Pack n Plays & Belly Balls

Dear Friends,

The staff of Hudson Perinatal Consortium would like to thank the Hoboken Family Alliance for their generous support of our Nurse Family Partnership Program and the Doula Program.

The Alliance provided monetary support to purchase Pack n Plays for our babies enrolled in the Nurse Family Partnership Program (many of whom do not have a crib to sleep in) and Belly Balls for our mothers enrolled in our Doula Program.  The Belly Balls are an educational tool for women who are breastfeeding.  It is a way to demonstrate just how small a babies’ stomach is and how much breast milk is actually needed to fill the babies stomach.  This educational tool helps mothers be comfortable with the amount of milk they are producing which is often a source of anxiety for new mothers and helps to avoid supplementation with formula.  The tool includes a marble (which represents the size of a baby’s stomach on the first day of life, a ping pong ball which represents the capacity of the babies’ stomach on day three and an egg which indicates how big the babies’ stomach is at day ten.

Our goal with both programs is to support exclusive breastfeeding as the feeding method of choice and to assure babies have a safe place to sleep.

Congratulations to Sarah Bilyj our Nurse Family Partnership Nurse Supervisor who requested the support from the Alliance and Jill Wodnick our Doula Coordinator who requested support for the Belly Balls.  It just goes to show how these dedicated women are in tune with the needs of our clients.

Thanks to the members of the Hoboken Alliance for their generous support and ongoing commitment to families.

Best,

Mariann

Doulas

The primary role of a doula is to provide support to women in labor by providing non-medical interventions.  These include an array of physical comfort measures (such as massage and visualization) as well as encouragement and peer support.

For the last two years, the Consortium has been the recipient of a grant from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to train community doulas and provide assistance at birth for many economically disadvantaged women who are in need of support.  Women are visited in their home before and after delivery to promote bonding, exclusive breastfeeding, monitor signs of maternal depression and make the necessary referrals for support services such as WIC, housing assistance and clothing.

Hudson Perinatal Consortium is proud to say that we have expanded the program through a generous anonymous private donor gift and a grant from the Merck Foundation to continue and expand our services to low income women in Hudson County thanks to our Community Doula Coordinator, Jill Wodnick.  Jill applied for the grant and because of her fine reputation in the community; we received a private donor gift ($35,000).

At this time, I would like to welcome Janine Verdi who graduated from our Doula Program.  Janine has been very giving with her time and well exceeded the number of births she was required to do under her agreement with us as a fellow in the Doula Program.  Janine has joined our Hudson Perinatal Consortium family to coordinate our doulas who have been trained and contracted with us to assist women in our community.

Much has been accomplished under the leadership of Jeanne McMahon who oversees our program.  This includes infant massage, free childbirth education, case management, and our Teen Health Initiative.

Thank you to all of our staff involved with this important program including:

Jeanne McMahon

Jill Wodnick

Janine Verdi

Jennifer Singer

Stephanie Singer

Josee Phanord

Keep up the great work!

Fondly,

Mariann

Change

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!

In 2012, I would like to learn how to embrace change and begin to understand that growth can occur with change.  I’ve never been really good with change.  I like my surroundings and my routine.  Things like moving to a new house or new office does not appeal to me at all.  I like what is familiar and what I view as precious and comfortable.  Yet, I am a thrill seeker and an adventurous spirit who loves to travel to foreign places and try new and exciting things.  Give me the water sports, the hot air ballooning over New Mexico and the zip lining in the jungle.  My hope, my friends, in 2012 is to bring this sense of spirit and adventure into my work.  It is time for me to embrace change as we plan to merge with our sister Consortia in the North.  The “opportunities” that the merger presents will hopefully bring growth and expansion of programs for women and children.  Hudson County programs and services will remain and flourish, despite threats always looming over of potential budget cuts.  I am convinced that goodness shall prevail if our motivations remain pure.

To think of the many people we have helped over the last twenty years makes me want to embrace the future.  Each time I get a call of thanksgiving from a client who has been touched by our staff, I am comforted and I have faith.

I have had the enormous opportunity to see our postpartum depression program grow and help thousands of women through our partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Jersey City Medical Center, Hoboken University Medical Center and Bayonne Community Mental Health Center.  Thanks to Judy King and Julie Fitzgerald from Hudson Perinatal Consortium who have coordinated “state of the art” community and professional education on the many facets of this perinatal mood disorder.  I am proud to say that our programs will be showcased in a soon to be released documentary later this month.

