a better place in which to live.

Sincerely,
Ava Adams, District Chair 2016-17
Early Childhood Development/Y.C.P.O.
Scarborough, Maine
New England and Bermuda District!
email: faithava2008@yahoo.comNovember 2016 Bulletin ycpo

YCPO - October 2016

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT/YOUNG CHILDREN PRIORITY ONE NEWSLETTER

AVA ADAMS, DISTRICT CHAIR

NEW ENGLAND AND BERMUDA DISTRICT

OCTOBER 2016

Good Morning Fellow Kiwanians!

I am the New England District Chair for EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT / YOUNG CHILDREN PRIORITY ONE (YCPO) with an emphasis on infants and young children.

Mission and Goals

ABCs

Address the needs of young children prenatal through age 5.

Brain development occurs at the fastest rate from conception through age 3.

Commit to completing at least 2 new projects in this area.

FOCUS AREAS

Maternal and Infant Health

Child Care and Development

Parent Education and Support

Safety and Pediatric Trauma

This month I am focusing on materials available from:

 KIWANIS PEDIATRIC TRAUMA INSTITUTE (KPTI)  at Tufts Medical  Center in Boston.  Materials for YCPO projects will be provided from KPTI at no charge to your club.  More information and an order form can be found at: www.kpti.org

Materials available for service projects:

1. EARLY CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION KITS include Bath Safety Duck to test water temperature, Car seat information sticker, Car seat and seat belt information card, Shaken baby information card, "Keeping the Promise" window safety brochure, Burn prevention brochure, Home safety checklist booklet, Electric outlet covers (24 pk)

These materials are delivered to the Kiwanis Club and need to be put together in a plastic bag which is also provided with the materials. Then the Kits need to be delivered. Possible distribution to: Day Care Centers, Day Care Homes, Mother's Groups, Hospitals with Birthing Centers, Health Clinics, Pediatricians' offices, any facility that provides prenatal classes or care for expectant mothers.

EACH CLUB IS ALLOWED 200 KITS ANNUALLY FOR DISTRIBUTION.

2. BIKE HELMET EMERGENCY CONTACT STICKER(put inside helmet)

Possible distribution: public schools, bike shops, stores (WalMart, Target), police and/or fire departments. 

3. CHILD SAFETY SEAT STICKERS which provide emergency contact information & dr. contact. Possible distribution: Fire and/or Police Dept. when they conduct proper installation of car seats, at a pre-school, hospitals, clinics, ambulance companies, doctors' offices.  

4. BIKE RODEO MANUAL & I'M SAFE ON MY BIKE IN NEW ENGLAND

Children and families learn about bike safety; COMPLETE RODEO MANUAL provides all information needed to organize and set up a rodeo.

HELMETS are available at reduced cost. Also provided: bike safety information handouts, helmet reflectors, identification stickers and much more. Kiwanis Clubs can partner with the Police/Fire Department and hold a Bike Rodeo Day.  more info at: www.kpti.org

5. ELECTRICAL OUTLET COVERS are available in a 24 pack. Possible distribution: Parent Education Classes, Clinics, Pediatrician's Offices

6. MORE SAFETY BROCHURES FROM KPTI (available in English, Spanish, Chinese)

Window Safety Brochure

Summer Safety Brochure

Pedestrian Safety Brochure

Water Safety Brochure

Holiday/Winter Safety Brochure

Fire Safety Brochure

After School Safety Brochure

FIRST AID/CPR CRART FOR PARENTS FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS. For Kiwanis clubs, to be distributed to pediatrician’s offices, parenting groups and also can be handed out at club events for the public.

Possible Distribution: Schools, Clinics, Doctor's Offices, Police/Fire Department, Health Fair, Holiday Fair.

7.  BIKE SAFETY

Bike Safety Packet which includes Inspection Checklist, State Bike Helmet Law & Five Common Accidents, Message to Parents, Teachers and Motorists and Easy Steps to Properly fit a Bike Helmet, and more!

Possible Distribution: Day Care Centers, Doctor's Offices, Bike Shops, Police/Fire Departments, Schools

8. CONCUSSION INFORMATION FOR COACHES AND PARENTS

Heads Up Concussion in Youth Sports is a Center for Disease Control (CDC) program to bring awareness to the dangers of head trauma in young people, particularly those in youth sports.

