According to Mayo Clinic research, encouraging young children to engage in sports will give them a “head start on lifelong fitness” and helps to prevent obesity. To avoid injury and to be sensitive to the child’s physical ability and maturity level, it is advisable to enroll them in age-appropriate sporting activities.

The Mayo Clinic classifies this demographic into 3 age groups: ages 2-5, 6-7 and 8+. The preschoolers and kindergarteners, with their limited attention span, should do unstructured exercise like running, climbing, playing catch and tricycle riding. The 6-7 year olds are more coordinated and can take direction well, so sports like softball, martial arts, gymnastics, track and soccer are ideal. For the 8 and over crowd, most organized sports – including contact sports – work well.

American youths take their sports seriously: there are 30 to 45 million kids aged 6-18 participating in one or more school and/or community-based athletic programs.  And sports provide a positive psychological effect on children – they are less likely to be depressed or anxious.  An old adage is well in play here: a fit body begets a fit mind!

Additional quote from Kelsey Stevens, Director, Fitness & Recreation Programs, Children’s Aid:

These avenues are challenged through basketball, baseball, tumbling, sports management, swimming and a host of other activities. These activities provide a wide range of developmental processes such as hand-eye coordination and the social atmosphere.  Many of our youth strive on being competitive but with the understanding of doing your personal best. Though the aforementioned caters to our extramural teams, our intramural activities add to our focus of sports and fitness.

Some of those activities are flag football, dodge ball, kickball, color call, volleyball and a host of other interactive games. Through these avenues we continue to develop their social interaction, sportsmanship, academic awareness, cardio, stamina, flexibility and a desire to accomplish a goal.

Some of the methods we use to approach, recruit, involve and engage kids in sports are the benefits of social interaction, intramural and extramural games, a friendly and caring atmosphere, informative and knowledgeable staff as well as providing  the opportunity to engage them in discussions about being a student athlete and what it takes to be successful in any objective.

We share the President’s central vision — that children’s success should not depend on where they live, but on their potential. Early in his speech, he described reading letters from children asking “Why do I have to move away from my home?” or “When will my parents find jobs?” As the President and Congress move forward on health reform, education reform, and job creation, we hope that they will continue to pay attention to the voices of those children. As we work to improve access to higher education and create jobs with living wages, we cannot forget the particular challenges faced by teens aging out of foster care or those being released from juvenile detention facilities. As we strive to reform public education, we must remember that the most successful educational program cannot serve a child who is too sick to attend school regularly, too hungry to focus when they get there, and too stressed because of an unstable home environment.

Reflecting on the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens Union v. FEC, the President accurately bemoaned the power of money in politics. Too often, our laws fail to take account of the needs of poor and vulnerable children who do not lobby, donate to elected officials, or vote. We hope that Congress heeds the President’s call to do business differently. We must stand for the needs of vulnerable children who cannot stand for themselves. We at The Children’s Aid Society are ready to work with this administration to fulfill our mission: to bridge the gap between what children have and what they need to thrive.

Richard R. Buery, Jr.
CEO and President
The Children’s Aid Society

The public programs serving these children are very much in demand. In fact, enrollment in Medicaid has gone through the roof largely because of the distressed economy, giving birth to a whole new generation of enrollees who previously did not qualify for access to public healthcare. It is no surprise to learn that the American poverty level reached 13.2% in 2008, the highest level in over ten years. Now, more than ever, economically disadvantaged communities and families need guidance with navigating the public healthcare system.

The state of New York offers government-sponsored health insurance programs: Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus.  Additionally, New York Governor David A. Paterson recently signed legislation to make health insurance more affordable and to improve health care access for New Yorkers. Likewise, the Children’s Aid Society is committed to helping reduce the percentage of uninsured in New York City, so that no one is left behind.

Additional quote from Lorraine Gonzalez, Director, Health Care Access Program, Children’s Aid:

In the decade since New York State acted to reduce/eliminate the number of uninsured but eligible residents of the state with a program of facilitated enrollment, there have been substantive successes. As a state, we have expanded Child Health Plus eligibility to 400% of poverty; created a single statewide eligibility standard for Medicaid; eliminated resource thresholds for Medicaid; and allowed residents to self-declare income and residency in the renewal process.

