Any Baby Can

2010 Census - You Count!

The 2010 Census is Here and YOU Count!

10 Questions, 10 Minutes for a Better Community

The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years. The data collected by the census helps determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 2010 Census will also help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like:

    * Hospitals
    * Job training centers
    * Schools
    * Senior centers
    * Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects
    * Emergency services

Any Baby Can is committed to promoting participation in the 2010 Census because children have been undercounted in every census since the first one in 1790. Please remember to include all your children - even babies - when you complete the 2010 Census form. Don't forget to tell your family and friends to participate in the 2010 Census: 10 questions, 10 minutes for a better community. For complete details, visit 2010.census.gov.

ABC Hosts the National Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Affiliate Conference

This March, Any Baby Can was the proud host of the National Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Affiliate Conference. The conference offered best practices, training and a chance to deepen national connections among 40 Candlelighters affiliates who offer ongoing medical case management, advocacy, information and referral, and counseling for families of children with cancer from diagnosis throughout treatment, during times of crisis, and continuing when the child is off-treatment. Services support families, link them with resources, and assist them in coping effectively throughout their entire experience with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Family support activities led by social workers, such as a camp for siblings, a bereavement group, and family retreats, provide a safe place to discuss difficult feelings and emotions.

Any Baby Can extends sincere gratitude to LIVESTRONG for sponsoring the National Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Affiliate Conference.

Any Baby Can brings help and hope to the youngest, sickest and poorest children in Central Texas and their families. Learn more about the Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program and ABC's full range of programs.

Reserve Your Spot at Rockin' Roundup Today!

VIDEO: How ABC Helped Max Learn to Walk

The “Max” video vignette explains the impact of home visitation and the importance of doing therapy in the family’s natural environment. It also captures the “ah ha” moment for Max’s mother, when she notes, “You just don’t realize – that does that,” referencing a therapy technique that helps her son learn to walk.

Learn more about the Any Baby Can Early Childhood Intervention Program.

Happy New Year!

ABC Asks You to Make a New Kind of Shopping List

Donate Today!

Austin Community Foundation Honors ABC With Meriwether Award

The mission of The Austin Community Foundation is to promote philanthropy in Central Texas to improve the quality of life now and in the future. George Meriwether was one of three Austin Community Foundation founders and largely responsible for its creation. Meriwether served on the ACF grants committee for more than 20 years, and it is this love that inspired the award in his name.

Each year, ACF honors an outstanding grantee with the Meriwether Award and this November, Any Baby Can received the distinguished honor for medical case management in our Comprehensive Advocacy and Resources for Empowerment (CARE) and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Programs. Any Baby Can Executive Director, Ellen Balthazar, accepted the award on behalf of the compassionate, effective case managers that make this very important work possible.

Any Baby Can extends sincere gratitude to the Austin Community Foundation for this honor.

Season for Caring - Where Are They Now?

Every holiday season, the Austin American-Statesman hosts the Season for Caring Campaign, which solicits community contributions to support families who have faced extraordinary adversity and are working toward self sufficiency. Families are nominated by local nonprofits, and an Any Baby Can family has been featured in the Season for Caring Campaign frequently since its inception in 1999. The Any Baby Can fall 2009 newsletter features updates on two recent Season for Caring nominees, Niesha Griffin and America Alcantara. Here are the amazing histories of both families:

Niesha Griffin and son, Avery

Niesha’s strength and resilience were called upon long before her son, Avery, was born. Pregnant with twins, Niesha was ecstatic to learn that she would have a boy and a girl, but when a cervical stitch (cerclage) punctured the amniotic sac of the little girl, she was delivered at 20 weeks gestation, but unable to survive. Avery followed, prematurely, at 23 weeks and was born with Cerebral Palsy and PBD lung disease. The first eight months of Avery’s life were spent in the NICU, where Niesha often slept in her car in the hospital’s parking lot, so she would be only moments away from her fragile newborn.

During the hospital stay, Niesha took painstaking efforts to learn the minutia of detail associated with Avery’s condition and care. She became intimately knowledgeable about his needs and made a successful transition from the hospital to home. Now at home, Niesha is the only constant caregiver. Although some nursing assistance is provided through Medicaid, nurses do not always show up for scheduled shifts. Instead of becoming overwhelmed with the situation, Niesha has gathered her courage and embraced the new challenge.

From Niesha’s smile and the tender kisses she showers on Avery, you would never know the struggle they have endured. Their reduced rate apartment is immaculately clean; the only living room furniture is Avery’s crib, which is lovingly supplied with plush toys. The only art on the walls is a gift from a mother at the hospital: a homemade painting that says “Avery.” It is easy to see the bond between this baby and his mother. While Avery sleeps in a crib surrounded by medical equipment, the constant beep of the ventilator does not infiltrate Niesha’s determination to provide him the very best care and keep them both as self sufficient as possible.

Due to complications from the pregnancy, Niesha was forced to quit her college program. She is only seven hours away from a biology degree. She wants to finish her degree, so she can start working, but cannot afford to pay for the final hours she needs to graduate or the specialized nursing care Avery will need while she attends class. The two survive financially on meager government assistance.

The demands of Avery’s schedule far exceed that of a typical newborn. He can only be fed through a gastric feeding tube and must be continually supported by a ventilator, a tracheostomy (trach) tube and numerous medications. His first treatment is at 8:00 am each morning and the last for the day is at 3:00 am. After Avery goes to bed, Niesha dozes in a chair next to his crib until administering the final, early morning medicines.

Because of his medical equipment, a trach tube and a ventilator, Avery cannot ride in a standard car, but has to be transported in an ambulance any time he leaves the house. This requires extreme preparation on Niesha’s part. Reservations have to be made at least one to two days in advance, and it is critical that none of Avery’s medicines or equipment are forgotten on the ride. Avery’s frail little body surely benefits from his mother’s organization and tenacity.

Niesha has taken impressive initiative towards maintaining self-sufficiency. In addition to researching community assistance, such as Any Baby Can, Foundation Communities and other parents with special needs children, she is creative with the resources she does have, making every dollar count. In a recent online search, Niesha found an application for a baby stroller that could accommodate Avery. She applied and was awarded the stroller, at no cost. Niesha also plans to attend school in January, complete her degree and begin working part time, provided she can secure funds to cover the cost of classes and nursing care.

Through the organization of Avery’s information, schedule and treatments, Niesha has created a safe opportunity for others to assist in his daily care. Because of her planning, Niesha will have more flexibility to accomplish her goals with school and work and continue to provide the best life for Avery, including the goal for him to walk. Read Niesha and Avery's update (page 5)

America Alcantara and daughter, America Jr.

From the smile on America Jr.’s face, you would never know the struggle her mother is facing. America Jr. was born with Crouzon syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects only 16 of every million newborns. As one of those 16, America Jr. is now six years old and endures the haunting effects of Crouzons: premature fusion of skull bones which has resulted in wide-set, bulging eyes and vision problems caused by shallow eye sockets, eyes that do not point in the same direction (strabismus) and hearing loss due to narrow ear canals.
Since prenatal diagnosis of Crouzon syndrome is rare, America did not know her daughter had the genetic disorder until the evening she was born. Her 12 hour labor presented severe difficulties including the need for in-utero oxygen, plus resuscitation to America Jr.’s frail body immediately after she was born.

However, despite a complicated labor, the baby’s fight for life just minutes after birth, and an overwhelming journey home with a deformed newborn, America was determined to provide the best life for her child from day one. As an immediate resource, she enrolled America Jr. in Early Childhood Intervention services and worked with the program’s specialists to understand her daughter’s specific needs and help her reach appropriate developmental milestones. Now as an active first grader, America Jr. attends both regular and special education classes. When the school day is over, mom welcomes her baby girl home with loving arms. The guidance and support she gives America Jr. shows no sign of the challenges they face.

