March 5, 1999

The MGH will celebrate National Children and HealthCare Week March 15 to 19, a week long series of events featuring a variety of programs and activities that focus on child and adolescent health. The following events will take place during the week:

• Art fair
  Pediatric patients, children of employees and youngsters from local schools may submit their artwork for the MGH art fair, which will be on display all week in the Main Corridor. Children's pictures should reflect things and people that keep them healthy and safe. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places. Entries should include the artist's name, address and phone number on the back and should be sent by March 12 to: MGH KIDS Art Fair, c/o Kara Levoshko, Ellison 18.

• Family-Centered Care Awards
  MGH employees are encouraged to nominate their colleagues for the Family-Centered Care Awards, recognizing pediatric clinical and support staff who go beyond their work or practice to demonstrate principles of family-centered care. Five recipients will receive awards at the "Celebrate Us" party March 19, 2 to 4 pm, in the Ellison 17 Conference Room. Nominations should include a short paragraph stating how the individual supports family-centered care. They should be sent to Judy Newell, RN, MSN, Nursing Office, Bigelow 10 by March 10. For more information, call 4-5720.

• Parent/professional conference on pediatric issues
  All are welcome to attend "Parents and Professionals: A Natural Partnership in Pediatrics" with keynote speaker, Ralph Worthington, PhD, of the Department of Medicine at East Carolina University, March 15, 8 am to 4:30 pm, in the O'Keeffe Auditorium. The conference will address the importance of parent/professional partnerships in the care of pediatric patients, focusing on such topics as family-centered care, assessment of suicide risk and eating disorders, as well as cultural differences in parenting. Admission is free for MGH employees, $25 for Partners employees, parents and students and $60 for all others. The conference carries 7.8 contact hours. To register, call 6-3111.

• Beanie Baby raffle
  A Beanie Baby raffle will be held to help support all of the festivities taking place throughout Children and HealthCare Week. Raffle tickets cost $2 each, and $5 for three. Raffle tickets may be purchased from Children and HealthCare Week Committee representatives throughout the next two weeks in the Central Lobby or by calling 4-KIDS (5437).

Raising their banner, members of the Children and HealthCare Week Committee have been working hard to prepare programs and activities for MGH's Children and HealthCare Week beginning March 15. Stay tuned for a more complete list of events next week's issue of Hotline.