Lydia Pettijohn accepts CTF grant from Jessica Jackson, CTF field director, and Paul Smelley, Deputy Director of Children's Trust Fund.

The Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama has awarded two grants totaling $40,000 to the Exchange Club Family Center of Mobile. The grants fund Positive Parenting classes and Family Time supervised visitation.  Children’s Trust Fund presented over $300,000 in grants to eight agencies in Mobile last week. Children’s Trust Fund is the State Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and funds prevention programs across the state.  The Exchange Club Family Center has been a CTF grantee since 1991 and could not provide the free services they offer without these grants.

* Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
* Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
* Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
* When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
* If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
* Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
* Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

CARVING A NICHE:

* Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting.
* Votive candles are safest for candle-lit pumpkins.
* Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

HOME SAFE HOME:

* To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
* Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
* Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
* Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:

* A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
* If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
* Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
* Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or       Treaters:
* Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
* Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
* Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
* If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
* Never cut across yards or use alleys.
* Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
* Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
* Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

* A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
* Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
* Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
* Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

©9/08 American Academy of Pediatrics

Many thanks to Coach Joey Jones and the tournament sponsors: Exchange Club of Mobile, Dennis Langan Construction and Remodeling, University of South Alabama, Pesco, Dreamland BBQ, Pollman’s, U-Haul Moving Center and Steve Goraum Photography.

From Left: John Ortmann, Wesley Ortmann, Kyle Morris & Mike Fillers Photo by Steve Goraum.

Karlos Finley - Moore and Wolfe, Attorneys at Law and Leadership Mobile graduate

Michelle Jones -Regional Director, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and Leadership Mobile graduate

Carla Longmire - Captain, Mobile Police Department and Leadership Mobile graduate

Paul White - President, Eastern Shore Exchange Club and IT Department, Mobile Press Register

These folks bring a fresh perspective to our board which will help to attain the far reaching goals we have set for the Family Center.   The experience of the seasoned members coupled with the energy of the newcomers will no doubt create the perfect climate to support our growth.  Our goal to expand our services to more families and children in our community is underscored by our desire to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect before it has the chance to occur.  Our board plays a crucial role in the successes of the Family Center programs.  Their vision and dedication provide stability and support to the staff and volunteers.

Real Mothers don’t eat quiche; they don’t have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn’t come out of shag carpets.

Real Mothers don’t want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask ‘Why me?’ and get their answer when

a little voice says, ‘Because I love you best.’

Real Mothers know that a child’s growth is not measured by height or years or grade…

It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mama to Mom.

Share your ideas about real mothers below.

Coach Jones is a graduate of Murphy High School and the University of Alabama where he played football under coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. He was elected to Alabama’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s and played professionally for the Birmingham Stallions and the Atlanta Falcons according to the USA website.

This is a perfect way to meet Coach Jones if you haven’t had the opportunity yet. Come out and enjoy great camaraderie and the famous sausage dogs . The awards ceremony will follow with a fabulous dinner for players and guests.

Click to Download:

• Joey Jones Golf Tournament Entry Form
• Joey Jones Golf Tournament Sponsor Sheet

For more information, call Lydia Pettijohn at 479-5700 or Mike Langan at 478-5203.

The Exchange Club is a service organization that was established in Mobile over 65 years ago by Joseph (Joe) Langan, former mayor of Mobile.  Currently, this organization has about 35 members who meet for lunch every week like Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs.  Guest speakers are invited to address the club each week. Exchange is a national organization that chose Child Abuse Prevention as a national project in 1979. Exchange has nothing to do with the monitored exchanges we now offer, but rather, the clubs were formed for citizens to exchange ideas about how to improve the communities in which they lived.

The Exchange Club of Mobile opened up the Family Center in 1991 and continues to support it with annual fundraisers and board members. Therefore, the center is called the Exchange Club Family Center.  Members of the club refer to their project as “the center” or “the family center.”   I would venture to say that every one of them is proud of the services the Family Center provides to the community in their name.  A link to the club website is available on our home page.

For the children,

Lydia

I’ll have something new to do when insomnia strikes. That might be the only time I have to work on it. I welcome your suggestions for content and assistant editor positions are open!

Before I forget, I want to thank Jason Stewart and Gerardo Cantu’ for building the website. Professional guys who are a pleasure to work with as well. So many good ideas like putting the German translation for the Thyssen-Krupp people that are heading to Mobile! Who’d a thunk it? Jason, evidently.

I also owe a big Thanks to the Washington County Health Council who made the grant which is funding the creation of the new website. Thank you, Margaret Odom and gang!

The biggest feature of this new website is the PAY PAL function we’ve added. It’s been a long time coming, but I hope it doesn’t take that long for people to start clicking that button and supporting the work of the Exchange Club Family Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The center has been supported since opening by the Exchange Club of Mobile and a few loyal donors who I know I can count on. They give because they believe, not for press or prestige. They are silent partners who join us in prayer for the families we serve and those we cannot reach through our programs. My heartfelt thanks and more to these staunch supporters who believe every child has a right to a happy childhood – free of abuse, neglect and suffering.

I guess blogs are like speeches. Better to be brief than bore your audience. So I’ll close for now and try to get some sleep. Come back often and don’t forget what it’s all about.

For the children,

~Lydia