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Advocacy Public Awareness - Junior League Of Charlotte

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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 March 2012 ADVOCACY PUBLIC AWARENESS The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. DEVELOPING WOMEN TO BE CATALYST OF CHANGE “Our League was organized as a means of expressing the feeling of social responsibility for the conditions which surround us. We have the responsibility and the opportunity to conscientiously act to affect our environment”. These words spoken by Junior League founder Mary Harriman still accurately reflect the core reason for the existence of The Junior Leagues today. 1907– 1920: Junior Leagues shift their focus from settlement house work to social, health and educational issues that affect the community at large. 1920 – 1930s Junior Leagues respond to the Great Depression by opening nutrition centers and milk stations. They operate baby clinics, day nurseries for working mothers, birth control clinics and training schools for nurses. Junior Leagues also establish volunteer bureaus to recruit, train and place much-needed volunteers in the community. Throughout the history of The Junior League, advocacy for the communities in which the members live has been a focal point. During hard times, The Junior League has offered a consistent presence for the communities they serve. This is evident in the following 1940s - During World War timeline depicting some of our II, Junior League members nations most trying times: effort by chairing hundreds of war-related organizations in virtually every city where Junior Leagues operate. 1960s - In this period of great turbulence and social change, Junior Leagues rise to meet many challenges. As the decade progresses, nearly half the Leagues spearhead health and welfare projects. http://www.ajli.org/?nd=history play a major role in the war SPAC: ACTIVELY ENGAGING OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS The purpose of the State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) is to take action on select state and national issues, to educate individual Junior League memberships on issues selected for action by SPAC, to facilitate communication among member Junior Leagues of North Carolina in the area of public affairs, and to provide training in advocacy skills and strategies. Over the years, Junior Leagues through the organized efforts of the State Public Affairs Committee such as a non-profit 501(c)3 entity have taken stands and action on many different issues such as Child Advocacy, Development and Preservation of the Environment, Voluntarism, the Arts, Women, Domestic Violence, and Public Education. Junior League of St. Louis members march for suffrage Page 2 AD VO C AC Y P UB LI C AW AR E N ES S ADVOCACY Dr. Ronald Labonte defines advocacy as “the act of taking a position on an issue and initiating change”. The Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) has actively advocated for a community issues. To this, the current positions that the JLC is actively seeking to remedy for our community members fall under the Healthy Child Initiative of 2007: Improved dental, mental and overall health of children. During the 20112012 League year, leadership has also identified human trafficking as a significant problem and is developing a position that will enable our organization to partner with government leaders and other philanthropic organizations in our community and state to address this atrocious violation of human rights. PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY In 2007 as part of the Health Child Initiative, the JLC identified that dental health would be part of the three components of this position. In keeping with this position, here are a few interesting facts about pediatric dental health. 1. Most children have 20 baby teeth by their third birthday. 2. Cavities in baby teeth become much more serious faster than cavities in adult teeth. 3. It is recommended that parents floss their child’s teeth until she is old enough to do so herself, usually at about 6 years old. 4. Flossing should be done prior to brushing in order to get food out from between teeth, so that any excess food will be easier to remove with the toothbrush. To figure out if a child is old enough to brush her own teeth, go by this dental rule of thumb: If a child is unable to tie her shoelaces, she is not likely to brush her teeth well and will need the help of an adult. 6. Permanent teeth appear more yellow in color than baby teeth. 7. To prevent tooth decay in young children when food and bacteria get trapped in grooves of teeth, usually the back molars, it might be necessary to place sealants 8. Th e a ver a ge p e rson brushes her teeth 30-40 seconds each day, but dentists encourage teeth to be brushed two times daily for two minutes each time. 5. 9. Don’t forget about your child’s tongue! It is important to clean the tongue as well. 10. Beautiful smiles need a great start! Good dental hygiene and regular visits to the dentist are crucial in maintaining a healthy smile your children will be proud to display on picture day! http://www.nyparenting.com/ stories/2011/2/fp_dentalfacts_ 2011_02.html PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH One of the most frequently diagnosed pediatric mental health issues is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The National Institute of Mental Health offers the following information: ADHD lasts more than 6 months and causes problems in school, at home and in social situations. ADHD is more common in boys than girls, and it affects 3-5 percent of children in the United States. The principal characteristics of ADHD are  Inattention  Hyperactivity  Impulsivity No one knows exactly what causes ADHD. It runs in families, so genetics may be a factor. A complete evaluation by a trained professional is the only way to know for sure if your child has ADHD. Treatment often includes medicines to control symptoms. Structure at home and at school is also important. Parenting classes or behavioral therapy may also help. NIH: National Institute of Mental Health Page 3 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 HEALTHY CHILD INITIATIVE About 32 million children These changes were made in an and will require that all grains participate in school meal effort to combat the growing served are whole grains. All programs each day, but their problem of childhood obesity. milk served must be low fat, and meal options are not always the These rules mark the first time in for the first time the rules set healthiest. Earlier this year, the 15 years that changes have limits on levels of salt and trans Obama administration been made to the $11 billion fats. A minimum and maxi- announced its long-awaited school lunch program. mum calorie intake per day changes to government- Schools will double the amount based on student age will also subsidized school meals. of fruits and vegetables be set. children served http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/ us/politics/new-school-lunch-rulesaimed-at-reducing-obesity.html HUMAN TRAFFICKING Data from law enforcement, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center's hot line (1888-373-7888) and news reports indicate that "Latino Residential Brothels" — a term coined by the anti-trafficking group Polaris Project — have been uncovered in at least 25 states and Washington, D.C. This map shows call volumes to the national hot line from 2007 to 2010 and identifies states where NBC News has found evidence of brothels since 1989. Roll your cursor over states for details from cases that have surfaced there. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ id/41957941/ns/us_newsenslaved_in_america/ THE NORTH CAROLINA CONNECTI ON TO TRAFFICK ING CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) North Carolina ranks as the 8th most likely state in the United States where human trafficking takes place. WBTV, and former White House, Cyber Expert Theresa Payton says there are things you can do to keep it from happening to someone you love. How CyberTraffickers Target Their Victims: It is hard to believe that, in America, we have people trapped and forced to work as laborers or prosti- tutes as slaves of human traffickers. North Carolina has been ranked in the top 8 most common sites for human trafficking. One of the reasons we are so popular is I85 and I95. The problem in the U.S. is so serious, that President Barack Obama has declared January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month These criminals are using the internet to recruit their next victim and future customers of their slave services. Human trafficking is the modern day version of slavery. These criminals force their victims into labor and it can be in any industry. The most common forms of enslavement include labor, such as farming or working in a sweatshop, and sex trade. Human traffickers love the I85 and I95 highways in North Carolina and they also use another high speed highway to recruit, enslave, and find new customers-the internet.