Available are sheets for athletes, parents (teachers) and coaches with information about:

What a concussion is

What are the symptoms

Prevention and preparedness

What to do if you suspect a concussion

Athlete and parent fact sheets are in English and Spanish.

This information can be distributed to High School and Middle School athletic coaches who then can distribute this valuable information to parents of student involved with contact sports.

9. BULLYING PREVENTION TIPS FOR KIDS AND TEENS(PAMPHLET)

Bully Free Zone (ACTIVITY BOOKLET)

Inspire bully-free attitudes and actions with the Bully-Free Zone Activity Book for kids ages 9-13.

Reviewed by experts, Bully-Free Zone was created by Child Safety Solutions and

integrates fun with key bullying prevention messages, including:

What bullying is.

How to know if you are a bully and what you can do about it.

Ways to stop a bully from bothering you.

How to deal with cyberbullying.

How to make your school a bully-free zone.

Featuring tweens talking to tweens, this colorful booklet gives kids the opportunity to collect "Big Bonus Points" and stay away from "Big Damage Points" as they work through bullying-prevention activities.

These booklets can be distributed to schools, after school programs, youth sports organizations, PTA, and parent groups.

Bulling can happen at any age. These materials can be distributed to school

administrators who then can decide how and with what age group to used.

Many communities have Arts and Crafts Fairs in November and December. Consider having a table at a Holiday Fair. It can serve

two purposes: 1. Distribution of safety brochures and 2. Provide

information about your Kiwanis Club and attract potential new members to learn about your Club. 

I'm sure many of you can come up with more creative ways in which to distribute these materials. I hope that your Club will take advantage of the materials available through KPTI and will start a new project this year.  Prevention is the key to keeping our children healthy.  Education is the key to healthy families and we, as Kiwanians, need to educate families in our communities.; saving lives one community at a time!

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments and also let me know what Children and Youth Services projects your Kiwanis Clubs are doing!

And if your Club is currently using materials from KPTI consider making a donation to the Kiwanis Foundation of New England (KFNE) which supports KPTI.

A REMINDER FOR HALLOWEEN/TRICK OR TREAT FOR UNICEF:

• If your Club sponsors a Key Club or a Builders Club encourage members to think about organizing a Trick or Treat for UNICEF Project for next year, or at least put it at the top of the list for projects for next fall. Kits can be ordered at 1-800-KIWANISX411.

There is information and resources available at: http://youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/  to help a club get started.  And funds raised for Trick or Treat for UNICEF through Kiwanis can be designated to go to the ELIMINATE PROJECT!  When Kiwanis youth members participate in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF America's kids help kids the world over.  Let's encourage all of our Kiwanis youth members to participate in Trick or Treat for UNICEF; I can't think of a better way to empower, educate and inspire our youth.

And if your Service Leadership Programs are already collecting for Trick or Treat for UNICEF, then children around the world thank them and the Kiwanis Family thanks them for a job well done!

Sincerely,

Ava AdamS, District Chair 2016-17

Early Childhood and Development/Young Children Priority One

Scarborough, Maine

New England Bermuda District

email: faithava2008@yahoo.com

YCPO - September 2016

HI EVERYONE!

YOUNG CHILDREN PRIORITY ONE

CHILDCARE AND DEVELOPMENT

DO YOU KNOW?

KIWANIS HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOLASTIC BOOKS

 Would your club like to give books for ownership at a reasonable price? Below is a new partnership program Kiwanis has with Scholastic Books. The only criteria is that you buy these books for children to have at home. Scarborough  Kiwanis recently purchased160 books for $160 to be distributed to all first grade students in Scarborough ME. The books were wonderful story books of high quality. What a bargain! 

GIVE THE GIFT OF READING!

Inspire the love of reading in children of all ages! Access to books in the home, hearing books read aloud, and a rich home literacy environment are all factors that lead to reading success. Let us help your organization place the gift of reading into the hands and homes of the children in your community!

What is Scholastic Literacy Partnerships?

Scholastic Literacy Partnerships is a program supporting the literacy efforts of organizations across the country. This growing network of over 10,000 literacy programs all share one common goal: to put more books into the hands and homes of children and their families!