New York State has been a pioneer in modeling systems that help make health insurance an affordable reality for all. Governor Paterson demonstrated a commitment to help reduce/eliminate the uninsured rate in New York State for all children by expanding the federal poverty level for Child Health Plus to 400% in September 2008.  While recognizing that acclaim for the work of those invested in this cause is due, we must build upon our successes and progress in our efforts to eliminate the remaining obstacles: gaps in coverage, the need for support for navigating the health care system, and discrimination and disparities in the quality of health care for those who are publicly insured.

When it comes to health care, we know that the current federal administration acknowledges the fundamental right of all individuals to have appropriate coverage and access to health care. We are at a pivotal moment when we can make health care a reality for all with our new political capital and effective strategic planning. The Children’s Aid Society is dedicated to this effort and invites you to remain a committed partner.

The people of Haiti will need help for a long time to come. Children’s Aid staff and families are responding to the crisis in Haiti through individual financial and in-kind donations, such as clothing and personal hygiene kits. If you would like to make a financial donation to the Haiti relief efforts, Charity Navigator, which monitors nonprofit agencies, offers a list of suggestions.

At this time no imminent airlifts of children from Haiti to New York are planned. However, should the opportunity arise, The Children’s Aid Society stands ready to help place orphaned Haitian children in loving and supportive homes in New York City. If you, or someone you know, might be willing to care for a Haitian child we want to hear from you. Please contact us at fosteradopt@childrensaidsociety.org with your name and the best way to reach you. We will keep you informed if there is an opportunity for volunteers to care for children escaping the devastation of the earthquake.

Children’s Aid also partners with the City Bar Justice Center to assist Haitian nationals to gain Temporary Protected Status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. For more information about how to file an application, contact our Office of Public Policy & Client Advocacy at (212) 358-8930 or email sharonev@childrenaidsociety.org.

Richard R. Buery, Jr.
CEO and President
The Children’s Aid Society

Families with a Future is a unique new program which addresses this often daunting challenge, by acknowledging that sometimes we may need a Life Coach. The Life Coach is a key component of the Families with a Future program, providing assistance to parents in order to help them succeed and prosper in a long term, sustainable way.

Working with parents both one-on-one and in group settings, the Life Coach helps parents identify long term goals and ways to achieve them, while building a support network that parents can turn to for guidance. The Families with a Future program is geared towards motivated, creative, self-sufficient individuals, who will work hard to implement the plans they make with their Life Coach.

This Children’s Aid Life Coach can also assist parents in making tough decisions regarding health insurance, housing, and other services. In addition, the program offers grants for qualifying individuals, to help themselves build a better future. In the past, participants have used the money to attend highly regarded New York institutions such as the City University of New York.

Children’s Aid is committed to helping families through mentorship. Whether it’s with our Families with a Future program designed for parents or through various youth development programs – aimed at helping children grow to successful independence – our goal is the same: a bright, prosperous future for New York City families.

Neil Palansky

The Children’s Aid Society knows how difficult it is to manage your credit which is why we have made this an important part of our advocacy effort. Understanding credit is the first step in attaining financial freedom and flexibility.

According to the Federal Reserve, levels of consumer credit debt in the United States have grown steadily over the last several years. Many consumers are drowning in debt, and many credit cards companies are raising fees, responding to record defaults and new regulations for 2010. Interest rates and fees are impacting a record number of consumers. By providing information to help understand their credit history, Children’s Aid encourages families to earn about important topics such as:

• Do’s and Don’ts of Plastic
• Getting a Copy of Your Credit Report
• Forms of Credit
• Interest Rates and Charges
• Over-Extended or Out-of Control Credit

With the financial education provided by Children’s Aid, families can get the information and assistance needed to understand these credit issues that impact their future solvency. With in-depth information and advocacy publications, in both English and Spanish, individuals and families learn to build a stronger future!

Photo by, Ben Russell

On Thursday, November 19th, Jared Jeffries of the New York Knicks, The Garden of Dreams Foundation and The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. brightened the day of many families of The Children’s Aid Society.

Jeffries kicked off the Day of Giving with a visit to the Dunlevy Milbank Center’s daycare program and stocked the center’s food pantry which serves needy families year round. Baby food, car seats, strollers and other products were also handed out to families.

In the afternoon Jeffries along with a few teammates, the Knicks City Dancers and Irwin Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial, handed out 300 all-natural Plainville Farms® turkeys to families serviced by Children’s Aid for their Thanksgiving Day meals.