The collective spirit of this mother/daughter pair is contagious. Through everything, America has maintained an amazing resiliency that can already be seen in her young child. When they encounter roadblocks, she is relentless in finding a solution and will not give up until it is accomplished. We should all be so lucky to have a role model like this mother.

America found herself a single mom literally overnight when she was abandoned by her partner. One day her family had reliable income, and the next, it was gone. America is able to work, but since spending the last seven years as a stay at home mom caring for America Jr., her job skill training is limited. Additionally, doctor’s appointments are infrequent enough to accommodate the schedule of a higher skilled job, but entry level positions that America is qualified for generally do not grant the flexibility needed to make them.

Even with a very modest lifestyle, the quick and marked income change has made paying rent, utility and grocery bills extremely difficult. This is seen in her apartment, where she’s been able to keep most of her furniture but during the home visit, the refrigerator was almost empty, with nothing more than a small bowl of fruit and a bottle of water. But despite these challenges, this mother’s spirit has prevailed, and she has completely embraced the “bread winner” role for her family.

America makes every dollar, every moment and every opportunity count. In addition to being enrolled in the Any Baby Can CARE Program, America has utilized community resources such as Food Stamps, HHSC, and St. Louis Catholic Church. As an immediate response to the loss of income, she quickly organized clothing items that her daughter had outgrown and held garage sales to make ends meet.

Initially after the income loss, America worked for a temp agency, but the schedule could not accommodate America Jr.’s doctor appointments. To say that she has been persistent in the job search that followed is a vast understatement. During the months of July and August, she submitted 60 job applications. One day, she applied at every hiring store in Highland Mall. Finally, as a result, mom secured a job this week at an assembly plant within close walking distance from her apartment. To ensure the new work will not conflict with any daytime doctor’s appointments, her schedule is from 4pm to 2:30am. While her mom is at work, America Jr.’s aunt will care for her. Then, after a few hours sleep, this dedicated mom makes sure her first grader is fed, dressed and ready for school early the next morning. Although elated to have income, America’s real dream is to put her experience to good use and become a teacher’s aid in a special education class. She understands exactly what it means to parent a special needs child, and would be an invaluable asset in this role. She plans to save what she can to eventually attend job training classes. Read America and America Jr.'s update (page 5)

Welcome to the ABC Family!

Groups strive to help siblings of sick children

Children often feel neglected as ill siblings become focus of parents' attention.

By Chelsea Duttweiler
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, August 24, 2009

Photo by: Deborah Cannon/AMERICAN-STATESMAN

When Thomas Molina was pronounced cancer-free in August 2007 after eight years with leukemia, his mother sent an e-mail to friends and family: "Cured at last, cured at last! Thank God Almighty, he's cured at last!"

But then one night three months later, Thomas got a nose bleed, and a blood test confirmed that he had relapsed and needed to start another round of treatments.

Lisa Molina said she thought she knew what she was getting herself into, but the second time was different, she said. "The second time, we had Bella."

Bella, 7, was born just as Thomas was finishing his intensive chemotherapy the first time, so she was the only one in the family new to cancer. Lisa Molina said she had to worry about things like child care for the first time, and she began to notice that Thomas' cancer was putting stress on Bella.

"She went from being a happy-go-lucky kid to having nightmares and being really tense," Molina said. "A 5-year-old shouldn't be saying, 'Is my brother going to die?' "

Many children like Bella struggle with anxiety and feelings of neglect because of the illness of a sibling; a 2003 report in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology said nearly half of the siblings of cancer patients they studied had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Several Austin organizations and parents are working to shed light on the children often forgotten in the shadow of a sibling with cancer.

"Childhood cancer not only affects the patients, but it affects the entire family," said Cindy Fitchpatrick, child life manager at Dell Children's Medical Center. She said that many siblings go along to doctor's visits and spend afternoons doing homework at the hospital, but they don't receive as much time or attention as the patients.

"I've seen parents forget siblings' birthdays before," Fitchpatrick said. She heads a hospital program that focuses on age-appropriate education for the entire family because, she said, many children have a hard time if they don't fully understand the disease or treatment.

"I never really understood it through the whole process," said Elyse Cunningham, 17, whose brother, Jonathan had a brain tumor when he was 4 and she was 7. "He looked fine to me." Cunningham said she thought cancer was contagious at first and didn't really understand the severity of the disease.

Sarah Nyberg said her 9-year-old son, Hunter, initially struggled with anger and jealousy when his 4-year-old brother, Caleb, was diagnosed with leukemia in February.

"He's very supportive and he loves his brother, but he's still a kid," she said. Nyberg said they received help from Hunter's counselor at Mason Elementary, Laurie Randel, whose own daughter is a cancer survivor.

"The biggest thing is to make sure that the sibling feels valued and has some sense of normalcy," Randel said. She said it is common for students with sick siblings to have problems with behavior and attention at school, so it is important for teachers and administrators to be sensitive to that.

In June, Hunter Nyberg attended Camp Grey Dove, a free camp specifically for the siblings of children with cancer sponsored by the Candlelighters program, a part of Any Baby Can. In addition to normal camp activities like ropes courses, the 49 children who attended camp this summer also had daily group therapy sessions, said Any Baby Can communication manager Allison Daskam.

"They can talk about challenges, and it's a great opportunity to ask questions in a comfortable environment," she said.

Thomas Molina, now 13, is scheduled to complete his cancer treatment in 2011. Lisa Molina said Bella is adjusting well, and having a brother with cancer has given her a different perspective from those of other children.

"It's made her more empathetic. She thinks about kids who are suffering," Lisa Molina said. For Bella's seventh birthday recently, she asked that her friends bring gifts to give to homeless children.

"Having another child has forced us to keep our lives going," Lisa Molina said. "This is just our new normal."

Fox 7 Video: What ABC Means to Austin

We're Newsy! Check out what Austin is saying about ABC

Any Baby Can sure has been busy! Check out the news: KXAN’s coverage of the Children’s Optimal Health initiative, KEYE’s feature of the Children’s Health Express launch, stories on the 30th Anniversary Celebration & Open Hous from El Mundo and News 8, plus the Austin American Statesman’s follow up article of ABC client America Alcantara.

Any Baby Can sincerely thanks Austin media for their diligent coverage of important issues that affect our community's youngest, sickest and poorest children and their families.

Keep in touch with ABC through Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Flickr

Know your ABC!

Do you consider Any Baby Can a friend? We sure hope so, and now you can make it official. Whether you just created a Facebook page or you post to-the-minute updates on Twitter, it’s time to up the ante in keeping in touch with Any Baby Can. Subscribe to our RSS feed, become our fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, watch our video on You Tube, and see pictures on our Flickr account. We think you’ll love what you find: quick and easy updates about Any Baby Can, volunteer opportunities, event invitations and more. Plus, we’re hosting a summer contest series with fantastic giveaways, so you’ll have a chance to win lots of goodies from Austin favorites. Using these new social media outlets to follow Any Baby Can will put you at the center of Austin’s nonprofit community and keep you at the forefront of ABC’s efforts. Staying in touch with ABC means staying on top of issues that matter to our community’s youngest, sickest and poorest children and their families. So get on board and know your ABC!

Texas Legislative Recap from Texans Care for Children

Read the full legislative recap from Texans Care for Children.

From Eileen Garcia-Matthews
Texans Care For Children Executive Director

Texans care for children. They don’t always vote, talk or buy with children first in mind, but in the hearts of Texans there lies a commitment to do right by people from the start. I believe, too, that most lawmakers are in office with a desire to do right by our state’s future. So then why do we continue to trail the nation in so many key areas of child well-being? The will is there, but outdated approaches to societal problems and some fundamental misunderstandings of how we as a state can move forward stand in the way. All the same, we are getting smarter about policy, and change is afoot. This session we saw leaders take courageous stands to advocate for the most pressing needs of our state and propose forward thinking investments. We saw individuals flood offices with calls and visits so lawmakers would know what Texans wanted. Champions for children and change demanded improvements to existing services, more health coverage for kids, a better educational start for learners, measures to curb child obesity, protections for children in state care, better supports for foster youth, a focus on prevention, mental health supports and other vital, vital reforms. So was this the legislative session where Texas decided to Put Kids 1st? there were disappointing losses, along with great wins. Still, in many areas, we came one step closer, and with each advance, the lives of countless children and families improve—and we as a state move forward. Thank you for all you did this session, and I look forward to continuing this important work together.