Thanks too to our immunization staff led by Arpita Jindani who presented a poster at the American Public Health Association meeting in DC in late Fall with our marketing consultant Dominic Fonseca.  The social media campaign, championed by Arpita and Dominic included a variety of multimedia outreach to physicians, healthcare providers and the general public.  Web based tutorials were developed and surveys were conducted to ascertain provider opportunities and challenges in utilizing the NJIIS database.

Through the work of Jaclyn Giancola, Hudson Perinatal Consortium’s marketing assistant, numerous providers were contacted and trained in Northern New Jersey on the web based immunization registry.  I am so proud of the team’s efforts and have been convinced of the importance of social media in promoting public health.

Thanks for supporting our work in the community and pray that I will embrace change in a way that I could have never thought possible.

Wishing you and yours many blessings in this year ahead.

Fondly,

Mariann

A visit to Drumthwacket

While it is still fresh on my mind, I thought I would write about my experience today at Drumthwacket in Princeton.

Mary Pat Christie, the First Lady of New Jersey, welcomed survivors and honorees of her New Jersey Heroes Award to two young cousins (now sophomores at Villanova and Rutgers) who at the age of 15 founded a nonprofit organization called “Breast Friends” with affiliates in six states. Mrs. Christie explained how these exemplary young people continue to attend Board meetings from their dorm rooms by skyping.  Amazing!

Breast Friends was started to help women with practical needs such as wigs, medication and food who were in treatment and battling breast cancer.  What a noble cause for these two cousins whose mothers were affected by breast cancer.  I sat with my friend and colleague, Kathy Grant Davis.  We marveled at how wonderful the Governor’s mansion looked.  It has obviously been updated since I had been there last.  Mrs. Christie (who asked everyone to please call her Pat) explained that she privately fundraised $800,000 to update and repair this historic building that sits on 10 acres and is now considered a part of New Jersey’s park system.  Good for her and for the people of New Jersey!

I snapped pictures and even caught a chandelier whose light gave off a pink glow with my camera.  Kathy and I marveled at it and yet there were no pink lights in that beautiful chandelier.  A moment to treasure for a lifetime.

Thank you Mary Pat for the invitation.  You were a gracious, genuine and warm hostess.

Fondly,

Mariann

Pink ribbons

On September 30, 2011 we had our “Tie a Ribbon” campaign in all 12 municipalities in Hudson County.  This event marks a 10 year tradition of partnership between our Mayors, Komen for the Cure North Jersey and the Hudson County Cancer Coalition. We are grateful for the proclamations from our towns and the contributions and enthusiasm expressed by the Municipal staff.

I was stationed in tiny East Newark which consists of 13 blocks.  The size of the Town doesn’t diminish the enthusiasm I witnessed by Mayor Smith, Bob Knapp, Bridget Goncalves and all of the police and firemen.  Volunteers and breast cancer survivors Emma and Fatima spoke Spanish and Portuguese to those who visited our table while I engaged the many children walking by to bring home breast cancer education material home to their mothers.  Several girls have told me their moms had breast cancer but they were doing well now.  So then, it got me thinking about my own survivorship and how grateful I am.  My co-survivors who spent the day with me are mostly healthy now and free from disease.  Just one woman is surviving with metastatic disease.  Despite her new reality she cares for her grandchildren, attends every survivor event and walk known to man and gives me a hug of quiet understanding every year we see each other.

If you visit East Newark, you will even see pink Komen ribbons tied in the front of the police cars and fire trucks!  How is that for spreading the message?

So what is my message?  Well, one of hope and gratefulness to my doctors and my God and to my family, who have supported me in this journey.  I ask you to please get your annual mammogram at age 40.  Be aware of changes in your breast.  Get a pap smear and clinical breast exam annually. Know your family history and try to reduce your risk…no smoking, eat more vegetables, less meat, exercise and limit alcohol.  Oh yes…don’t forget to see all the joys in life every day.  There is always something to smile about.

Fondly,

Mariann

A happy reminder

It takes a day like today to remind me why I got into maternal and child health in the first place. I was able to hold two month old Jasmine for almost two hours and forgot about the regulations, the administrative burdens and the negotiation with funders. I was eye to eye with a beautiful and responsive baby girl (my favorite gender as I only have one daughter). Today we had our first annual “Moment for Mommies” at the Hank Gallo Center in Lincoln Park, Jersey City, NJ. Women and their babies or pregnant bellies were treated to delicious food, wonderful gifts and education by employees of the Consortium and our community partners.