To assist in this mission, Scholastic Literacy Partnerships provides deep discounts on a wide range of high‐quality children’s paperbacks and board books, as well as offering free shipping/handling and free bonus books. It also provides other free tools and resources designed to meet the unique needs of children everywhere!

Who is eligible to join?

Any non‐profit (501c3), state agency, community organization and/or corporation that is engaged in distributing books to children and their families free of charge is eligible to join.

When is a good time to give books to children and their families?

            Summer Reading Programs
Family Literacy Nights
Community Read Aloud Programs
Early Literacy Programs
School Readiness Packs
Mentoring Programs
Birthday Book Clubs
ANYTIME!

            Why should you become a Scholastic Literacy Partner?
Membership in the Scholastic Literacy Partnerships program provides eligible organizations with deep discounts on a wide range of children’s paperback and board books, as well as a variety of free books, resources, and information designed specifically to help support their literacy efforts. Benefits include:

            Savings of 43‐80% off the cover price of every book purchased!
Ten FREE Bonus Books for every $150 spent!
FREE shipping/handling!
Special offers, including $1 books!
Custom book distribution programs!

Through this partnership the following research based literacy programs will be available to all Kiwanis Clubs to support the Read Around the World program and other Kiwanis educational, volunteer, and service projects. These Scholastic literacy programs are designed to provide students and families access to self-selected books, regardless of socioeconomic status and bring together caring adults to ensure effective and systematic literacy support for all children’s academic and career success.

Other Programs are:

THE KIWANIS COMMUNITY READING OASIS

BOOK FAIR READING CERTIFICATES FOR HIGH-POVERTY STUDENTS

KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAM

BRAINSTORM VOLUNTEER SERVICE LEARNING

SCHOLASTIC REAL:  READ, EXCEL, ACHIEVE, LEAD

EARLY LITERACY BOOK COLLECTIONS AND ACCESS TO BOOK FOR NEW MOMS

SCHOLASTIC FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM

LITERACY FUN PACKS EXPRESS

MY BOOKS SUMMER READING TAKE-HOME PROGRAM

PATRONS OF LITERACY

•   ATTACHED IS THE SCHOLASTIC/KIWANIS BROCHURE DESCRIBING

THESE PROGRAMS

SAVINGS UP TO 80% OFF LIST PRICE ON BOOK AND COLLECTIONS!

for more information call 1-888-6709067

It as been an honor and a privilege serving as YOUR YCPO District Chair. Thank you for all that you do for young children in your community and the world. I look forward

to serving and communicating with you again next year. I hope you find valuable information and service ideas in my monthly newsletters.

Ava Adams

District Chair, Early Childhood Development/

Young Children Priority One (YCPO)

Scarborough, Maine

New England  and Bermuda District

email: faithava2008@yahoo.com

YCPO - August 2016

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT/YOUNG CHILDREN PRIORITY ONE NEWSLETTER

AVA ADAMS, DISTRICT CHAIR

NEW ENGLAND AND BERMUDA DISTRICT                        AUGUST 2016                     

Good Morning fellow Kiwanians!

YOUNG CHILDREN PRIORITY ONE

PARENTAL SUPPORT

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES

A GREAT WAY TO VOLUNTEER AND HELP

The success of the Ronald McDonald House Charities is due  to the tireless work of volunteers and the countless contributions from  donors. Ronald McDonald House Charities have  been helping improve the lives of children and their families for 37 years.

How it started:

1974

The first Ronald McDonald House opens in Philadelphia thanks to Dr. Audrey Evans, Philadelphia Eagles’ player Fred Hill (whose daughter, Kim, had leukemia), Leonard Tose, owner of the Eagles, Jim Murray, the Eagles’ general manager and Ed Rensi, the McDonald’s regional manager.

The McDonald’s owner/operators in Philadelphia made the House possible, donating proceeds from the sale of Shamrock Shakes.

RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children’s lives through their global network of Chapters in 57 countries and regions and through their three core programs: Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.

DO YOU KNOW?

McDONALD’S FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS ARE NOT THE SOLE SUPPORT OF RMH, NOT EVEN CLOSE! RMH FUNCTIONS WWITH HEAVY DEPENDENCY ON  VOLUNTEERS!

