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<small><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal;">September
7, 2010, FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span>
.........<b>a pdf poster is available upon request</b><br>
<small><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">CONTACT:<span
style=""> </span>Candy Eaton, Program Director<o:p></o:p></span>
<br>
</small></font></small><i><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><small><small><font
face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Hancock
County Children's Council, a program of<br>
Downeast Health Services Inc., and the<br>
<b><u>52 Christian Ridge Road</u></b><br>
Ellsworth, ME 04605-1087<br>
207-667-5304 ext. 261<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:children@downeasthealth.org">children@downeasthealth.org</a></font></small></small>
<o:p></o:p></span></i>
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style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span
style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Broadway;"><span style=""> </span>“SULLIVAN
Mommy
and ME”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Are YOU a MOM with a NEW
Baby (newborn
to 1 year)?<span style=""> </span>Meet other mothers
(first-time or experienced) and their babies, for (FREE) weekly fun and
tips to
develop healthy strong bonds between you and your new baby beginning
Tuesday, September
28<sup>th</sup>, 2010, 10:00am-11:30am, at the Sullivan Town Office
(same room
as WIC clinic), US Route 1, Sullivan.<span style=""> </span>Facilitated
by Jennifer Broughton, MCH nurse with Downeast Health Services, this
group will
meet on six Tuesdays through November 2<sup>nd</sup>, 2010. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The best gift you can give
your baby
is YOU.<span style=""> </span>The love and attention you give
your baby now will stay with him or her forever and will help your baby
grow
into a healthier and happier child and adult.<span style="">
</span>Presented by the Hancock County Children’s Council, “Mommy and
ME” is
one of the new strengthening family initiatives available through our
Family
Resource Center.<span style=""> </span><o:p><br>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Parents today have a lot on
their
plates.<span style=""> </span>Juggling the demands of work,
home and other responsibilities leaves many parents feeling like they
do not
have enough time with their children.<span style="">
</span>Even small acts of kindness, protection, and caring – a hug, a
kiss, or
a smile – make a big difference to children.<span style="">
</span>Brain development in infants is positively affected when parents
work to
understand and meet their basic needs for love and affection or provide
comfort
when they are hungry, bored, tired, wet or cold.<o:p><br>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Though the ultimate rewards
of
motherhood are greater than those of any other occupation, the stresses
and
challenges are greater, too – particularly at the beginning.<span
style=""> </span>What’s more, there’s no other job that offers
as little feedback during the first weeks to let you know how you’re
doing.<span style=""> </span>Even for a seasoned pro, the postpartum
period
is no picnic; for a novice, it can seem like a never-ending series of
blunders,
bumbles, mishaps and misadventures.<span style="">
</span>Share your worries with other new mothers, and you will be
reminded that
although you are unique, your concerns as a new mother aren’t.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p>Reading all the
literature and
consulting experts won’t always give you all the answers.<span style="">
</span>Getting to know your baby and yourself, and
learning to trust your instincts and good sense, is often a great route
to
making decisions you both can live with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Hancock County
Children’s Council,
a program of Downeast Health Services Inc, is promoting protective
factors for protecting
children and promoting healthy families.<span style="">
</span>Protective factors are conditions in families and communities
that, when
present, increase the health and well-being of children and families.<span
style=""> </span>They are attributes that serve as buffers,
helping parents to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that
allow
them to parent effectively, even under stress.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A child’s early experience
of being
nurtured and developing a bond with a caring adult affects all aspects
of
behavior and development.<span style=""> </span>When parents
and children have strong, warm feelings for one another, children
develop trust
that their parents will provide what they need to thrive, including
love,
acceptance, positive guidance and protection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Parent-child bonding – the
special
intimacy that develops between you and your child – is tremendously
important
to your child’s development.<span style=""> </span>For most
children this relationship is their first and will affect all their
future
ones.<span style=""> </span>Interacting with and enjoying your
infant is critical to forming a bond.<span style="">
</span>Cuddle your baby and make interesting noises to get his or her
attention; play games in which you get your baby to focus on you.<span
style=""> </span>Whatever you do, however, don’t put yourself
or your baby under pressure to perform.<span style="">
</span>Play should be fun.<span style=""> </span>Learning that
comes with play is a bonus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Nothing helps a baby grow
and thrive
as much as being loved.<span style=""> </span>Take every
opportunity to talk, sing, or coo to your baby.<span style="">
</span>These casual but stimulating exchanges go further in making a
brighter
baby than forcing flash cards.<span style=""> </span>Your goal
isn’t to “teach” your baby, but to be involved with him or her.<span
style=""> </span>Any parent-baby team can be successful at
learning-playing with a little guidance.<span style="">
</span>Your baby becomes a social being through watching you, through
interacting with you and the rest of the family, and later with others.<span
style=""> </span><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;"><span
style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Please contact the Hancock
County
Children’s Council to learn about other parenting classes and workshops
available in your community or visit our Parent Resource Library at <st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">52 Christian Ridge Road</st1:address></st1:Street>,
Ellsworth.<span style=""> </span>You may visit our website at <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.downeasthealth.org/">www.downeasthealth.org</a>
for
additional
information on child development and family educational resources
available or
contact Candy Eaton at 667-5304 ext. 261 or email <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:children@downeasthealth.org">children@downeasthealth.org</a>.<span
style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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