Read the full legislative recap from Texans Care for Children.

Thank you for making the ABC 30th Anniversary Celebration and Open House a Success!

May Calendar: 30 Days to Make a Difference

Add the events below to your calendar as a way to support Any Baby Can in serving our community's youngest, sickest and poorest children and their families. If you'd like to host an event, contact Megan Hartman at 512-334-4452 or MeganH@abcaus.org. Any Baby Can extends sincere thanks to these gracious event sponsors.

May 2, 10am - 2pm: Get your car squeaky-clean at the ABC car wash, hosted by First Evangelical Free Church at ABC's East 7th Street location.

May 6, 1pm - 4pm: Come see a unique collaboration in action when Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas launches their Children's Health Express at Any Baby Can.

May 10: If you're a member of Westlake United Methodist Church, contribute to the WUMC Mother's Day Diaper Drive.

May 16, 8am - 12pm: Rummage sale at Any Baby Can! Donate items to be sold, volunteer to help, or come out and find new treasures. For more information, contact Karin Hopkins at (512) 334-4441.

May 19 & 20: Relax while you're giving back - Avant Salon & Spa, Southpark Meadows location donates 10% of its proceeds to ABC on these days.

May 20: Cheer on ABC's team as they compete in the Young Nonprofit Professional Network's 3rd Annual Do Gooder Games.

May 29, 7-9pm: Have a cup o' joe while perusing impactful art - Progress Coffee hosts an art opening featuring work by ABC kids.

Honor Those Who Make a Difference in Your Life

In 2009, Any Baby Can commemorates our 30th Anniversary, and now is your chance to help celebrate! For 30 years, Any Baby Can has made a difference in the lives of children and families, just as there are individuals who have made a difference in your life. Think about those people - the ones who have made a life-long impact, the ones who have always stood by you, and the ones who you simply feel honored to call friends. Honor those people today.

Join Any Baby Can in Honoring Those Who Make a Difference!

The premise is simple, but the results will be lasting: honor people who have made a difference in your life with a donation to Any Baby Can. For $30 per honoree, Any Baby Can will send a beautiful card in the mail, letting each person know of your thoughtful gift - we’ll mail the card within 48 hours of your donation. Included in your donation is the option to have an e-card sent and/or to have you and your honoree(s) listed on a special page on the Any Baby Can web site.

Consider honoring people who have
made a difference in your life for:
Mother's Day
Father's Day
Birthdays
An anniversary
Graduation gifts
Teachers' gifts

Honoring people who have made a difference in your life will have a meaningful impact as Any Baby Can works to ensure that all children reach their potential through education, therapy and family support services. Make the celebrations in your life even more special with a gift to Any Baby Can! Have questions? We're happy to help. Contact Tracie Fitting at TracieF@abcaus.org or 512-334-4432.

Those Who Have Been Honored for Making a Difference

Suzanne Alexander in honor of Joyce Durst
Tom and Robbie Ausley in honor of Margaret McNeil
Elisabeth Barnett in honor of Emily Vargas-Brown
Susan Block in honor of Beth Myler
Sara Bridges in honor of Alice Bridges
Barbara Brown in honor of Tracie Fitting
Alexandra Carranza in honor of Jane Swaim
David and Susan Claunch in honor of Beth Myler
Allison Daskam in honor of Tom and Brenda Daskam and Grammy
Joe and Phyllis Diaz in honor of Bea Spalding
John Eastberg in honor of Pastor Sarah Allen
Teresa Farmer in memory of Jessie Clyde Scarborough, Jr.
Deborah Fitting in honor of Barbara Brown
Greg and JoLynn Free in honor of Marian Doizer
Gamma Delta Chapter ADK in honor of Rev. Suzanne Sheves
John Gangstad in honor of Linda McNeil
David and Eugenia Graham in honor of Eileen Graham
Dee Jackson in honor of Heather Jackson and Scott Jackson
Kelly and Dawn Kidd in honor of Patricia Kidd for Mother's Day
Alexander and Amy Lifschitz in honor of Taylor England
Lou and Patsy McCreary in honor of Gretchen Shartle, Teresa Kelly Donna Howard Pete and Jane Calhoun, and F. Scott McCown
Cathy McDonald in honor of Sue McDonald
Conna Mead Webb in honor of Shirley Webb and Laverne Hubbard
Ryan Miller in honor of Gayle Miller
Kris and Hina Patel in honor of Nikhil Shah
Nilesh and Komal Patel in honor of Nikhil Shah
Manish and Simini Patel in honor of Nikhil Shah
Jo Reichler in honor of Raquel Reichler-Cantero
Mr. and Mrs. Greg and Kim Ringer in honor of Missy Thurlow
Annette Saxon in memory of Jean Landensohn
Rupa and Sumit Shah in honor of Nikhil Shah
David C. Smith in honor of Megan Hartman
David and Nancy Snyder in honor of Lori Snyder and Allison Daily
Steve and Sandra Solomon in honor of Bob and Barbara Will and Leroy and Rhoda Solomon
Dr. Allen and BJ Sonstein in honor of Sarah Sonstien
Shari Stein in honor of Beth Myler
Peter and Alexis Stokes in honor of Ellen Stokes and Charlene Robertson
Wade and Katharine Wheatley in honor of Kiyoko Williams and Nana Delo Wheatley
Anne Yeaman in honor of Margaret Lang Yeaman

"Children's Health Express" Launches at Any Baby Can

Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas and Any Baby Can have responded to tough economic times with a unique collaboration to serve children who need medical attention. The “Children’s Health Express,” a tour-bus sized mobile clinic, launched at Any Baby Can in May, providing a medical home for children who have limited access to health care, transportation issues, and/or special health care needs. Prior to joining forces with ABC, the mobile clinic parked once weekly at area elementary schools and preschools. With this powerful new partnership, Children’s Health Express continues service to schools while broadening the scope of its impact by extending care to the hard to reach populations that Any Baby Can successfully serves.

Dell Children’s Medical Center Director of Ambulatory Specialty Care, Ava Wood, BSN, RN, NE-BC, notes that the clinic’s capacity is comparable to that of a regular doctor’s office: “We have a pediatrician on the mobile unit; we also have a nurse practitioner and two exam rooms. (The patient table shown right is part of the bus’s private exam room.) We will be able to serve children just like they were in a physician’s office in a stationary site. It’s just great - we have all of the equipment that we need here to evaluate the children and do well child checks and sick child visits and family education, so we’re very excited about this new partnership.”

Any Baby Can families saw immediate benefits of the collaboration. Crystal, an ABC client, is a single mother who has three children under the age of five and relies on Medicaid. Crystal’s son Isaiah had been on a waiting list for a checkup for more than a year. Because of the Dell Children’s/Any Baby Can partnership, Isaiah received his checkup this May, on the very first day that the mobile clinic was parked at ABC. Although the toddler wasn’t thrilled at the idea of immunization shots, his mother was relieved and thankful. At Any Baby Can, providing high quality services to Central Texas children and families means intensely individualized care, but it also means keeping the agency’s “finger” on the pulse of our community’s needs and responding in kind, with partnerships such as Children’s Health Express. By working together, we’re working smarter and stronger for those who need it most.

Join the Any Baby Can 30 x 30 Campaign!

