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Articles from Sharing Matters
Ontario Coalition of Community Action Programs for Children and Canada Prenatal Nutrition Programs
All articles are by the above Coalition unless otherwise stated
New Pregnancy Book Meets Low Literacy Needs of Moms
The Toronto Public Health Unit (Scarborough Office) and the Scarborough Growing Healthy Together Coalition have developed a
low literacy pregnancy book. 'Growing Healthy Together: Baby and me' is an 88 page illustrated book covering pregnancy changes, prenatal care, healthy lifestyles, labour and birth, breastfeeding, safety and community services.
This resource is intended to augment information provided to prenatal program participants. Each book costs $3.30. To order copies of the book or to reproduce the book for your community, please
contact Health Connections at (416) 396-4228
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Schools Home to Community Gardens
Spring 1999 marks the second year and considerable expansion of the Kid's Kitchen Table initiative in Huron County. Rural Response for Healthy Children, the Huron Children's Aid Society and Health Unit
conceived the project of community gardens in area school yards. Kid's Kitchen Table is funded by a grant from the Canadian Living Foundation, Community Partner's Program - a program to assist
communities enhance nutritional health of children and youth.
Twenty schools are now participating in the project. Schools provide the land and students. Community volunteers coordinate the children's
efforts to prepare the soil, plant the seeds and maintain the plants through the growing season. All gardens are 'earth friendly'/ Community food advisors offer training in food preparation, storage and
preservation. The Health Unit Nutritionist offers nutrition teaching and children are encouraged to make healthier food choices. Excess from the harvest is donated to area foodbanks. Kid's Kitchen Table shows
how community partners can work together to help children learn from and share in Canada's Harvest.
Dale Howatt
Rural Response for Healthy Children (519) 482-8777
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Safe Kids Week Brings Many Rewards
Partners-partners-partners.. all in the name of safety for children. At the
Embrun Family Centre, staff, parents and agencies in Prescott-Russell form a partnership with Safe Kids Canada to promote injury prevention for children.
During our Safe Kids Week, the centre offers informational and
certificate workshops. On Saturday we host a 'fair' of safety exhibits and special attractions. This event requires many partners and we take a lead role in bringing our partners who fit the theme of the year. Our
partners have included Eastern Ontario Health Unit, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Childcare Services of Prescott-Russell, local fire and ambulance services, Loeb, Canadian Tire, the local bicycle shop, Child
Proofers, the Optimists and Block Parents to name a few.
This year's activities included the OPP's seat belt simulator
and the truck rollover simulator; the Optimist's club's bike
rodeo; and fire trucks and ambulance vehicles for children to
climb on and become more comfortable about should they ever need
help. Children are greeted by safety mascots including Stay Alert,
Stay Safe's Bert & Gert, Sparky the
FireDog, Blockparents Prudence Panda and the RCMP Bear. The Loeb
trailer are on lunch duty and we receive a portion of profits
from the day.
Safe Kids Week has always been a successful venture with many
rewards. Parents work on a project in partnership with some of the agencies that they use themselves. The Centre forms more partnerships with agencies, the public and the private sector; and most importantly
we inform the public on child injury prevention issues.
Sharon Coverley
Community Development Worker
(613) 443-1614
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Camp Brighter Futures Offers Reprieve From City Stresses
We had a camp fire every night. We went for walks and canoeing. We also had a special Olympics Day. Corey and I didn't feel left out. Corey is in a
wheelchair and we were able to participate in everything they had planned.. I'm a single mom. It's been 2 1/2 years that Corey and I do things on our own. We met alot of other single moms in similar situations..
I was able to leave Corey and he enjoyed himself very much. He went swimming in the shallow end of the lake, played with minnows, frogs and worms, made bubbles and painted on a teepee. I've noticed that his language
skills are better - he speaks more and is very imaginative. I encourage other moms to come and join us. You will be anxious to go back. I know Corey and I can't wait.
Every year, young single parent families in Ottawa share the enriching experience of a five-day camp at Hurd's Lake. the camp is a partnership
between Brighter Futures (a project of the Young/Single Parent Support Network CAPC) and the Roberts/Smart Centre (An accredited Children's Mental health Centre). The camp receives enthusiastic
support from business, community groups and volunteers.
Camp Brighter Futures' mission is to enrich and promote healthy family relationships through the shared experience of nature, recreation and
leisure activities. 1999 marks the fourth year of Camp Brighter Futures. Each year, participants are involved in the planning and organization of all camp activities.
Parents participate in workshops on such topics as parenting and nutrition. Children build bird feeders, prepare wholesome snacks and catch/collect frogs to learn about them, and then release them back to
nature. There is also time for parents to nurture their relationship with their children while fishing, berry picking, enjoying a 'magical forest walk', canoeing etc.. A highlight of each camp is a visit from a Native
Elder. Parents are encouraged to establish supportive links with other parents campers.
