In honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awarenss Day on February 7, two short films—”Women Like You” and “Hope for the Future” will be shown followed by a panel discussion about the epidemic and a theatrical performance by Project Ujima.
This is a free event and open to the public, refreshments will be served. For additional information, call Candy Frater at 1-866-STOP-HIV.
The event is sponsored by Project HIP, the HIV vaccine trials unit, and the HVTU/HPTU Community Advisory Board, and is supported by the Brown University AIDS Program.
Underprivileged children across the country will have free access to dental and oral care on Friday, February 3. The fourth annual “Give Kids a Smile Day,” is hosted locally by volunteers from the Rhode Island Dental Association (RIDA), the Joseph Samuels Dental Center at Rhode Island Hospital, other area dental clinics and dentist offices throughout the state.
A national initiative by the American Dental Association, Give Kids a Smile day allows children from low-income families—who often do not receive regular dental care—access to free educational, preventive and restorative services. In 2005, the Give Kids a Smile program provided more than $60,000 worth of services to nearly 300 children from low-income families throughout Rhode Island.
Children without insurance are two and a half times less likely to get dental checkups than children with insurance. This event brings vital services to children who would otherwise go without proper care.
“A child who does not have access to proper dental care is at risk of suffering from long-term physical and emotional problems,” says Shirley Spater, DMD, MPH, director of the Samuels Dental Center at Rhode Island Hospital. “We must work to get children and families to recognize the importance of oral hygiene and provide access to dental care. Give Kids a Smile is a step toward achieving that goal.”
“A child’s first dental visit shouldn’t be to an emergency room. On a day-to-day basis at the center, we see decayed teeth similar to that found in third world countries. Poor Medicaid reimbursement continues to be the primary barrier for these patients,” said Spater.
The Samuels Dental Center, which has been providing dental services to underprivileged children and individuals with special needs for 75 years, is the largest site in the state participating in Give Kids a Smile.
According to recent headlines, boys are falling behind in school across the nation. Not only are high school boys slipping in standardized writing test scores, younger boys are more likely to be diagnosed with a learning disorder, or say that they don’t like school.
What’s the solution? James Brcak, PsyD, a post-doctoral fellow with the Bradley School in Portsmouth, RI and Brown Medical School, cites the following opportunities for parents and teachers to help boys thrive in school.
Most people realize that girls mature physically faster than boys, but educators need to understand that this also impacts the way boys engage in the classroom.
“The part of the brain that assists in response-inhibition, the prefrontal cortex, develops later for boys than for girls. As a result, boys are more likely to blurt out answers or be impulsive in class,” says Brcak.
He suggests that one way of assisting boys in the classroom may be to structure tasks to include higher levels of energy and noise, thereby making allowances for impulsivity. Staging game show-based activities that separate the class into teams in order to test subject knowledge works well for boys. Another tactic might include using more hands-on learning, like group experiments, that incorporate movement and interaction.
Keeping boys engaged and interested in class is also linked to the subject matter. Surveys of middle school boys’ attitudes toward reading often cite “boring” topics as the number one reason why boys reject literature.
“Teachers and parents can help their male students to be creative when choosing books for school reports and at-home reading—several lists of ‘boy-friendly’ themed books are available on-line and comic books, magazines and illustrated novels can also feed a love of reading,” says Brcak.
At home, parents can help by frequently offering to assist with schoolwork, and by taking a more active part in the homework process.
“Boys are often taught that they should be autonomous and self-reliant and as a result, asking for help can often lead boys to devalue themselves,” Brcak explains.
Parents can also help boys identify school staff members on whom they can rely for help with schoolwork, emotional stress or conflicts with peers.
Brcak suggests that parents make conversations about school a daily habit since discussing school subjects, reading materials and special projects sends the message that school is a priority for the family.
He warns, however, that boys may not respond well to general questions such as, “How was your day at school?”
“Try asking specific questions about certain subjects or ask about school topics that are of interest to your son,” says Brcak.
The rising number of single-parent households, and high female-to-male teacher ratios may also account for why many boys are falling behind.
“Some boys rarely hear about the importance of education from male role models,” explains Brcak.
Parents and teachers can help by identifying male family members or community leaders who place emphasis on education, and by inviting these men to speak with boys on a regular basis. Community mentor programs can also assist in teaching the importance of school.
Parents should work closely with their son’s school to identify when and how he is performing poorly, Brcak says. Parent-teacher communication is key to identifying if a student is slipping academically, and can produce collaborative means of bringing him up to speed. If problems persist, he suggests that parents should familiarize themselves with the process of requesting testing and special education services.
“Special education services can be put into place to accommodate each student’s unique learning style, and parents should not hesitate to rely on them as a resource,” says Brcak.
Additionally, if a student qualifies for an Individualized Education Plan through special education, parents should include him in conversations about the process. The term “special education” is often laden with stigma about stupidity and failure.
“Talk to your son about his unique learning style and tell him how the school will assist him through his challenges while emphasizing his strengths,” explains Brcak.
Hasbro Children’s Hospital has changed the name of its new specialty children’s program to the Children’s Neurodevelopment Center. The change reflects the hospital’s effort to develop a title that better indicates the types of specialties offered and conditions treated at the center.
“We wanted to have an all-encompassing title that fully reflects what we can do for our young patients and their families,” says David Mandelbaum, MD, PhD, director of the Children’s Neurodevelopment Center and chief of child neurology at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “The title ‘Center for Special Children’ suggested that the center was only caring for children with special needs, however, while we continue to be greatly involved with this group of children, we also care for children with other neurological and developmental disorders such as ADHD, tic disorders, seizures and headaches.”
One of the few physicians across the country to be board certified in neurodevelopmental disabilities, Mandelbaum and other hospital staff created the center to provide the best care for children with neurodevelopment disorders, which are often complicated to treat. Opened in 2003, the center evaluates and treats children with various conditions such as autism, feeding disorders, epilepsy, ADHD, cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Physicians, nurses and other clinicians specializing in pediatric neurology, psychology, social work, orthopedics and physical therapy, among others, work together to provide comprehensive care to improve the quality of life for children with neurological and developmental disorders. The center also provides referral and information resources to parents.
The center houses various programs, including:
Early Intervention: A comprehensive program that treats children up to three years old who have developmental challenges.
Families First CEDARR Center: A Rhode Island Medicaid Program that provides Comprehensive Evaluation, Diagnosis, Assessment, Referral and Re-evaluation for children.
The Pediatric Palliative Care Program: A program that provides relief of pain and distressful symptoms to enhance the quality of life for children with chronic or life-threatening medical conditions.
Frequent Flyer Program: Established to provide the ease of transferring medical information seamlessly throughout the hospitals in Lifespan’s care system for patients who require continuous care at the hospital, the Frequent Flyer Program also includes information on the child’s unique needs and is stored in a secure database available to clinicians.
By offering these services in one place, the hospital can streamline the process of caring for children with complicated disorders, offer multidisciplinary care necessary for these conditions and provide convenience for parents. For more information on the Children’s Neurodevelopment Center at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, visit www.hasbrochildrenshospital.org
Special visitors will greet patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital on Friday, January 27.
Elmo and his friends from Sesame Street Live’s “Elmo’s Coloring Book,” will visit inpatients at the hospital, reading stories in the playroom and visiting children at the bedside.
Due to their ailments, many young patients may not be able to enjoy this weekend’s performance of “Elmo’s Coloring Book” at The Providence Performing Arts Center, but the fun will be brought to them as Elmo and his friends roam the halls.
