While countless individuals make the holidays possible for our families, we’d like to give special thanks to these organizations and donors who coordinated support for LSA families.

Holiday Gift Donors:

Brenna Moore
Catholic Charities
Church of the Heavenly Rest
Church of Saint Augustine
Columbia Grammar Preparatory School
Convent of the Sacred Heart
Giangrande Family
Horace Mann Nursery
Karla Haruich
L.I.F.E. Program
LSA Youth Board
Molly Reich and Friends
Mt. Sinai – Jennifer Cholewka
Multer-Pincus Family
National Bank of Canada
New York Cares
Old Navy – 34th Street
The Parish of St. Monica-St. Elizabeth-St. Stephen Church
Riverdale Country Day School
The Robin Hood Foundation
St. Frances de Sales Church
St. Luke Parish
Tacombi
Temple Shaaray Tefila
Walt Disney Company

On behalf of the families we serve, we give heartfelt thanks to holiday gift donors for bringing extra cheer to our community.  Thank you!

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Today, we talk to Dr. Brenda Brathwaite, DNP, CNM, and Director of Nursing at LSA about the importance of this program and the community impacts of COVID-19.

For those unfamiliar, can you provide an overview of the Nursing program?
The Nursing program is central to the history of LSA. Nursing is actually the flagship program, which was founded by the Order of The Little Sisters of Assumption, who came to the United States in the final decade of the 19th Century. Over the years, this program has evolved to offer critical services to our community. Today, we are very proud that our Nursing program offers a special focus on families and young children, with a proven track record of improving family health and well-being.

First and foremost, the Nursing program provides much needed prenatal and postpartum community health nursing visits to mothers and infants.  We also provide skilled community health nursing visits in the home to pediatric patients from birth to eighteen years of age. Additionally, we also provide skilled community health visits in the home or assisted living facility, offering nursing care for chronic health conditions, wound care, patient education for recovery and provide services for physical and/or occupational therapy for increased independence. Our services do not conclude with childbirth, but rather, LSA continues to work closely with families to ensure that the young and old alike have the services and tools for lifelong good health.

How has the Nursing Program responded to COVID-19 crisis?
Like many other nursing providers in New York and nationwide, the COVID-19 crisis was a startling reality that the LSA Nursing program has had to adapt to. Personally, while I had dealt with other health crises in NYC over my 39 year nursing career, COVID-19 however, has been quite different. I am now part of the leadership team of LSA during this pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis has challenged us all on a daily basis, but our mission is to keep the nursing program moving forward and serving our community without interruption or sacrifice of quality of care. The priority has been to keep our patients healthy and cared for; while keeping our community health nurses safe. 

To ensure safety of our staff, we have taken a number of precautions, these include: creating modified work schedules, allowing our nurses to work remotely, as well as, to work in the community. Through the generosity of our health partners, we have provided the needed PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for our nurses to keep them safe. Additionally, via our partners at Memorial Sloan Kettering, we provided training for our nursing staff on appropriately donning and doffing PPE, as well as, providing fit testing of N95 masks to ensure they are sized appropriately for our nurses.
The nurses also completed certification training for nasal swabbing of community health patients for COVID-19, in case there is another surge in NYC. When testing was instituted for hospice, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, we organized testing for the community health nurses with our community health partners at Vista on 5th.  Lastly, our nurses are being tested weekly to ensure the safety of all of our clients.

How has COVID-19 impacted home visits?
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated us to modify some of our services to ensure safety. We have converted to modified telehealth services, we have scaled back on home visits for our Maternal Child Health (MCH) patients, Primary Care Providers for our adult wound care clients changed wound care schedules from daily to three times/week to focus on safety for patients and nurses. One nurse is assigned to the community now that the curve has flattened. The other nurse works at an assisted care facility because the patients at our assisted care facility are considered to be high risk. The third nurse works remotely coordinating care for our MIH patients and also for CHHA patients and assisted living patients.

What impacts from COVID-19 do you see on the patients?
Our adult patients have expressed sadness about feeling isolated and lonely. Our adult patients’ children, friends, and extended family were unable to visit them because many adult patients had comorbidities that placed them in the high risk category for visitation during the peak of COVID-19. Our MCH patients were experiencing inability to obtain supplies such as diapers and formula; some of this was due to financial insecurities, as well as, not being able to get to stores during the peak of the pandemic.