Celebrate 30 Years of Help and Hope by Joining the ABC 30 x 30 Campaign

Join the Any Baby Can 30 x 30 Campaign today! There are two easy ways to get started: Become an ambassador for the 30 x 30 Campaign and recruit 30 of your friends, family and colleagues to give $30 in honor of ABC's 30th Anniversary OR make a $30 gift yourself. Your support will help Any Baby Can continue to serve our community’s youngest, sickest, and poorest children and their families.

Consider the difference $30 would make:

$30 Supports nutrition services for a child that is not growing properly.
$30 Pays for a week of medical case management for a child with special health care needs.
$30 Allows ABC to produce 8 prenatal education packets for at-risk mothers.

Questions? Contact Tracie Fitting at TracieF@abcaus.org or 334-4432.

Thank you to Everyone Who Made Rockin' Roundup a Success!

This Saturday, guests at the Any Baby Can Rockin' Roundup put on their boots, kicked up their heels, and had a swingin’ good time! Rockin' Roundup is the best casual evening event this side of the border, and this year was no exception. The crowd of 400+ guests enjoyed delicious comfort food from CoJo Catering, emcee Ron Oliveira of the KEYE News Team, complimentary dance lessons, a stellar silent auction, a free photo booth for kickin’ souvenirs and live music from one of Austin's favorite bands, Drywater.

This year's Rockin' Roundup celebrated Any Baby Can's 30th Anniversary - 30 years of help and hope! Any Baby Can is known as a home-grown Austin nonprofit, a smart investment, an expert on children’s issues and an innovative problem solver. And above all, Any Baby Can has become the Central Texas community’s leading resource for children in need. During the event, Any Baby Can Executive Director, Ellen Balthazar, honored "30 Who Made a Difference" in ABC's 30 year history. Any Baby Can is humbled to have supporters from three decades of accomplished service. What a reason to celebrate!

Any Baby Can sincerely thanks all Rockin' Roundup sponsors. Your support allows Any Baby Can to continue the important work of serving our community's youngest, sickest and poorest children and their families. Thank you!

Rockin' Roundup 2009 Sponsors

Gold Star

Silver Spur

Bronze Buckle
Andrews Kurth, LLP
Austin CRS Lone Star Chapter
Fulbright and Jaworski, LLP
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Marroquin Associates
Steve and Ellen Miura

Trail Boss
3M
ABC Bank
Rodolfo and Angela Ambrosetti
Austin Regional Clinic
Rich and Sally Beggs
The Caven Family
Judy O'Brien Chavis
CJR Foundation
Doug and Shelia Dierking
Eddie and Susan Dixon
Dustin Meyer Photography
Bill Ferrell
Franklin-Alan/Wilmington-Gordon
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Legacy Texas Insurance Services
Matt and Julianne Lyons
Maxwell, Locke & Ritter, LLP
Kevin and Catherine Morse
O'Keefe, Egan, Peterman & Enders, LLP
Chris and Kathryn Peele
Perficient
Quartz Financial
Smiles Centers of Austin
Southwest Destructors
Steve and Ann Taylor
Allan Valiant
Kim Weidmann

In-Kind Sponsors
Atherton Pictures
Sko Design Lab
Thinkwell

The Roots of Any Baby Can: an interview with CEDEN Founder, Emily Vargas-Baron

Emily Vargas-Baron, pictured right, was the founder of CEDEN Family Resource Center, which merged with Any Baby Can in 2000 to become Any Baby Can Child and Family Resource Center. Emily's hard work, dedication and passion for children and families forged a path for decades of future success. Learn the history of Any Baby Can, and read the story of CEDEN -in Emily's own words- here.

What was the environment like for children's/family advocacy in 1979 and what was the catalyst for starting CEDEN?

Little advocacy for young children or families living in poverty existed in Austin in 1979. There were no centers for early childhood development (ECD), other than Easter Seals and Madeline Southerland’s center, both of which focused solely on children with disabilities. There were no programs for children with developmental delays or malnutrition, or with vulnerabilities due to family difficulties or poverty. So many parents in Austin lacked the resources they needed to give their children a good start in life. There were no parent-child programs that were integrated with local health centers, schools and nutrition programs like WIC. Therefore, we had to start from scratch. We began by building collaborations and partnerships with the local community, training our staff members, developing enriched curricula, and writing new educational materials for both staff and parents. It was a lot of work but it was very rewarding. The social services infrastructure that is in Austin today did not exist then.

I started CEDEN with the idea of making it become a sustainable and financially secure institute. We prepared our own education materials and distributed them widely throughout the US. We often conducted internal and external evaluations, and we monitored our program outcomes very carefully. This set a new standard for results-based programming, and we influenced many other non-profits in Austin and Texas as a whole. Financially, we were very accountable and transparent, and we could provide up-to-date weekly financial reports, if requested. We held internal staff trainings on a weekly and bi-weekly basis. We also prepared our programs to be replicable and to go to scale. By the time I left CEDEN in November 1994, we had replicated our programs in 15 communities. Since then I understand they have been replicated in at least 25 communities. What we didn’t try to do was to create an “empire.” Rather, we encouraged communities to develop their own programs and adapt our services to their local settings. We did not want them to become dependent on us. We encouraged them to develop sustainable programs with strong community support, as we did in Austin with CEDEN. Thus, we didn’t seek to create a big empire with many satellite programs, but rather we promoted the development of many independent programs that could collaborate with each other and relate to us as co-equals. Some of those 25 communities are in Houston, El Paso, Dalhart, San Benito, Waco and Central Oregon, plus others. When I left CEDEN, the budget was routinely about $1.5 million per year. We did this through pursuing a strategy of highly diversified funding.

The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health was our first grant, for which we are eternally grateful. Dr. Wayne Holtzman believed in us and provided that first grant. He was the head of American Psychological Association, the International Psychological Association, a great researcher, and also the President of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. He is now Professor Emeritus of UT and resides in Austin. He and Reymundo Rodriguez, also from Hogg Foundation, were both instrumental in helping and encouraging us over a multi-year period.

Who were some of the early supporters of CEDEN?

Other early supporters were United Way of Austin, City of Austin Health & Human Services, and Travis County Commissioner’s Court. I think we secured and maintained our supporters because we were highly accountable. We were able to provide timely quarterly reports showing the number of people served, how many children improved in their development, and program results, such as our ability to reduce low birth weight rates. We were also financially accountable and we submitted accurate financial records always on time. Our funding sources were happy to work with us and became our partners. At that time, few if any non-profits in the Austin area had an internal, computer-based program and financial reporting system. We developed it ourselves since none were available “off the shelf” at that time. We had a total of 35 different funding sources in a typical year, including those mentioned before and a general fund of donations from the Austin community; Corporate and Foundation grants; Federal grants; and the Ford Foundation gave us a major five-year research grant. But our agency’s resources were more than funds. By the time I left to accept an invitation to work in Washington, DC, we had over 600 volunteers in a typical year, and they constituted a major part of our “wealth.” Lucy Baines Johnson, who is a great friend and a staunch supporter of CEDEN, would give volunteer awards at the annual volunteer reception. Everyone loved it. She was so dedicated and she is a dear friend to CEDEN – now Any Baby Can. Our volunteers and supporters knew that the people CEDEN helped really deserved support. They knew we assisted each family by providing high quality parent education and child development services that helped improve family life as a whole. The community also knew that donations would go directly to services to support families in need, with a very low overhead. We also had an annual citywide Baby Shower with barrels in grocery stores, etc. where people would give baby food, clothing, etc. for families. We checked all items for safety and cleanliness, and then passed them directly to families in need. We never had a storage problem because we worked with thousands of families living in poverty. The Baby Showers were an extraordinary amount of work, but the results were worth it.

In the years of CEDEN, what was your greatest challenge and accomplishment?