Photo by, Lily Kesselman

As the adults gathered their turkeys and other items, the children danced and participated in basketball drills with Knicks volunteers. Occasionally, the 6’11” Knicks star Jeffries would give some of our littlest players a boost up to the net to score a slam dunk. “The Children’s Aid is a great thing and I always try to come out and support it whenever I am in New York…I think this is one of the best opportunities for kids to come out and spend time together, I am glad I can be a part of it,” said Jeffries.

1. Let them know you are worried about them and want to help. Don’t tell them what to do or try to take control of the situation.
2. Don’t blame the victim, imply they did something to ‘bring it on,’ or tell them they are stupid for staying.  It’s hard to understand why people stay in abusive relationships – some common reasons are love, belief the abuse will change, self-blame, and fear that the abuse will get worse if they try to break it off.  But the worst thing you can do if you want to help is to reinforce the idea that they are to blame.
3. Help them to reduce isolation. Abusers often cut their victims off from friends and family members. Tell them you’ll be there for them whether they decide to stay in the relationship or not.
4. Connect them with a domestic violence advocate who can help them develop a safety plan. Call one of the numbers below to find out what resources are available in your area.

Finally, if you know someone who’s being abusive, do not look the other way. Confront the specific behavior, tell them you are willing to support their efforts if they are willing to get help for changing but will not support abuse, and do not accept excuses, justifications or victim-blaming. Call one of the numbers below to find out how to get help for the abusive person.

The Children’s Aid Society – Family Wellness Program 212-503-6842

NYC Domestic Violence Hotline 800-621-HOPE (4673)

National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-699-SAFE (TDD 800-787-3224)

National Teen Dating Violence Hotline 866-331-9474 (TDD 866-331-8453)

While every relationship is different, survivors of domestic violence have identified common characteristics and behaviors of abusive partners.  Knowing the warning signs can help you to avoid abusive relationships or identify abuse and get help for yourself or a friend/family member sooner.

If you recognize any of the warning signs below, consider calling the Family Wellness Program or one of the hotlines listed at the bottom of this page.

1. Extreme jealousy – when one partner wants to know who the other is with and what they are doing at all times, doesn’t trust them and might even accuse them of cheating for no good reason.

2. Isolation – when one partner wants the other all to him/herself, tries to cut them off from friends, family, and activities – might even insist they quit their job or school.

3.  Controlling behavior – when one partner tries to control the other by telling them what to do, how to dress, who to hang out with – or manipulates them into doing what they want.

4.  Fast-moving relationship – when a partner who comes on very strong, is an extreme “smooth talker” and wants to make major commitments very early in the relationship.

5.  Blaming – when one partner always seems to blame the other for his/her own behavior – “You made me do this.”

6.  History of abusive behavior – if someone has ever been abusive to a current or ex partner, a child or an animal; it is unlikely they will change without help.

7. Moodiness – someone with a “Jeckyl and Hyde” personality.

8. Put-downs – when one partner is constantly criticizing the other, putting them down and making them feel badly about themselves.

9. Entitlement – when someone believes they are entitled to be in charge or be catered to, because of gender or other reasons.

10. Intimidation and threats – when one partner uses threats or intimidating body language, punches walls or breaks things to intimidate the other.

How to get help:

The Children’s Aid Society – Family Wellness Program 212-503-6842

NYC Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-621-HOPE (4673)

National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-699-SAFE or 1-800-787-3224 TTY

National Teen Dating Violence Hotline 1-866-331-9474 or1-866-331-8453 TTY

Kerry Moles, Children’s Aid Family Wellness Program, NYC

Children who see, hear or are aware of violence against at home are much more likely to get hurt themselves – either by getting hit directly or being ‘caught in the crossfire’ and hurt accidentally. Even when they are not hurt physically, they are usually hurt emotionally. They are much more likely to get in trouble for fighting with peers, do poorly in school, be diagnosed with learning disorders, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or other mental health problems like depression or anxiety. As adolescents, they are at greater risk of substance abuse, dating violence, suicide, and a whole host of other social and emotional problems.

The cycle of violence in a family all too often repeats itself from generation to generation. And it impacts not only the family, but all of society, not only because of the cost in the health care and criminal justice arenas, but because those same child witnesses are more likely to grow up to commit not only intimate partner abuse, but many other forms of violence in the community.

If a child you know is being exposed to domestic violence, call one of the numbers below to find out how you can help:

The Children’s Aid Society – Family Wellness Program, 212-503-6842

NYC Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-621-HOPE (4673)

National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-699-SAFE (TDD 800-787-3224)

National Teen Dating Violence Hotline, 1-866-331-9474 (TDD 866-331-8453)