On this monthly radio program, The Children’s Foundation President and CEO Larry Burns talks to community, government and business leaders about issues related to children’s health and wellness. Guests for this discussion were Ann Kalass, CEO, Starfish Family Services; Tom Lewand, CEO, Marygrove Conservancy; and Shannon Wilson, Director of Medicaid Outreach and Quality, Priority Health. Here’s a summary of the show that aired October 27, 2020; listen to the entire episode, and archived episodes, at yourchildrensfoundation.org/caring-for-kids. Larry Burns: Please give us an update on Starfish. Ann Kalass: We are excited about the educational work that’s happening on the Marygrove campus and to be the early childhood provider for that. The second program I’d like to update you on is our Nurse-Family Partnership, a home visitation program that partners nurses with first- time pregnant mothers to help ensure great birth outcomes. We’re helping both parent and child … [Read more...]
Woman teaching now in same Wayne Co. program that helped turn her life around
A single mother is crediting Starfish Family Services for helping transform her life. … [Read more...]
Coronavirus is isolating children. How to help them thrive.
Brie Zeltner, Bridge Michigan | Published online May 14, 2020 In the Sterling Heights condominium complex where Mary Johnson lives with her 9-year-old son and husband, kids began playing together outdoors as soon as the weather improved. The sounds of shouting and giggling drift in through Johnson’s windows, a siren call to play that is nearly impossible for a child to ignore, especially when the coronavirus pandemic has severed ties to school, classmates and friends. But Johnson’s son Nathan, a third-grader and only child, hasn’t been able to join in. “Most of the kids outside playing are siblings,” Johnson told Bridge Magazine. Nathan “hasn’t been able to play with anyone since this started.” Only children are just one group of kids who are more vulnerable to the isolation and stress caused by the pandemic, experts told Bridge. Kids with pre-existing anxiety or depression, kids with developmental and learning disabilities, and those living in … [Read more...]
Local moms raise money for state-of-the-art classroom
One chef, two assistants prepare meals for 719 kids in Metro Detroit
Karen Bouffard, The Detroit News | Published 7:29 p.m. ET Jan. 1, 2020 Starfish Family Services, a Wayne County-based behavioral health nonprofit, makes 300,000 meals annually for children in their programs, preparing breakfast, lunch and a snack for 719 kids for most weeks of the year. It’s a Herculean task for head chef Shaune Fairley and his two assistants, who cook the meals every morning at headquarters in Inkster for transport to centers around Southeast Michigan. They do so 41 weeks of the year. If that's not challenging enough, they work from 60 different menus to accommodate children’s food allergies, and religious or cultural food restrictions. There were 156 kids with food allergies last year, some so severe that their food must be transported separately. "We have 86 (different food) allergies, diabetics, gluten-free, religious beliefs, lactose, citrus, every kid has a different allergy," said Fairley, noting that each specially … [Read more...]
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