In the very beginning, the biggest and most important challenge was to involve local Hispanic and African American parents in managing our programs. We wanted them to be fully involved in all planning activities so that they felt the programs were theirs and that they “owned” them. You’ll notice today that the ABC building in East Austin is still well treated; there are no tags and nothing is ever destroyed. People correctly felt that CEDEN was theirs and they protected it. They also protected our staff and took care of us. Sometimes, when conducting a home visit, someone would come to the house, and say “Ms. Emily, I think you should move your car, there’s someone on the street corner who’s looking at it”. Everyone in the neighborhood knew us and watched over us. The most critical challenge was to ensure the full participation of neighborhoods and that other nonprofits felt it was their program, too. We tried to convince them that we weren’t ever competing with them, but rather that we were working together. To build and maintain that type of participation, collaboration, coordination and integration of services was the biggest and most important challenge that we had over the years.

Accomplishment: We did it! Today, I am so happy and so proud. We now have ABC/CEDEN with all of its richness, the wonderful staff and superb director. Our greatest accomplishment is that our services continue on. It overwhelms me to think about how wonderful it is that the effort we made including working so hard on days, nights and weekends resulted in a Center that continues to serve thousands of Austin children, parents and other communities so effectively. This accomplishment inspires me every day in my current work.

It was excruciatingly difficult to leave CEDEN and my friends in Austin. I left because I was invited to direct education, training and telecommunications at the Center for Human Capacity Development of USAID (United States Agency for International Development). During the time I lived in Austin, I had quietly continued my international work, and when this invitation came, I couldn’t resist it. But you know it was probably time to go. I had founded CEDEN and worked there from 1979 to 1994: 15 years! My leave-taking enabled other people to become leaders in the child development community through their work, so I feel like it was a good decision. It was very hard to leave, and I miss people at ABC tremendously: Ruth (Wells) and Alexandra (Alfau), and many others. My heart is always with you. I only left physically.

Do you have a favorite success story?

There were so many! There’s one that’s always been very close to my heart – Stevie was 9 months old when I first saw him. He could not sit up or roll over, and every day he stayed in his crib in a darkened room. His mother only came in to feed and clean him and she simply left him in the crib without any stimulation. At first I thought he was severely developmentally delayed, perhaps disabled. That day I did some very gentle initial assessment activities with the child. I returned the next day and did a full assessment, and found he was severely delayed in his development but he appeared to have normal physical status. This was confirmed later during medical check-ups. By talking with the mother I learned she was diabetic, loved her child very much, and simply did not know what to do as a parent. She was very poor and she did not have much family support, but she was a dear person and she became a wonderful friend. I worked each week with her and Stevie. By the time he was 18 months of age he was “at norm” in all areas of development. He was running around the house, talking a blue streak, and doing well in all respects. He went on to graduate from high school, got married, and I have met his wife and child. Sadly, his dear mother died far too young from diabetes.

The point is that we often identify basically normal children who, due mainly to poverty and a lack of parenting skills, become moderately or severely developmentally delayed. But through our programs for parent education, support and infant and child stimulation, we are able to support parents and help them to ensure their children are well developed, healthy and strong. If we identify a disability, then Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services are given. Taken together, these services are life giving. The “secrets” of good parent education and support, ECI and integrated services for young children and parents should be taught around the world, which is what I’m trying to do now. That little boy, Stevie, is always in my heart. He achieved his potential and that’s what can be done for millions of other children like him.

While at CEDEN, I taught Ruthie (Wells) how to conduct home visits, do assessments, and work with families. With her genius, creativity, dedication and positive attitude, she has continued to do wonderful work in family literacy and parenting education. Her work is very impressive. So many of the children and mothers with whom she has worked have graduated not only from high school but also from university as well. Many of them came from families where no one had gone to high school. During the time she has worked at ABC, she has seen a whole generation of children – and mothers-- achieve results. Alexandra (Alfau) is a distinguished leader in the field of children with developmental delays and disabilities. She is dedicated to ensuring the ECI program at ABC continues to be a complete success. She is hard working, dedicated and brilliant, and I can’t say enough about her.

What kept you going during difficult days?

I’ve experienced very, very difficult situations. If I feel tired or disheartened, all I have to do is think of the children and their needs, and I keep going. I have an inner drive to keep working. If not, those children will languish. We can all make a big difference if we just work hard enough. I have children in need in my mind’s eye at all times, and that’s true to this day. Thinking about the children I have seen abandoned at the side of the road, dying of malaria or malnutrition, and severely developmentally delayed or disabled is what keeps me going. It certainly isn’t fame or glory, I’ll tell you that. And it certainly isn’t income!

How have you (or have you) seen children's/families' needs change over the last 30 years?

That’s difficult to answer. I’ve worked in over 50 countries in the last 8 years, and it’s not possible to assess the situation in Austin because I’m not there. Today, I know that there are much more highly developed and better-articulated health and human services in Austin, so I feel glad that there’s been progress on the service level. I know for sure that thousands of children have benefitted from CEDEN in Austin and through our replication sites. What I do not know is to what extent that this has been enough. I understand that there is now an influx of many more impoverished families, so that the pool of people to work with has grown astronomically. More families living in poverty have come to Austin, which means that there is a continuing need. Our work is not over. There are at least 30 more years of hard, hard work to be done.

What is your advice for the next generation of advocates?

• Involvement in state, federal, city and county policies with regard to children and children’s development is absolutely critical. No non-profit working in the child development area can be an island unto itself; it must represent the people that it serves and it must participate in deciding the areas of work for the future. So I encourage participation in discussions in the city council, commissioner’s court, community discussions in United Way, and in all other venues possible. We’re headed into a period of great opportunity for early childhood development. You wouldn’t think so with this economy, but we will have new opportunities. I can tell you this because of my involvement in policy development and research both nationally and internationally. We are observing greatly increased investment in early childhood because finally people realize the critical area brain development during the period from birth to three years of age and we are now able to measure the high rate of return on investment in ECD. We knew the importance of this early period a long time ago (early 1970s), but now neuroscience has shown its importance scientifically and in great detail. The opportunity for larger investments in ECD has arrived, but leaders of ABC/CEDEN must be wise and work in close collaboration and partnership with other agencies in town in order to implement policy.

• ABC/CEDEN should play a very active role of what will be the future of parent education and child development in Texas, the US and abroad. We need to realize that we must not only expand and improve our programs, but also understand the bigger picture and make sure that the poor become or continue to be the architects of their own future. We need to make sure that they receive the services they need but also that they collaboratively help to provide these services. This will increasingly be a very important point, and I think that ABC/CEDEN understands that. All of the successful national-level ECD programs I have studied in other nations have secured the strong support and involvement of the families they serve. This support and involvement has helped them become sustainable.

• When we began CEDEN, we worked hard to develop innovative educational materials, and it was that innovative spirit that helped us improve our services continuously. There is still a need for more and better educational materials for parent education and early childhood development. I would love to see ABC/CEDEN develop once again a tremendous competence in materials design, field-testing, and production.

• ABC continues to have excellent monitoring services. In CEDEN we also had an effective internal evaluation system by means of which we evaluated our program outcomes. We assessed not only how many services were provided but also levels of improved child development, home environments, and parenting skills. We assessed the degree to which teenage parents learned how to parent well as well as birth outcomes for program cohorts in our Prenatal Education Program. I would encourage two additional types of evaluation be undertaken: 1) expanded evaluation of key program outcomes in relation to a control or comparison group, and 2) a longitudinal evaluation of the long-term outcomes of children and families that participated in the earlier program at CEDEN, possibly in relation to outcomes of the comparison group that was used for the study conducted for the Ford Foundation.

• Continue replicating ABC programs by training other communities to conduct services similar to ours. A lot of people in other places are struggling to learn how to conduct successful ECD programs. Why should they try to re-invent the wheel when we know how to develop high-quality programs? We really should do more in the way of training personnel for programs in other communities.

• Ensure ABC continues to provide good recognition of the achievements of ABC staff and volunteers. Every year, please take some time out to celebrate what the agency has done and remember how hard people have worked to help others.

What are you doing these days?