FAMILIES ARE REFERRED BY SOCIAL SERVICES AT HOSPITALS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY TO STAY AT RMH…THERE MUST BE A NEED!

PATIENTS (CHILDREN) STAY AT RMH FOR FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS AND/OR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT.  ADULTS, SIBLINGS AND PATIENTS STAY AT RMH, NOT JUST ADULTS!

HOW CAN KIWANIS CLUBS HELP? (30 WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AT RMH)

#1Contact your local Ronald McDonald House and have an administrator come speak at your Club.  Find out ways Kiwanis members can help!

#2Prepare and serve a home-cooked meal for families

GUEST CHEF’S NIGHT great way too volunteer with club  members

go to website to find more information and sign up

#3Plant flowers, or clean up the garden at RMH

#4Bring homemade cookies or cupcakes for families. Or help children bake and decorate them.

#5Help with a “spring cleaning” spruce-up

#6Offer your professional skills to families – give free haircuts, massages, or manicures

#7Organize a craft project for children

#8Answer the phones, greet visitors or do light office work

#9Host a pizza party, ice cream social, or popcorn & movie night

#10Help the RMHC Chapter write a newsletter

#11Hold a food drive (non-perishable items) to help stock the pantry

#12Help your local RMHC Chapter with a golf tournament, auction, gala or fundraising event

#13Organize the Ronald McDonald House’s storage areas, or restock supplies

#14Host a free car wash for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House

#15Host a scrap-booking project for moms

#16Record height and weight for children visiting the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program

#17Stuff backpacks with school supplies for children who visit the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile

#18Help children illustrate their own storybooks

#19Help decorate for the holidays

#20Lead a yoga, exercise or relaxation class for parents or kids

#21Create a “penny war” at your school to collect loose change for your local RMHC Chapter

#22Hand write thank-you notes to donors

#23Make welcome goodie bags and care packages for families

#24Collect new hotel toiletries and donate them for families

#25Collect new toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to donate to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile

#26Sponsor a room at the Ronald McDonald House with your coworkers or civic group. Paint, furnish and decorate

#27Donate your time and talent in accounting, computers or marketing to help your local RMHC Chapter

#28Serve on a committee or board of your local RMHC Chapter

#29Help paint or provide light carpentry and maintenance services

#30Make quilts, afghans or knitted hats and mittens for families

A great fund raising idea is to collect aluminum pull tabs (many Key Clubs are already

doing this!). Clubs can either redeem the tabs and send a check to RMHC or the pull

tabs can be delivered to a local Ronald McDonald House and they will recycle the tabs.

PLEASE CHECK WITH THE  RMH FIRST!

Please share the above ideas with your Key Clubs. They may be interested in some of the specific suggestions  for service opportunities!

There are 7 Ronald McDonald Houses in New England.

Connecticut

501 George Street

New Haven, CT 06511

Ph: 203 777-5683

Fx: 203 777-3082

www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse-ct.org

Maine

654 State Street

Bangor, ME 04401

Ph: 207 942-9003  Fx: 207 990-2984

www.rmhportlandme.org

250 Brackett Street

Portland, ME 04102

Ph: 207 780-6282

Fx: 207 780-0198

www.rmhportlandme.org

Massachusetts

 229 Kent Street

Brookline, MA 02446

Ph: 617 734-3333

Fx: 617 734-5239

www.ronaldmcdonaldhouseboston.org

34 Chapin Terrace

Springfield, MA 01107

Ph: 413 794-5683

Fx: 413 794-8199

www.ronmcdhouse.com

Rhode Island

 45 Gay Street

Providence, RI 02905

Ph: 401 274-444

Fx: 401 751-3730

www.providenceronaldmcdonaldhouse.org

Vermont

16 South Winooski Avenue

Burlington, VT 05401

Ph: 802 862-4943

Fx: 802 862-2175

www.rmh-vermont.org

If your Kiwanis Club is located near a Ronald McDonald House, I hope you will get involved in helping support the RMHC. It’s all about helping and serving children and their families.  Let’s show our Kiwanis’ hearts and just do it!

Sincerely,

Ava Adams, District Chair 2015-16

Early Childhood Development/Young Children Priority One

Scarborough, Maine

New England and Bermuda District

email: faithava2008@yahoo.com