Oakton,
Va., Dec. 14, 2006—Northern
Virginia Family Service (NVFS) honored families
in its Healthy Families Alexandria program
on Dec. 4 at its annual holiday party. Healthy
Families is devoted to promoting the health,
early stimulation and nurturing of children
at risk of poor outcomes.
About
200 family members and children attended the
evening event, which was held at the Hilton
Alexandria Old Town. Mayor Bill Euille welcomed
guest, and City Council members Andrew MacDonald
and Tim Lovain presented certificates to families
who were graduating from the program. Santa
Claus and his helpers also visited the celebration,
bringing with food, face painting, a magic
show and bags of Mattel toys donated for the
children.
Healthy
Families Alexandria is a voluntary home visiting
program that supports new parents and their
young children during a child's most rapid
and significant phase of development. Started
in 1993, the program improves parenting, encourages
child health and development and prevents
child abuse and neglect. Affiliated with Healthy
Families America, a national initiative of
Prevent Child Abuse America, the program is
a public/private partnership funded at the
local and state level.
"NVFS
is grateful to the Hilton Alexandria Old Town
for donating two ballrooms for the party,
to Colonial Parking for providing complimentary
parking and to the National Association of
Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions
(NACHRI) for organizing the party. With the
help of these generous supporters, we were
able to have a wonderful event for our families,"
said NVFS President and CEO Mary Agee.
For
the past 10 years NACHRI has organized a holiday
party to celebrate the efforts of Healthy
Families, which provides comprehensive support
and guidance to often overburdened new parents
struggling with a variety of risks, including
childhood histories of abuse and neglect.
The innovative service gives parents the emotional
support and skills needed to help ensure positive
outcomes for children from birth to age 5,
the most rapid and significant developmental
phase of life.
"Healthy
Families Alexandria helps local mothers and
fathers make positive choices that create
a safe and healthy home environment for their
children," said Lawrence A. McAndrews,
president and chief executive officer of NACHRI.
"The unwavering support of the Hilton
Alexandria Old Town and Mattel's Gift in Kind
program, which donated 600 toys to the party
this year, makes it possible for us to celebrate
the well-deserved successes these families
have achieved."
The
National Association of Children's Hospitals
and Related Institutions, founded in 1968,
is a not-for-profit, membership organization
of more than 200 children's hospitals committed
to excellence in providing health care to
children. NACHRI works to ensure all children's
access to health care and the continuing ability
of children's hospitals to provide services
needed by children. For more information,
visit www.childrenshospitals.net.
Established
in 1924, Northern Virginia Family Service
is a private, non-profit community service
resource dedicated to helping individuals
and families find new paths to self-reliance
and brighter futures. Each year, NVFS helps
more than 23,000 people find affordable housing,
counseling and child care; access to low-cost
medical and dental services; foster and respite
care; job training; trauma recovery; and much
more. For more information, visit www.nvfs.org.
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