The Rise Institute conducts international studies, advises governments and international agencies, and provides training workshops in the fields of ECD and education. We work especially in countries that have high levels of poverty or violent conflicts. In recent years, I’ve been working in Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. My main focus is on advising national governments on how to develop early childhood development policies and strategic plans. I help policy makers consider their options, advise them and encourage them to make their own decisions. I know that in order for policies to be well implemented, countries must take full ownership of them. I don’t believe in external people telling national leaders what to do but rather in working with them as a team effort. In addition, I help design national programs for early childhood development, and that’s part of what I’m currently doing in Bosnia. And not surprisingly, their plans for Integrated Parent-Child Centers are very similar to the CEDEN model…

Any Baby Can 2008 Annual Report

At Any Baby Can, we believe that all children can reach their potential through education, therapy and family support services.

Each year, Any Baby Can brings help and hope to more than 5,000 of our community's youngest, sickest, and poorest children and their families-the youngest through prenatal care and intervention services when children are born with developmental delays; the sickest when children experience chronic or critical illness like childhood cancer; and the poorest children who may experience neglect or abuse. Any Baby Can offers tools and training so families can provide a better life and brighter future for their children. Get all the details from the Any Baby Can 2008 Annual Report.

30 Ways That YOU Can Make a Difference

From the Executive Director, Ellen Balthazar:

In 2009, Any Baby Can celebrates 30 years of service to the Central Texas community. The history of this organization is rich with dedication, persistence, and passion. The nimbleness of the organization to merger with new partners and develop new programs in response to community needs is impressive. The commitment to high quality, consistent services, albeit delivered in diverse, individualized, often chaotic situations is unwavering. The wisdom of investment in prevention services, or the earliest possible intervention, is proven. It is important that we honor our notable heritage, but as we do so, it is even more important that we focus with dogged determination on our next 30 years (and, Lord, have mercy on our ability to meet the immediate needs in this economic downturn!).

As we begin our next 30 years, we need every one of you to partner with us in this important work. Here are 30 ideas I urge you to consider now:
1) Help low income families improve their literacy, math and English skills by volunteering at the Saturday Learning Center. 2) Keep a child warm by donating gently used clothes and blankets. 3) Help a new parent record her baby’s special moments and developmental milestones. A donation of $300 will fund the printing of 30 “My Baby Books”. 4) Spread the word about Any Baby Can by telling your friends and family to visit our website, www.abcaus.org. 5) Warm up by dancing at our annual fundraiser, Rockin’ Roundup on March 28th, so you’ll be ready to make a generous gift during the Pledge Auction. 6) Allow siblings of children with cancer to have a fun, therapeutic retreat by funding Camp Grey Dove with a donation of $3,000. 7) Donate food or grocery gift cards for our families struggling to provide nutritious meals for their children. 8) Help an at-risk pregnant teen prepare for motherhood. We can cut a DVD and print a set of 8 prenatal education packets with a donation of $30. 9) Advocate for early childhood development issues by writing your local representative, congressman, and senator. 10) Hit the courts at the Jeff Bailey Memorial Tennis Tournament on April 24th and raise money for ABC’s Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program. 11) Give a young child a safe place to sleep by donating a new or gently used crib. 12) Provide a month’s supply of asthma medication for a child whose insurance has lapsed with a donation of $90. 13) Teach mothers and their pre-school children to read by volunteering at our weekday Family Literacy Program. 14) Give ABC children their very own books by organizing a new or used Children’s Book Drive. 15) Help the family of a child with special health care needs stay organized, store medical records and maneuver through the medical system with a donation of $30 to produce our popular “Navigator Notebook.” 16) Celebrate the joy of birthdays, Mother’s Day, or Father’s Day, etc. by donating to ABC in honor of a friend or family member. 17) Underwrite or volunteer to organize a special event for ABC families. Breaking the social isolation many clients face is priceless. 18) Pack a diaper bag for a needy newborn with layette items, diapers, and a few educational toys. 19) Get up close and personal with our clients by viewing the award winning “Tears of Hope” video on our website www.abcaus.org. 20) Volunteer your professional expertise to plan events, design or translate materials, maintain our landscaping, or teach financial literacy skills. 21) Underwrite one of our licensed mental health counselors for $30,000 so 15 families can be stabilized. 22) Allow a mother of a child with autism to take a much needed break by funding 9 hours of respite care with a donation of $300. 23) Spread the word about the work of ABC to both potential donors and clients. 24) Help a toddler and his parents learn to manage a physical disability by funding 1 month of in-home physical therapy services with a donation of $300. 25) Get a closer look at our organization by calling 454-3743 to schedule a tour. 26) Make ABC your United Way giving designee. 27) If your employer matches your philanthropic giving, make sure the paperwork on your ABC donation is completed. 28) Collect colorful scarves, paper towel rolls, and other household materials, then volunteer to organize them into home activity kits for our “Parents as Teachers” curriculum. 29) Help plan community response efforts for newborns and children with special health care needs during a natural disaster or mass evacuation. 30) Make a long term, transformational gift with a generous contribution to the Any Baby Can Endowment Fund.

Join our mission in a way that works for you, and perhaps you’ll start humming (on behalf of yourself or our client families):

“My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years.”

In Celebration and Hope,

Poverty Awareness Month-Consider the Statistics

Living in poverty can have profound effects on children. It can lead to cognitive delays, social and emotional problems and poor health. It is not the income itself, rather how poverty affects the stability and resources of the family that lead to poor outcomes for the child. Children are most vulnerable to the effects of poverty during the early years of their lives because it is a critical period for brain development. Children 0-3 can suffer detrimental developmental delays that last a lifetime as a result of risk factors prevalent among impoverished families. Risk factors include lack of quality, positive interactions, inadequate nutrition, substance abuse, maternal depression, exposure to environmental toxins, trauma/abuse, and quality of daily care. Consider some statistics from our community:

In Travis County, 14.2% of families with children under the age of five had an income below the poverty level. This rate jumps to 47.6% of households headed by unmarried women with children under five living in poverty (2007 American Community Survey).
According to the American Community Survey, Texas ranks 7th for most children living in poverty. In Texas 23% of children under 18 live in poverty (below 100% PG) as compared with the national average of 18%. Here in Travis County 18.7% of children were living in poverty in 2007.
Texas has the highest number of uninsured children in the country (U.S. Census Bureau).
Remarkable research (Hart and Risley) has provided a stark example of how an impoverished environment effects vocabulary development in very young children. Their work indicates that 3 year olds from professional families have an average vocabulary of 1,116 words compared to only 525 words for those children whose families receive public assistance. This traces to the finding that “In an average year, children from professional homes hear 11 million words; children from welfare home hear only 3 million words.”

Find more information at Parent: Wise, CPPP Kids Count, and The National Center for Child Poverty.

Any Baby Can brings help and hope to our community's youngest, sickest and poorest children and their families by offering tools and training so families can provide a better life and brighter future for their children.

The Changing Face of Poverty

Any Baby Can recently participated in a community discussion on poverty, hosted by I Live Here, I Give Here. The resulting information, "The Changing Face of Poverty", may astound or inspire you. To make a difference to those living in poverty, donate to Any Baby Can or visit the I Live Here, I Give Here site to find out more ways to help.

The Changing Face of Poverty

People considered "poor" are now much more diverse and imbedded in our society than the cliché image of a haggard homeless man living under a bridge. Single women with children, the working poor who toil at full-time, low-wage jobs yet still can't make ends meet, families pushed into bankruptcy by staggering medical bills, or once-prosperous executives losing their homes to foreclosure — all compose a new and changing face of poverty in our community.

Children are especially hard-hit, with nearly 19 percent — one in five — of our youngest citizens living in poverty. Food insecurity is becoming increasingly prevalent, and academic performance suffers when students' basic needs are not met. If a child is hungry, it's hard to worry about a spelling test.

Many of our neighbors are more vulnerable than ever before — just one illness or one lost paycheck away from bankruptcy and dependence on public and private assistance.

