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MMC Program will help young parents

By Lori O' Brien

Correspondent



SPRINGFIELD Expectant and parenting teens who reside in the city will find a wealth of information and support at a unique daylong seminar planned next month at Mercy Medical Center.

"Celebrating Families: Young Parents of the Future" is the title of the annual teen conference that is slated Nov. 6 and is sponsored by the City of Springfield Maternal Child Health Commission and Mercy Medical Center.

"The conference is unique in that expectant and parenting teens from different Springfield high schools have the opportunity to meet and get valuable health information as well as establish connections to community programs and services available for teens," said Alice Hodge, R.N., B.S.N., C.C.E., Parenting Education Coordinator at the Family Life Center for Maternity at Mercy Medical Center. Hodge is also a member of the Maternal Child Health Commission and serves as chairperson of the conference. She is also coordinating logistics with Helen R. Caulton-Harris, director, Springfield Department of Health and Human Services.

The conference, offered free to city teens, is planned from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will offer workshops in both English and Spanish. Child care will not be provided during the event.

"It's a special conference just for teen parents to gain information in parenting and to show our support for these families," added Hodge.

Presentation topics include "Keeping Teens in Shape" by Susan Jaye-Kaplan and Amy Greenbaum of Go-Fit Inc. in Springfield, "Baby's Day Out: Tips for Moms on the Go" by representatives of Healthy Families Home Visitors, "Ask the Doctor," hosted by Teresa Mitchell, M.D., and Maria Hill, M.D., and "Choosing the Best Childcare" by members of the Preschool Enrichment Team.

Hodge reiterated that the importance of this program is making teens aware of community resources available to them which equates to healthier families overall.

The conference will also include a luncheon and gift raffles.

The deadline to register for the conference is Oct. 23, and reservations may be made with Hodge by calling (413) 748-7295 or via e-mail at alice.hodge@sphs.com.