DATE, TIME, AND PLACE:<\/b>\u00a0August 1, 11 a.m. at Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul Street, Rochester N.Y.<\/p>\n
WHAT:<\/b>\u00a0A graduation for young moms who completed three successful years in the Building Healthy Children program. The ceremony includes one participant speaking about how BHC helped her and her family. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the families will be treated to a day at the zoo.<\/p>\n
BACKGROUND:<\/b>\u00a0Located at the URochester’s Mt. Hope Family Center, Building Healthy Children is an innovative community collaboration addressing the needs of low-income, high-risk young mothers and their children.<\/p>\n
Monroe County has one of the higher rates of teen pregnancy in New York State and teen families face increased risks for child abuse, neglect, emotional difficulties, behavioral problems, and ultimately foster care placements.<\/p>\n
The Building Healthy brings together Strong Pediatrics’ medical talent and the Society for Protection and Care of Children’s expertise in social work with Mt. Hope Family Center’s evidence-based clinical therapy. Through a comprehensive approach, physicians, social workers and psychologists reach out to young mothers with evidence-based support. They provide parenting education, parent-child attachment and maternal depression therapy, along with food, housing and transportation for three to five years. The Monroe County Department of Human Services and United Way of Greater Rochester fund BHC.<\/p>\n