Organizations We Supported in 2010
Preschool Nutrition Grant
Chelsea Community Preschool
Chelsea Children's Cooperative Preschool
Miller Elementary
Burns Park Players
Chelsea Center for the Arts
Chelsea Community Hospital
Chelsea Chamber Players
Chelsea Cheerleading
Chelsea Music Boosters
Chelsea Football
Chelsea High School
Chelsea Hockey Chelsea Recreation Council
Chelsea Rotary
Dahlem Center
Ele's Place
Emerson School
Faith in Action
Girls on the Run
Grass Lake Sanctuary
Grass Lake Summer Youth League
Huron River Watershed Council
Michigan Mustangs Jackson Legacy Scholarship
Run for the Rolls
SRSLY
St Mary Star of the Sea
Youth Dance Theatre |
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Welcome Back Andy/Meet Naela and MJ
Dear Parents, Andy will be returning to the practice on January 3, 2011, and we could not be more delighted. Please help us also welcome some recent additions to the practice: Naela Jenkins (pediatric nurse practitioner) and MaryJane "MJ" Eder (receptionist). Please click on their names to visit our website and learn more about them.
These additions to our staff are part of our plan to expand and improve the care we provide to your children. Thank you for your patience this summer as we discovered that the practice had grown to the point that it was becoming difficult to schedule well visits. We also learned from parents through our annual survey that extended hours would be very helpful for planned visits such as well child and follow up appointments.
With Andy's return, the addition of Naela and MJ, and some extra effort from the wonderful staff already in place, we will be able to offer more hours for scheduling appointments and, for the first time, extended hours. Effective January 3, 2011, you will be able to schedule well visits and follow up appointments with Andy on Tuesdays until 6 pm. Stay tuned for additional extended hours and walk in clinic hours. |
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Year in Review
- Ages and Stages Implemented: Developmental screening is an important tool for early identification of potential delays, as well as an opportunity to track your child's development along a number of important measures, including fine and gross motor, language, and emotional development. We were very excited to enhance the typical well visit with an additional tool, Ages and Stages, that provides a greater degree of detail and builds a more subtle and sophisticated picture of your child's development. This additional screening measure is now available at every well child visit from birth through the 5 year well visit.
- Community Benefit: As part of our mission to work with our families to promote the health and wellbeing of your children, we continue to provide financial support to local groups and institutions that promote children's fitness, good nutrition, literacy and access to the arts. This year we were proud to provide over $9000 in community support.
- Car Seat Clinics: Our partners at the University of Michigan's Pediatric Trauma Program returned again to staff our car seat clinics. The 3 clinics we held in 2010 were open to our families and the public, and we continue to offer this as a free service. New this year, Leann went through a 3 day training program to become a certified car eat safety technician. Stay tuned in 2011 for additional car seat services that we will be able to provide with Leann on site on a regular basis.
- Molly featured in national Portuguese Water Dog magazine: Molly continues to have a big impact on the children who visit the practice each day. The article described her training process conducted by Michelle McCarthy of K-9 Homeschooling and the work she does in the office. The article was enhanced by the beautiful photographic work of Melanie Reyes. Stay tuned in 2011 for a new volunteer chaperone program that will allow us to make Molly more available in the office.
- Farm Room Updated: With the design and construction expertise from some great people at the Purple Rose Theater, we added a barn to the Farm Room, a welcome replacement to the cardboard animals that wouldn't quite stay on the wall! Stay tuned for the fish and jungles rooms to receive some attention.
- New Families: We have welcomed 121 new families who joined our practice in 2009.
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What's Your New Year's Resolution?
It's that time of year that we reflect on where we are at, and what improvements we would like to see in the coming year. When you are a parent, chances are you have some thoughts about what you might like to do in the coming year to help your child develop better health literacy tools. Here are some tips from us that we hope will help:
You can help your child lower the risk of adult chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, and pulmonary disease at the same time that you are promoting their emotional wellbeing and intellectual development by encouraging them to
1. Move more: keep all their winter gear in one place by the door so that it is easy for them to go play outside during the winter; find an open gym and gather a few families for some indoor games; take a walk at one of our many beautiful state parks in the area
2. Eat better: incorporate a protein into breakfast to start the day right, pack a fruit or vegetable as a snack; sit down together for a meal; don't keep food you don't want to eat in the house; take a daily multi-vitamin
3. Read a book: find a library program; read a book to your child; have your child read a book to you; have family reading time
4. Improve your health: schedule your annual physical; actually get those labs drawn that have been sitting on your desk for 6 months; follow your own advice you give your children about getting a good night's sleep, eating well, and moving more.
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New Parents Lunch
Parents (and grandparents) who had a baby in 2010 should watch the mail for an invitation to our Second Annual New Parents Lunch. This year it will be held on Tuesday, January 18 from 11:30-1:30 at the TreeHouse in downtown Chelsea.
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! |
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