Why do you think the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting East Harlem so greatly?  
Unfortunately, telecommuting isn’t an option for many workers in East Harlem because they are classified as essential workers, so it was mandatory that they reported to work at the outset of the pandemic, which led to increased exposure to COVID-19. Many people living in East Harlem live in shared housing arrangements, which also led to increased exposure. There are also health disparities that exist for immigrant populations due to underinsured status which leads to decreased access to preventive health services.

What can we as the community do to help?
LSA can continue to provide the critically-needed services like the Food Pantry, Advocacy, Environmental Health, Parent and Child Development and Nursing. LSA has to continue to remain focused on our mission and to offer the vital support services to our community. Additionally, it is key that we collect good data from all of our programs. By compiling and disseminating this information, in a safe and private way, to our local public officials we can have meaningful conversations around the health disparities that exist for black and brown communities in East Harlem. 

Let’s end on a high note!  What’s your favorite part of working with LSA patients?
As a Certified Nurse Midwife I have been able to appreciate the collaborative links between all sectors of health care delivery. Such links assist in seamless care for patients with health disparities and ensures closing the chasm that sometimes prevents entire populations from experiencing health equity.

The post Healthcare in the Community appeared first on LSA Family Health Service.

The program is geared toward families for children 0-3 year old, where there is some risk of developmental delay in the child.  Through the socialization groups and one-on-one home visits, LSA’s early childhood specialists guide parents with parenting techniques to help their children achieve developmental milestones at the appropriate time.  The five focus areas of the program are: attachment and healthy separation, language and literacy, exploration and learning, self regulation and emotional development, and connections to outside resources.

LSA wishes all the graduating families a happy summer and joyous start in their new schools this fall!

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Children living in District 4 and born in 2016 or 2017 are eligible for free PreK and 3-K programs in our neighborhood (zip codes 10035, 10029, 10027, and 10026). We provide informational workshops to walked parents through the enrollment process, offering one-on-one application assistance, follow-ups and school tours. We help families feel confident about the academic decisions they make for their children.

Pre-K applications are open until March 16,2020 and 3-K  applications are open from until April 24th, 2020.

To schedule an appointment with a LIFE program coordinator, call 646-672-5200, ext. 324

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Today, we take a look back at Prioska’s story published originally on the LSA blog in December 2015.

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The program teaches families how to shop smart and prepare nutritious and affordable meals.  The series of six weekly cooking and nutrition classes are designed to teach both parents and children the importance of eating well and its impacts on overall well-being.  During the summer session, families learned how to make everything from veggie wraps to a cabbage, kale and bean salad.

Lead by Lucia Aguilar, Director of Advocacy and Food Pantry, each workshop walked clients through the preparation of a recipe, nutritional tips and money-saving techniques to help their families eat well on a limited budget.  At the end of each workshop, everyone got to taste the fruits of their labor and enjoy a healthy snack (the tuna fish sandwich was a group favorite!).

Offered in years past, LSA was able to bring back this program with the support of community funders and plans to offer the program again in 2020.

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Sensory Box/Cozy Corner

by Amber Pena

Throughout my internship with LSA Family Health and Service I have witnessed the  importance of sensory play and self-regulation. Studies have shown that children with a lack of sensory stimulation are put at a disadvantage. In regards to self-regulation studies have indicated that “supporting self- regulation development in early childhood is an investment in later success, because stronger self-regulation predicts better performance in school, better relationships with others, and fewer behavioral difficulties” (OPRE, 2013). For my final project I decided to create two sensory boxes, which would meet the needs of the children in the socialization program. The first box focuses on sensory, which allows the children to explore their colors and textures through the uses of their senses. The second box is a cozy corner, which gives the children access to a safe space with items ( stuffed animals, pillows, bubbles, and stress balls) that can help them relax and manage their emotions in a healthy way.

GOALS

The sensory box provides several benefits such as language skills, fine motor skills, and social skills. The children would be improving their language skills by describing what they visualize on the sensory box. An example, would be a child pointing out the red triangle and verbally expressing this. The children would be improving their fine motor skills by manipulating small objects on the sensory box. An example of this would be a child moving the rice grains inside of the ziplock bag. Lastly, the children would be improving their social skills by learning how to share with other children and engaging in play with them through the use of sensory play.

The cozy corner should be an area that children from the socialization program can go to when they are feeling overwhelmed, sad, tired, or want to relax. By the use of the cozy corner the children can self regulate themselves by controlling their own emotions and behavior over time. The caregiver or staff member can observe the child from a distance or sit besides the child in the cozy corner to gain a better understanding of the child’s emotions. The children can help themselves manage their emotions by using the soft items, which were placed inside the box. The items inside the cozy corner can be changed for other items in the future.

