Thriving Forward

In this episode Sarah talks with Jennifer Muniga, the Executive Director of Cameron Community Ministries.  

Cameron Community Ministries is an Urban Outreach Community Center in the Lyell-Otis Neighborhood of Rochester, NY.  Their mission is to work with neighborhood residents and partners to create a vibrant and thriving community through empowerment and advocacy while meeting basic needs.  Program offerings include youth after-school and summer programs, a Teen Center, Peace Garden, a free hot meal program that serves lunch daily, an emergency food pantry, and a clothing house that serves community members in need of clothing and housewares.

Jennifer began her work at Cameron as the Youth Programs Director in 2011 and was named Executive Director in 2013. 

To learn more about Cameron Community Ministries, please visit:
https://cameronministries.org/

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In this episode Megan speaks to the Co-Owners of Hipocampo Books.

Hipocampo Children's Books, LLC is an independent Woman/Latinx owned children's bookstore in Rochester, NY! They are located in the South Wedge, close to downtown. They have a varied collection of books that represent the rich cultures and languages of western NY as well as toys and children's apparel. They host children's programs and classes, performances, author signings, and even opportunities for adults to share their love of children's literature.

Check out their website for more information: https://hipocampochildrensbooks.com/

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In this episode Sarah talks with Mitch Gruber, Chief Strategy Officer at Foodlink.  Mitch graduated from SUNY Binghamton and worked at ABC Head Start before joining Foodlink in 2008.  He earned his PhD in American history at the University of Rochester, focusing his dissertation on the decline of urban food access in Rochester.  He also serves as a Rochester City Council Member.

For more than 40 years, Foodlink has leveraged the power of food to end hunger and build healthier communities in Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties. Through good stewardship, innovation and collaboration, Foodlink mobilizes a diverse network of community partners to address both the symptoms and root causes of food insecurity.   

To learn more about Foodlink, visit:
https://foodlinkny.org/

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In this episode Megan interviews Otto Harnischfeger the Executive Director of The Pirate Toy Fund.

The Pirate Toy Fund is the only nonprofit organization in the country dedicated to distributing new toys year-round to children-in-need throughout the Greater Rochester region. Co-Founded by local children's entertainer, Gary the Happy Pirate and Dave and Lorrie Simonetti, the Pirate Toy Fund has distributed over 250,000 toys since 1995 and continues to actively pursue new avenues to expand its mission. The founders were inspired by the extraordinary life of Christie Simonetti; daughter of Dave and Lorrie and special friend to Gary.

Website: https://www.piratetoyfund.org/

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In this episode Megan speaks with Deb Turner, Program Director for Fingerlakes 2-1-1 Lifeline.

211/LIFE LINE, a mission program of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, and is an accredited program through the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems, American Association of Suicidology, and International Council for Helplines for Online Emotional Support. 

 211/LIFE LINE is here for everyone, every day, anytime. Community members get connected with experienced telecounselors by simply dialing 211 for free and confidential assistance connecting to vital services within the community. When you need help locating basic resources (like food, clothing, shelter) or need crisis stabilization for yourself or someone you know, we’re here to listen and here to help.

Website: https://211lifeline.org/

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November is Prematurity Awareness Month. On this episode of the podcast we welcome Carla LeVant. She has been a social worker at the Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong for 34 years and in the NICU for the past 15. Carla has a Bachelors in Social Work from Syracuse University and a Masters in Social Work from New York University.  Her graduate placement was at  NYU Medical Center on the Acute Pediatric Floor. She has an interest in Family Systems and a focus on Family Centered Care. She has co –facilitated the GCH Parent Advisory Council for 20 years and one specific to NICU issues for the past 15 years.

Resources for preemie parents:

• Hand to Hold-https://handtohold.org/
• Peek A Boo ICU-https://www.peekabooicu.com/ 
• The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies: Preemies Second Edition, Preemie Parents: Recovering from Baby’s Premature Birth
• BabyCenter.com- Understanding your Baby’s Cues- https://www.babycenter.com/2_understanding-your-babys-cues_10350320.bc
• March of Dimes Prematurity/NICU Information - https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/the-nicu.aspx
• GCH at URMC NICU - https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/nicu.aspx

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 In this episode Sarah interviews Lisa Nolan, Director of Prevention Education at Willow Domestic Violence Center, to learn about their services and how the pandemic has affected domestic violence in our area.

 To learn more about Willow, go to:
www.willowcenterny.org

 Domestic Violence hotline:

 585-222-SAFE (7233)

 Domestic Violence textline:

 585-348-SAFE (7233)

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In this episode Sarah talks with Dr. Sandy Jee, co-director of the Finger Lakes Children's Environmental Health Center.

The Finger Lakes Children’s Environmental Health Center’s mission is to prevent, diagnose, and treat environmentally related conditions for families in their 15 county region.  Funded by NYS Department of Health, FLCEHC is part of the first state-based model for pediatric environmental health services in the country.   
For more about FLCEHC, check out:
Website - www.golisano.urmc.edu/flcehc
Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/FLCEHC
Call Line - (844) 352-3420 (844-FLCEHC-0) for the public, community agencies, and healthcare providers

Dr. Jee is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester.  She received her B.A. in English from Yale University, her M.D. with Distinction in Research from the University of Rochester, and M.P.H. in Health Management and Policy from the University of Michigan.  She completed her pediatric residency at N.Y.U. and University of Michigan, and fellowship in Pediatric Health Services Research at the University of Michigan.  She has also completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine from the University of Arizona.  In October 2020 she became Co-Director of the Finger Lakes Children’s Environmental Health Center (FLCEHC) at Golisano Children’s Hospital.  She is a practicing general pediatrician and teaches medical students and residents at the University of Rochester.  Her current research and clinical interests focuses on health disparities for children and promoting healthy living principles.

For more about Dr. Jee, visit:
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/21286902-sandra-h-jee

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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Locally Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong provides phenomenal care for children and families dealing with cancer diagnoses. On this episode podcast we welcome Dr. Carol Fries from URMC’s Pediatric Hematology and Oncology group as well as Dr. Katie Rice, the Division’s Pediatric Psychologist.  Dr. Rice specializes in helping children and teens with medical conditions.  In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Fries is researching ways to provide more personalized therapy with fewer side effects to children diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

URMC Pediatric Hematology and Oncology: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/hemonc.aspx

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In this episode Sarah interviews Dr. LeKeyah Wilson.  Dr. Wilson is the Medical Director of School-Based Health Centers for Rochester Regional Health as well as a practicing pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist.  The RRH School-Based Health Centers are located in the following schools:  Charlotte High School, The Edison School, Freddie Thomas Learning Center, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School #9, and John James Audubon School #33.

To learn more about Dr. Wilson, go to:
https://www.rochesterregional.org/physician-directory/w/wilson-lekeyah

To learn more about the RRH School-Based Health Centers, visit the website below and scroll down to "School-Based Health Systems".
https://www.rochesterregional.org/services/behavioral-health/children-and-youth-services

Parents who are interested in enrolling their child in one of the School-Based Health Centers can look for a form in their enrollment packet or contact the nurse's office directly at their child's school.

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