Our Community's Response

Travis County's network of social service providers advocates a two-pronged approach to serving our impoverished neighbors. Provide a "ladder up" to help people toward self-sufficiency, and a "safety net below" to catch those threatened by homelessness, starvation and violence.

The good news is that our nonprofit organizations have developed highly effective systems of cooperation and pooling of resources to maximize our community's ability to care for our neighbors in need.

The bad news is that hard economic times are stretching and fraying our safety net to its limits. And the path out of poverty is an increasingly slippery slope. Basic needs advocates stress financial resources are needed now more than ever. Addressing poverty as a serious issue is critical to maintaining our community's vitality. Read more at www.ilivehereigivehere.org.

Silicon Laboratories Sponsors ABC Family Literacy Program

Silicon Labs will have a profound impact on literacy in Central Texas through a new sponsorship of the Any Baby Can Family Literacy Program.

The philanthropic mission of Silicon Labs is to promote education, with a strong emphasis on math, science and technology, and to support community development though community and volunteer support.

The Any Baby Can Family Literacy Program provides free Adult Basic Education, ESL instruction, and tutoring for low-income families. Participants consistently achieve scholastic and employment goals, and by working with parents and children together, the program has a multi-generational impact on Central Texas literacy. Any Baby Can graciously thanks Silicon Labs for their dedication to children and families in our community. If you are interested in sponsoring an Any Baby Can program, please contact Chris Dietche at 512-334-4447 or ChrisD@abcaus.org.

Statesman's Season for Caring features ABC family

Any Baby Can is proud to participate in the Austin American Statesman's 10th Annual Season for Caring campaign. America Alcantara and her daughter, America, were nominated for the campagin by Any Baby Can. If you would like to support the Season for Caring campaign, please contact Allison Daskam at 512-334-4426 or allisond@abcaus.org. Here is their amazing story:

Note: Both mother and daughter are named America, so the mother is referred to as “America Sr.”

From the smile on America’s face, you would never know the struggle her mother is facing. America was born with Crouzon syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects only 16 of every million newborns. As one of those 16, America is now six years old and endures the haunting effects of Crouzons: premature fusion of skull bones which has resulted in wide-set, bulging eyes and vision problems caused by shallow eye sockets, eyes that do not point in the same direction (strabismus) and hearing loss due to narrow ear canals.

Since prenatal diagnosis of Crouzon syndrome is rare, America Sr. did not know her daughter had the genetic disorder until the evening she was born. Her 12 hour labor presented severe difficulties including the need for in-utero oxygen, plus resuscitation to America’s frail body immediately after she was born. However, despite a complicated labor, the baby’s fight for life just minutes after birth, and an overwhelming journey home with a deformed newborn, America Sr. was determined to provide the best life for her child from day one. As an immediate resource, she enrolled America in Early Childhood Intervention services and worked with the program’s specialists to understand her daughter’s specific needs and help her reach appropriate developmental milestones. Now as an active first grader, America attends both regular and special education classes. When the school day is over, mom welcomes her baby girl home with loving arms. The guidance and support she gives America shows no sign of the challenges they face.

The collective spirit of this mother/daughter pair is contagious. Through everything, America Sr. has maintained an amazing resiliency that can already be seen in her young child. When they encounter roadblocks, she is relentless in finding a solution and will not give up until it is accomplished. We should all be so lucky to have a role model like this mother.

America Sr. found herself a single mom literally overnight. One day her family had reliable income, and the next, it was gone. Her ex-partner, who was the sole provider for the family, was deported this summer. As a naturalized citizen, America Sr. is able to work, but spending the last seven years as a stay at home mom caring for America, her job skill training is limited. Additionally, doctor’s appointments are infrequent enough to accommodate the schedule of a higher skilled job, but entry level positions that America Sr. is qualified for generally do not grant the flexibility needed to make them. Soon after the loss of income, America Sr.’s car was repossessed. This has limited her employment options and makes travel time to doctor’s appointments quite difficult, with some destinations mandating three or four bus transfers.

Even with a very modest lifestyle, the quick and marked income change has made paying rent, utility and grocery bills extremely difficult. This is seen in her apartment, where she’s been able to keep most of her furniture but during the home visit, the refrigerator was almost empty, with nothing more than a small bowl of fruit and a bottle of water. But despite these challenges, this mother’s spirit has prevailed, and she has completely embraced the “bread winner” role for her family.

America Sr. makes every dollar, every moment and every opportunity count. In addition to being enrolled in the Any Baby Can CARE Program, America Sr. has utilized community resources such as Food Stamps, HHSC, and St. Louis Catholic Church. As an immediate response to the loss of income, she quickly organized clothing items that her daughter had outgrown and held garage sales to make ends meet.

Initially after the income loss, America Sr. worked for a temp agency, but the schedule could not accommodate America’s doctor appointments. To say that she has been persistent in the job search that followed is a vast understatement. During the months of July and August, she submitted 60 job applications. One day, she applied at every hiring store in Highland Mall. Finally, as a result, mom secured a job this week at an assembly plant within close walking distance from her apartment. To ensure the new work will not conflict with any daytime doctor’s appointments, her schedule is from 4pm to 2:30am. While her mom is at work, America’s aunt will care for her. Then, after a few hours sleep, this dedicated mom makes sure her first grader is fed, dressed and ready for school early the next morning. Although elated to have income, America Sr.’s real dream is to put her experience to good use and become a teacher’s aid in a special education class. She understands exactly what it means to parent a special needs child, and would be an invaluable asset in this role. She plans to save what she can to eventually attend job training classes.

America Sr.'s goal is to provide a healthy, safe, loving life for her daughter. Beyond her dreams of being a teacher's aid, she hopes that America will one day attend college. There is no doubt that mother and daughter alike have the determination to make both dreams a reality. Being chosen for the Season for Caring Campaign would give this fragile pair the boost they need to regain momentum and start fresh. Seemingly simple items like clothing, school supplies and grocery cards would lift a burden from the monthly budget, while America Sr.'s humble request for dance or music classes for her daughter would give this little girl incredible joy. The real change, however, would come from funding for a teacher's aid training class, which would allow this mother to pursue her passion and build a strong foundation for her family.

Adopt a Family for the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of giving fills the hearts and minds of the children and families served by Any Baby Can. This time of year marks a joyous yet challenging time for our families who are struggling with the costs of basic needs, prenatal care, developmental delays or a devastating chronic illness like childhood cancer. When you sign up to adopt a family, you are given the unique opportunity to make their holiday wishes come true. To adopt an Any Baby Can family this holiday season, complete a Sponsorship Form and return it by December 5th. We'll match your request for family size and provide all the information you need to help make your family's holiday season a special one. For questions or more details, please contact Megan Hartman at 512-334-4452 or meganh@abcaus.org.

Any Baby Can Named "Best Empowerment for Families" by Austin Chronicle

Any Baby Can has been named by the Austin Chronicle as Critics' Pick "Best Empowerment for Families" Award for 2008. Read the full list of winners.

New Mothers Find Hope

First time mothers in Central Texas now have a new resource through Any Baby Can: the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP). The NFP model has been rigorously tested for three decades throughout the nation, including controlled trials in Elmira (NY), Memphis (TN) and Denver (CO). Beginning this fall, NFP will premiere in Central Texas as an Any Baby Can program. With registered nurses serving as home visitors, NFP will serve low income first time mothers and their children. Services begin prenatally and continue with child development education until the child is two years old. Existing NFP programs have consistently yielded positive results including improved prenatal health, fewer childhood injuries, fewer subsequent pregnancies, increased intervals between births, increased maternal employment, and improved school readiness for children born to mothers with low psychological resources. Expectations are equally high for the Any Baby Can NFP Program, which was funded in part through a competitive grant awarded by te Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Local matching fund requirements have been partially met through contributions from Austin Independent School District and United Way Capital Area. The remaining balance of $100,000 strongly depends on the support of Any Baby Can donors. As a social service agency with a substantive history of prenatal education and whose core competency is home visitation, Any Baby Can is uniquely positioned to successfully serve this critical population of new mothers through NFP. The program evolves Any Baby Can’s prenatal education program to the strongest evidenced based model available. Through the addition of NFP, Any Baby Can continues the agency’s passion to bring hope and help to the youngest, sickest and poorest children in our community. For more information on Nurse Family Partnership, please contact Senior Program Officer Carol Harvey at 512-334-4455 or CarolH@abcaus.org.