AGE GROUP

The sensory box can be used for infants and toddlers. The children are able to explore the cardboard box with supervision from a staff member or caregiver. The cozy corner can be used for toddlers.

MATERIALS USED

1. Cardboard boxes (any size)
2. Colored rice (using food coloring & oil)
3. Scott duck tape (green, red, pink, blue. Other colors can be used)
4. Different color shapes cut outs
5. Paint (white & red. Other colors can be used)
6. Hot glue gun
7. Fabric (any style/design)
8. Stuffed animals, pillows, bubbles & stress balls (other comfort items can be used)

REFERENCES

Cardboard Sensory Boxes for Toddlers and Babies. (2013). Meri Cherry.

https://www.mericherry.com/2013/09/28/cardboard-sensory-boxes-for-toddlers-and-babies/

Self-Regulation and Toxic Stress Series. (2013). Office of Planning, Research, & Evaluation.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/research/project/toxic-stress-and-self-regulation-reports

Sensory Integration. (2016). Learning Strategies.

https://ilslearningcorner.com/2016-10-sensory-integration-is-lack-of-sensory-integration-behind-poor-academic-performance/

The post How to Create a Sensory Box and Cozy Corner for Babies appeared first on LSA Family Health Service.

April 3, 2019—Volunteers gathered for a brief talk about the state of our after school and summer enrichment program, how it has evolved and plans for the future. Laurie Dien, Vice President of Programs, Pinkerton Foundation, joined us as a featured speaker. Guests also heard from Martha Andrade-Dousdebes, founder and long-time director of the program and Wendy Mirón, current director of the Parenting and Child Development department, of which the after school program is a part.

The event kicked off a campaign to raise funds for the program, which serves children in grades K-3. The goal of the campaign is to raise $50,000 to keep the program running for the 2019-2020 school year.

Laurie Dien spoke about the long relationship that LSA has had with the Pinkerton Foundation, and how much she has learned from the way we help families build on their assets and strengths. She stated: “We’ve had a long and a happy affiliation with LSA. I’ve watched the progression of LSA over time and I see it progressing. I see it on a high.”

Stephanie Cooper-Clarke, a tutor and member of the LSA’s Board of Directors, shared a story that illustrated the way the one-on-one interactions with a tutor and the family supports offered at LSA can help a child in a way that schools often can’t. “We go a step further,” she stated.

Martha Andrade-Dousdebes agreed: “The beauty of ‘family health service’ is that it’s not only the teachers or the director but the whole staff of Little Sisters that works together.”

The comprehensive After School and Summer Enrichment Program at LSA Family Health Service offers high quality educational services to children in East Harlem. Our program inspires children in grades K-3 to improve reading and math skills, with socio-emotional learning goals and parent involvement integrated throughout the program.

Donate today to sponsor a child in our program! 

Your gift will help us meet a challenge grant to fully fund our after school and summer enrichment program.

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Photo above: Laurie Dien, Vice President, Programs, Pinkerton Foundation

More photos from the event:

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March 25, 2019 — Our thrift store, The Sharing Place, made a trip to 5th Avenue for a special pop-up market at the Lott Assisted Living Residence.

Affordable Shopping at Home

LSA’s thrift store brought a special selection of items for sale at the residence, which offers assisted living for seniors.  The market offered residents with limited mobility an opportunity to shop for affordable clothing and accessories right in their building.

LSA also provides home nursing care to Lott residents through our Certified Home Health Agency.

The pop-up market was well-attended, and The Sharing Place hopes to offer another pop-up sale there in the future.

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Students in our after school program celebrated Women’s History Month by learning about the accomplishments of women who have had a big impact on our culture and society.

Group activities incorporated aspects of each woman’s career, so that students could learn more about the field and have a model of what their generation can accomplish in the future.

So far, students have learned about Michelle Obama, Frida Kahlo, and Julia De Burgos, three women who have made significant historical and cultural contributions.

For Michelle Obama, the students learned about the Let’s Move initiative to encourage people to remain active for good health.  Then they put what they learned into action by  completing various physical challenges.

Students learned about Frida Kahlo  in a self-portrait activity that highlighted the importance a safe place.

Finally, students learned about Puerto Rican poet Julia De Burgos and practiced self-expression through poetry.

Special thanks to Hilaury Gonzalez and Kimberly Velazquez for their creativity and effort in helping to coordinate these activities!

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