In the words of our participants:
I gained a better understanding of how to relate to my child..
My girls and I had a very pleasant time; we learned things about each other and really felt close to eachother. Thanks so much..
This is the only way I could have taken my child camping.
Most of the families to not have the resources to go camping on their
own. Thanks to the support of our private and public sector partners and a very committed staff, this camping program will have long lasting benefits in the lives of young families.
In 1998, we were fortunate to be joined by Karen Grasley from the Killaloe CAPC project and Monical Prymack to give a tremendously successful workshop on canoeing skills. This year we extend an
invitation to all CAPC projects to link with us, facilitate a workshop or just visit the camp. For more informatio, please contact:
Karen Hunter
Project Coordinator
(613) 749 4584
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Nutrition Corner.
The North York Prenatal Nutrition Project celebrated nutrition month with a recipe contest. More than 50 entries were sent in from seven prenatal
programs and two Early Parenting Programs (CAPC projects). Winning recipes had to taste great, be low cost and quick and contain vegetables or fruits. Prizes were awarded with funds from the Ontario
Ministry of Health and the Dieticians of Canada. The contest sparked recipe sharing and healthy competition. In the end, all entries will be winners as we are developing a cookbook to share with CPNP projects.
Last summer, North York dietitians collaborated with the "Making Connections" gleaning project in organizing a trip to pick strawberries. ("Making Connections" is a pilot project sponsored by the North York
Basic Needs Network, through which community groups pick fresh fruits and vegetables from York region farms at the end of the growing season.) Participants from three CPNP programs were bused to Markham's Reesor Farm.
The peace and quiet of the farm raised everyone's spirits. Children
saw that strawberries come from the farm, not the supermarket,
and moms found out how to make strawberry jam and other recipes.
Everyone brought home baskets of strawberries and many women
did make jam at home. This collaborative initiative demonstrated
how food can unite moms and children in a fun, innovative way.
Jane Weber, of Gesundheit Fur Kinder in St. Jacobs, suggests an afternoon preservine peas and stories. Supplies needed are: Freezer bags, milk bags and twist ties, ziplocks, canner/rack, tongs, jars, pot (for
sterilizing lids), hotplate, cold ice water in tub, strainer or slotted spoon, tea towels, sample frozen peas labl, straw, spatula, masking tape for jar labels, Fresh Fruit/ascorbic acid or lemon juice for fruit and four cup
measure to use with lemon juice.
Blanch peas for two minutes. Blanching preserves colour, flavour and texture. Each vegetable has a different amount of time required to
blanch but it is usually between two and four minutes. Blanching too long or not cooling quickly enough will start to cook the vegetables and some texture and nutrition will be lost. Cooling can be done in the sink with the
water kept cool by iceblocks in margarine containers. Vegetables are dried with the salad spinner and, during packing, aitr should be sucked out of the bags with a straw. While preservine, encourage everyone ti
taste raw peas and their gardening stories.
Dietitians in Toronto-area CPNP programs have formed the CPNP Dietitian Network to share new resources, discuss educational
strategies and program successes and challenges. For more information, contact Mara Galic at (416) 633-0515, ext 175
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CAPC
Success Stories
The CAPC Niagra Brighter Futures programs sends these success stories:
A home visitor helped a 22-year-old mom with a three year old
go back to school and complete high school. The mom is making
plans to attend college for Early Childhood Education in the
fall.
In June 1998, CAPC Niagra Brighter Futures staff intervened with a
25-year-old pregnant mom who used intravenous drugs. Over the next six months, the mom successfully battled her substance abuse, began rebuilding a positive relationship with her other children by visiting them
at parent drop-in centres and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Home Visitors Serve as Program Ambassadors
At Babies Best Start (BBS) in Scarborough, home visitors are the
project's ambassadors in the community. They represent the program to a very high standard and provide quality homevisiting services and community linkages for families who had been quite isolated. Most
home visitors are relative newcomers to Canada and speak pertinent community languages. They work in a way that is respectful of the parents - building their positive attributes and boosting their confidence
as parents and as active members of the community.
Our home visitors also realize many personal successes. In January 1994, Dawinder took initial training with BBS to become a home visitor.
This training helped her realize what she was capable of and provided an opportunity for her to increase her time management skills. Dawinder began assisting BBS families as well as many other individuals and
groups in the community. In 1995, she went back to school to become a registered nurse - continuing her work as a home visitor during her training.
Upon completing her nursing diploma, Dawinder took further
breastfeeding and child development training. She also learned to drive a car. This year, Dawinder began a challenging new role at BBS as a Home Visitor Advisor. For many, the role of home visitor is the first rung
on the job ladder that challenges them to reach new personal and job-related heights. There are many home visitors who, like Dawinder, have returned to full-time education or new employment opportunities.
Many parents have become involved in their community and many of our moms return to school. Back to the Top |