Our Nurse Family Partnership staff, under the leadership of caring and hard working Sarah Bilyj, welcomed guests, cuddled with babies and gave out Goya food donated by the United Way of Hudson County, the Consortium’s largest contributor and supporter of the Nurse Family Partnership program.

It is here where I was eagerly introduced to Esmeralda, a 44 year old woman who tearfully related her story of how she and her husband were trying to have a baby for a very long time. Originally from the Philippines, Esmeralda told us how much she loved and appreciated her nurse home visitor, Mary Welge. She also told me how wonderful her Doula, Rebeca Four was. “She stayed beside me the whole time and I was really worried about was going to happen to me.”  Then, certified lactation consultant Rachel Ruel came to help her with breastfeeding her new baby.  Today, Angelina Esmeralda “Angel” is seven months old and still exclusively breastfeeding! I shared with Esmeralda how breastfeeding my daughter was one of the most important experiences of my life. Esmeralda enthusiastically agreed, stating that the bonding she has experienced with “Angel” was especially gratifying. I couldn’t agree more.

I am truly humbled to serve in this role as I see the difference we can in the life of a family. This is witnessed in the eyes of a grateful first time mom and those of a vibrant, smiling and engage two month old.

Thank you to all of our supporters and partners who contributed to this event. I leave on a 100 degree plus day with a sense of peace and gratification for being able to be a small part of this special day.

Fondly,

Mariann

Hope

For many of us there is an unexpected moment that changes your life forever.  A diagnosis of cancer is one of those moments.  Despite changes in science, medical treatments and quality of life, the “C” word cannot be spoken by many of us, even today, and it often means a death sentence.  For those of you struggling or know someone who is, it is not a death sentence.  There is hope.

Take Angela for example.  She was screened through a routine baseline mammogram at the age of 40 and found to have Stage II breast cancer.  She felt helpless and alone.

A relatively new immigrant from Peru, Angela was alone in the United States and worked cleaning homes.  That was until she met Wanda Butler, the Consortium’s bi-lingual health educator. Wanda compassionately walked Angela through the healthcare system, helping her obtain as much help as she could through foundation funded programs.  Through the Consortium’s Breast Health Initiative funded by Komen for the Cure, North Jersey Affiliate, Angela received a new wig and was fitted with a prosthesis and specially made bra.

Angela was weak throughout her treatment and could not work but Wanda was there to relieve some of the burden.  She helped Angela get gift certificates for Shop Rite and rental assistance until she could return to work.  More importantly, Wanda offered encouragement, hope and called frequently to check on her. Wanda was a beacon of light at a very dark time in Angela’s life.  Thank you Wanda for your compassion and commitment.  Knowing someone cares can make all the difference in the world.

The Consortium has provided help to thousands of women struggling with breast cancer over the last 12 years because Komen saw the Consortium as an anchor in the community.  I would like to think that we are an anchor and feel privileged that we are able to serve people at a moment in their lives when we are needed most. The world before cancer is very different than the world after cancer.  It is an opportunity to re-align your priorities and be grateful for the smell of a flower, the sound of the sea and the laugh of a smiling baby.  It is a time after the crisis to re-group and appreciate each day and perhaps give back to another survivor.

Survivorship is powerful and life altering.  I am so proud and grateful that I am here today after a 14 year battle with breast cancer to walk the walk.

Thank you to all of our friends and supporters. And for our survivors, we will always be here for you.

Fondly,

Mariann

Hello and welcome

It is hard to believe that the Consortium is celebrating our 20^th year as a nonprofit serving families this year.  The time has gone by so quickly that it almost takes my breath away.

Throughout the years, the Consortium has had an impact in Hudson County that is recognized by many.  Sometimes the work has been with one client where our presence in her life has made a remarkable difference.  For example, Lidia who became pregnant as a teenager and was helped to support herself and her child by enrolling in college.  Someone believed in her and helped her realize her dream. Thank you Jennifer Singer, our Teen Health Educator.  In other cases, we have been on the forefront of advocacy; promoting health insurance enrollment for vulnerable children and their families and helping immigrants seeking the opportunities and freedom this great Country offers a helping hand.

The Consortium has grown over the years due to the support of many of you and a dedicated staff.  Thank you for that.

Thank you too for your ongoing confidence in us as we carry out our important work in Hudson County.  I have had the pleasure of serving this community for a long time as the founding Executive Director and look forward to working with all of you in the future.

Fondly,

Mariann