Bulletins - 2009 - 01/07/2009
This
Week's Bulletin Was Written
By Karen Bucey
The first meeting of the year was cool and brisk and a wonderfully clear view from the 34th floor. The invocation was given by Pete McGuire, the pledge of allegiance lead by Joe Cioken, and the song of the day, "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" was led by Linda Jalving and Jim Mulvaney.
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Carol Jensen’s mother passed away. Donations may be made to the Saint Josephs Cathedral or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
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Melissa Chapman was recognized for hosting a wonderful holiday party at their home. She was presented with a Make Dreams Real pin.
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Please bring your used holiday cards next week. Sandra Schrift will be sending them to Saint Jude’s Hospital for recycling.
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February is Rotary World Understanding Month. Please submit your recommended individuals and organizations to Sandra Schrift.
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Please remember the Rotary Gala this Saturday January 10.
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The Potiker Senior Family Residences sent a thank you letter to the club for our support.
Two members were welcomed to the club. Sandee Rugg is a returning member sponsored by Mel and Dave Smith is a transfer member from the Del Mar club sponsored by David Ferguson.
In the third installment of the State of the City series Sandra Mc Brayer on the San Diego County Report Card on Children and Families 2007.
Ms Mc Brayer is a fellow Rotarian and Chief Executive Officer of the Children’s Initiative and internationally known advocate for children, youth and families. The Children’s Initiative is a San Diego based child advocacy agency. The Initiative partners with community leaders, organizations, and governmental agencies to develop, enhance, and strengthen policy and programs that serve children and youth. In 1994 President Clinton named Ms. Mc Brayer National Teacher of the Year and as such she served as education ambassador. In 1987, Ms Mc Brayer founded and developed the first successful school in the United States for homeless youth, serving as head teacher for the Homeless Outreach School (now known as the Monarch School) in San Diego until 1996. The Governor appointed Ms Mc Brayer Chairperson of the California Before and After School Advisory Committee and chairs and serves on numerous local state and national boards. Additionally Ms Mc Brayer is a federal representative for all Juvenile Justice Issues for the State of California.
The San Diego County Report Card on Children and Families 2007 measures 25 critical indicators of health, wellbeing, and success of families. The goals of the program are 5 to 1) raise awareness, 2) identify gaps, areas of need and population need, 3) drive policy and program direction, 4) create tools for change and best practices, 5) identify concrete recommendations. The following list is the indicators studied:
Early Prenatal Care
Low Birth weight
Breastfeeding
Births to Teens
Immunization
Early Care and Education
Oral Health
School Attendance
School Achievement Grade 3
Obesity
School Attendance
School Achievement Grade 8 and 11
Substance Abuse Youth Suicide
Juvenile Crime
Juvenile Probation
Youth Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Youth DUI
Poverty
Health Coverage
Domestic Violence
Child Abuse and Neglect
Violent Crime Victimization of Children
Unintentional Injury Hospitalizations and Deaths
Childhood Mortality
A few notes to ponder from the report.
- 1 in 8 children have never seen a dentist
- No more than 5 percent of children should be unfit is San Diego county but the report revealed that 30 percent of San Diego’s children are unfit.
- 24 percent of children are missing 10 percent or more of school.
- Substance abuse is declining in our youth but the abuse of prescription drugs is on the rise. Children are having pill parties in which each child mixes the pills they have removed from their home in a big bowl with the other youth and then the children pull out a random handful of pills for a surprise high.
- San Diego County is the smallest percentage of low income qualifying families in the nation receiving Food Stamps, meaning many families are going hungry when nutrient assistance is available.
The full report can be found on the Children’s Initiative website at www.thechildrensinitiative.org . | 
