The Children's Clinic sponsored by Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society

Spring Flowers 
The Children's Clinic
 
 Infant Welfare Society
 Membership Newsletter
 
 
IMPORTANT DATES

Saturday, May 1, 2010 "Day at the Races" 

 Monday, May 3, 2010 The Strategic Planning Committee Presentation
 
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Circle 80 Car Wash
 
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
Holiday Market
 
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 
Holiday Housewalk &
  Market
 
Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010
Holiday Housewalk & Market
 
THE CLINIC
3RD ANNUAL DAY AT THE RACES
DR.KAREN WALKER NAMED ICAAP VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
GOT ROT?
LOSE YOUR BLUES AT THE MARDI GRAS - HUGE SUCCESS
DR. SAMORE "ON STAGE"
THE CHILDREN'S CLINIC COMBATS CHILDHOOD OBESITY
QUICK LINKS
SUPPORT OUR "DAY AT THE RACES" SPONSORS 
Sidley Austin logo 

State Farm logo 

 Mike Grant - State Farm Agent

Community Bank logo

 
Huntington Learning Center logo 
 
 
CWM logo
 
 
Stern and Associates, Attorneys at Law
 
The Pioneer Press
 
The Wednesday Journal
 
spark* Creative Services of Boca Raton. FL
 
 
THANK YOU!!!!  
The Clinic is both happy and grateful for the generous donation of tile that updated the flooring in the entire medical area! 
 
Our heartfelt thanks to:  
 
Ray & Carolyn
 DelConte
DOUGH MAKES DOUGH - Thank You Circle 80!
There must be some past Girl Scouts among the Circle 80 group!  The Circle 80 girls sold cookie dough during the month of February and raised $4,000 for the Clinic.  Funds are partially ear-marked for school supplies for the fall, a much appreciated need.  Way to go, ladies!
OUR WISH LIST  
LCD Projector
($700) 
 
  Tooth Brushes
 
Kitchen Silverware
"we are trying to be green"
 
Children's Play Kitchen Set ($180)
 "for the waiting room"
MENTAL HEALTH GRANT
Sobering facts: One in five children has a diagnosed mental disorder and one in ten has mental health problems that effect quality of life.  Yet, children's mental health programs in the state of Illinois will lose 43 percent of their funding due to the state's fiscal crisis. In fact, all mental health services will be cut by over $90 million. As a result, the Illinois Department of Human Services estimates that 70,000 people, including 4,200 children, will lose their mental health services.
 
The Children's Clinic has seen the value of mental health services since 1920 when the first Infant Welfare social worker was hired.  The Clinic is applying for a grant that would allow the addition of a full-time bilingual social worker and case manager, much needed positions as access to mental health services is reduced due to the state's $13 billion budget deficit. 
"THIS & THAT AT THE CLINIC"
 
Say GOOD BYE  &  GOOD LUCK to Hayley Webster, one of the Clinic's "multi taskers" for the last year!  She is off to Kenya in May for a two year stint with the Peace Corps! Safe Journeys, Hayley!!    
 
 SAVE THE DATES FOR UPCOMING EVENTS! 
  
 Circle 80 Car Wash at
 First Presbyterian Church
Saturday, May 22, 2010 
 10am - 1pm
Quick/Lathrop (One block North of Lake Street) 
River Forest  
 
   2010 Holiday House Walk
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010  
 6pm - 9pm 
"Girls Night Out" - Market only
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
3pm - 9pm - Market    5pm  - 9pm - Housewalk
Saturday Dec. 4, 2010
10am - 5pm - Market
 1pm - 5pm - Housewalk
 
 
DO YOU KNOW?
Dear IWS Members ~
 
Did you know that The Children's Clinic has two endowment funds to support the children of future generations?
 
One of the funds named in honor of Mary Anderson, is restricted to support continuing education for nursing.
 
The other fund is managed by the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation on the Clinic's behalf and is earmarked to support the general operation of the Clinic.
 
Only the interest from the funds may be used now so that a nest egg grows for future needs. Are you interested in learning more about the endowment funds? Or in making a planned gift or a bequest to The Children's Clinic?
 
If so, please call Susanna Decker, Director of Development, at 708.848.0528, ext. 232. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
SPRINGAPRIL/2010

After a two year strategic planning process and with new data information, a presentation about whether to apply for Federally Qualified Health Center  funding will be held on Monday, May 3, 2010 at 7pm for the IWS membership.  Come join us as we answer your questions and jointly plan for the future at:

Dominican University
Parmer Hall, Bluhm Auditorium
7900 West Division
River Forest, IL 60305
 
Directions:
Go north on Thatcher Ave. and turn right on Dominican Parkway - Parmer Hall is the large building on the right.
 
 
 elizabeth                      elizabeth
Leah Beckwith                                                               Elizabeth Lippitt
 President                                                                           Executive Director

3rd ANNUAL DAY AT THE RACES

Derby logo

  3rd Annual Day at the Races

Saturday, May 1, 2010
 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Cheney Mansion
220 N. Euclid Avenue
Oak Park 
 
Hosted by the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society, the Day at the Races will feature a viewing of the Kentucky Derby, a delicious southern-style buffet catered by Wishbone Restaurant, and an open bar that will include traditional Derby cocktails such as mint juleps and whiskey sours.  Guests will enjoy live entertainment by the band Go Long Mule and Games of Skill and Chance.  Guests can participate in an auction, a hat contest, and the raffle of three prizes, including a large flat-screen TV. 
 
The co-chairs, Anne Klassman, Sara Proskey, Suzi Schrader, and their committee have been diligently planning  and are very excited for the 3rd Annual Event!    
 

Tickets for the 2010 Day at the Races are $125 each and can be purchased on-line at www.childrenscliniciws.org,  by phone at (708) 848.0528, ext. 300, or by mail by sending a check payable to The Children's Clinic, 320 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302.

DR. KAREN WALKER NAMED ICAAP VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Dr. WalkerThe Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH:
  Karen Walker, MD, FAAP
 
We are  pleased to report that ICAAP named Karen Walker, MD, FAAP as the volunteer of the month.  Dr. Walker has served as the Medical Director of The Children's Clinic for the last ten years. She is also a pediatrician at Pediagroup Associates, a private group pediatric practice in Oak Park.  In addition to these duties, Dr. Walker was previously the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, IL, and is currently on the teaching staff and part of the preceptorship program at Rush and Loyola Medical Schools.
 
 
Dr. Walker is also a champion for oral health and has implemented the Bright Smiles from Birth program at her clinics in Oak Park. She attended meetings of the Illinois Academy of Pediatric Dentistry on behalf of ICAAP and has encouraged other providers to add oral health assessments and application of varnish into well child visits. 
 
Dr. Walker is also a founding member of the Collaboration for Early Childhood Care and Education Physician's Network. The Physician's Network was formed to support early childhood development and literacy. In 2009, as part of ICAAP's Obesity Prevention Initiatives, Dr. Walker participated in an expert panel to review Chicago's Child Day Care Center Licensing Standards to improve nutrition, physical activity, and screen time. 
 
CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU  DR. WALKER FOR ALL YOU DO AT THE CHILDREN'S CLINIC!!!   

GOT ROT?  

Got Rotelizabeth

  A "rotting" recipe:
 SUGAR + ACID!
 
The Illinois State Dental Society is committed to the "Got Rot" campaign to educate both children and adults about the negative effects of soda, sports and fruit drinks, all of which cause major damage to to your teeth through their low acid and high sugar content. The consumption of soft drinks has increased by 500 percent in the last 50 years! 
 
The Clinic's Dental staff is right on board with this campaign, prepared with flyers and words of advice on this epidemic.  
 
 SAVE YOUR SMILE- your smile is one of the first things that other people notice about you!  

LOSE YOUR BLUES AT THE MARDI GRAS - Huge SUCCESS with lots of  LAUGHTER

elizabeth
 The NOLA celebration had   nothing on us! The last weekend  in January was our "beat the winter blues"  celebration!Presented by the  Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society, this Mardi Gras- themed fundraiser was held at the House of Blues on January 29, 2010.  Nearly 200 attendees enjoyed southern-style food, Mardi Gras cocktails, live / silent auctions, and entertainment.  More than $20,000 was raised for  the Clinic.   Many thanks to the event's co- chairs, Karen Brown, Lynn Kirsch, and Julie McKune - your southern style hospitality was much appreciated!   

DR. SAMORE "ON STAGE"

Portable dentistryTuesday, April 14, 2010 featured Dr. Samore and her staff on the gym's stage at Hiawatha Elementary School in BerwynThe Children's Clinic's Portable Dentistry Program was in full- force as they provided exams, cleanings, fluoride, and sealants to about 60 students in a two day period.  It was an impressive production!  
 
Dr. Betsy Samore has been with the Clinic since 1997 and plays a pertinent role in the Portable Dentistry initiative.  Dr. Samore has been in the OPRF area since 1985, where she  and her husband have raised their four sons , who are now between the ages of 14 -23.  She is part of a private practice in Oak Park and is a clinical instructor at the College of DuPage.
 
FYI - Dr. Samore uses her family's Mini Van to transport all Portable Dentistry supplies from school to school.  She is truly a shining star in this production! Thank you, Dr. Samore, for your dedication!          

THE CHILDREN'S CLINIC COMBATS CHILDHOOD OBESITY

The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with one out of three kids now considered overweight or obese.  
 
Over the last year, our staff has become increasingly concerned by the number of overweight children that they serve. A grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics funded a program that utilized a dietician and social worker to help families implement healthier eating habits and increase physical activity.   After participating in the program, over 50 percent of the children utilized a free membership with the YMCA for physical activity at least two times a week.   Increases were also found in the daily consumption of fruit, whole grains, and vegetables, while soda intake decreased. 
 
Although the grant ended in June 2009, the Clinic hired a part-time dietician in August 2009, feeling that this intervention was critical for our patients. The children and their parents  initially meet with the Clinic's social worker who determines their readiness for intervention.  Based on her findings, the social worker then makes an appointment for the families with the dietician.