Any Baby Can Welcomes New Board Members

It is through the support and guidance of the Board of Directors that Any Baby Can is able to access valuable resources and provide superior services to children and families. The ABC family gratefully welcomes this group of community leaders, who began three year Board terms in August.

Susan Bohn, Lake Travis ISD

Caroline Caven, Founder of Children’s Hearing Aid Texas

Judy Chavis, Dell

Nichelle Cobb, Office of the Attorney General

Kathy Haggar, Silicon Laboratories

Scott Incerto, Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP

Matt Lyons, Andrews Kurth, LLP

Steve Miura, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management

Diana Resnik, Seton Family of Hospitals

Any Baby Can "Tears of Hope" Video Wins Telly Award

The Any Baby Can “Tears of Hope” video has been honored by Telly Awards, the premier video and film award.

The Any Baby Can video “Tears of Hope”, produced by Atherton Pictures’ Carolyn Krawczyk, is honored with a Bronze Telly Award. The video showcases Any Baby Can’s home based services and the agency’s mission to ensure that all children reach their potential through education, therapy and family support services.

“This video has proven an invaluable tool for our agency and truly conveys the essential, life changing and heartfelt work of Any Baby Can,” said Executive Director, Ellen Balthazar. “We are thrilled that it has been recognized with such a distinguished honor.”

Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. The Telly Awards is a widely known and highly respected national and international competition and receives more than 13,000 entries annually.

WATCH the Tears of Hope video at www.abcaus.org.

About Any Baby Can
Any Baby Can's mission is to ensure that all children reach their potential through education, therapy and family support services. Each year, Any Baby Can brings help and hope to more than 5,000 of our community's youngest, sickest, and poorest children-the youngest through prenatal care and intervention services when children are born with developmental delays; the sickest when children experience chronic or critical illness like childhood cancer; and the poorest children who may experience neglect or abuse. Any Baby Can offers tools and training so families can provide a better life and brighter future for their children. Learn more at www.abcaus.org.

Any Baby Can “Adopts” Children’s Hearing Aid Texas (CHAT)

Any Baby Can “Adopts” Children’s Hearing Aid Texas (CHAT)

CHAT, a project incubated at the Austin Community Foundation, now finds a permanent home at Any Baby Can.

Any Baby Can has strengthened its continuum of services to children and families by “adopting” Children’s Hearing Aid Texas (CHAT). CHAT provides auditory services and hearing aids for children in Central Texas with audio logical needs who have no financial alternatives to meet these needs. CHAT was founded on the belief that hearing aids are essential for the development of cognitive and social skills in infants and children with hearing loss. “I am so proud of CHAT’s service to our community thus far and look forward to its future with Any Baby Can,” said Caroline Caven, Founder of CHAT. At CHAT’s inception in 2003, the Austin Community Foundation helped incubate the project under their 501 (c) (3) status. Now, as a program of Any Baby Can, CHAT will continue to provide high quality services while reducing administrative costs. CHAT will also benefit from Any Baby Can’s larger outreach and referral network, as well as the agency’s connections throughout the early childhood community.

“CHAT is an important project with an excellent track record. We are excited to increase the impact of its services in Central Texas by joining forces,” said Ellen Balthazar, Executive Director of Any Baby Can. MariBen Ramsey, Vice President & General Counsel of Austin Community Foundation echoed the positive sentiments and praised both agencies. “Austin Community Foundation is happy to work with people in the community to get ideas under way, and we are thrilled when those ideas find a permanent home. CHAT and Any Baby Can both do great work and we wish them tremendous success in this new venture.” Learn more about CHAT at a lunch time open house, held at Any Baby Can’s office on East 7th Street, October 6th at 12:00 noon. For questions, contact Monica Allen at 512-828-0510 or MonicaA@abcaus.org.

Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention

Any Baby Can's mission is to ensure that all children reach their potential through education, therapy and family support services. Part of Any Baby Can's efforts include child abuse and neglect prevention, and new research reinforces the urgent need for these services. The links below provide haunting and important data on child abuse and neglect. Additionally, the Prevent Child Abuse America website is a great resource for information. Since 1972, Prevent Child Abuse America has led the way in building awareness, providing education and inspiring hope to everyone involved in the effort to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation's children.

For additional information on Any Baby Can's efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect, please visit the Programs section of our website, or call our offices at 512-454-3743.

Confirmed CPS Victims in 2007
Healthy Families America: Evidence Based Prevention Techniques
Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect in the U.S.

KIDS COUNT Data Book Reveals New State Trends

Center for Public Policy Priorities News Release
Contact: Lynsey Kluever 512-320-0222, ext 112 or kluever@cppp.org

Austin, TX—Conditions for teens are looking brighter in Texas, as the teen death rate, teen birth rate, and percent of teens not attending school and not working have improved. This is according to the KIDS COUNT Data Book, a national state-bystate report released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The report is a precursor to the fall release of The State of Texas Children 2008, which will provide child well-being data for every county in Texas.

The teen death rate improved 13% between 2000 and 2005, with 66 deaths per 100,000 teens ages 15-19, ranking Texas 22nd best in the nation. The teen birth rate, highest in the country last year, dropped 10% from 2000 to 2005, to 62 births for every 1,000 teens ages 19, ranking Texas 49th. And the percent of teens not attending school and not working has improved 18%, moving from 11% of all teens ages 16-19 in 2000 to 9% in 2006—ranking Texas 36th.

The report measures how Texas ranks compared to the nation on 10 main indicators. Across these 10 measures, Texas ranks 37th out of 50—holding steady from last year’s report. While indicators for teens have largely improved, the data tell a different story when it comes to child poverty, the percent of low-birthweight babies, and the infant mortality rate—all of which have worsened. Nearly one in four Texas children—over 1.5 million—lives in poverty—a 9% increase since 2000, ranking Texas 44th in the nation. Poverty is defined as a child living in a family of four making less than $20,444 a year. The percent of lowbirthweight babies worsened 12%--from 7.4 of every 1,000 live births in 2000 to 8.3 in 2005, ranking Texas 27th. Finally, the infant mortality rate increased 16% between 2000 and 2005, from 5.7 to 6.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, ranking Texas 21st. In contrast, the national rate stagnated.

“Although conditions have improved slightly for teens, Texas is still in the bottom third of the country when it comes to the well-being of our kids,” said Frances Deviney, Director of Texas KIDS COUNT. “We need to use the positive momentum with Texas teens to improve the lives of all Texas kids, particularly in the areas of infant health.”

Other Key Findings:
• Texas continues to have the highest rate of uninsured children in the nation.
• One in five Texas children does not have health coverage. Texas has had the highest rate in the nation for 10 of the past 11 years.
• In 2006, more than 8,000 Texas youth were in custody in juvenile justice facilities on a daily basis. Of these youth, 61% were in custody for non-violent offenses. The state’s rate of detained and committed youth in custody was 136 per 100,000 ages 10-15 in 2006, compared to 125 per 100,000 youth nationwide.

KIDS COUNT is a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. and is distributed in Texas by the Texas KIDS COUNT Project, an initiative of the Center for Public Policy Priorities.

iChoose Teen Summit

iChoose Teen Summit
Local Teenagers Take the Lead in Preventing Teen Pregnancy

Austin teen leaders are working with ten non-profits and city agencies to change Texas’ status as the state with the highest teen birth rate. Their efforts are culminating in a unique free event at the University of Texas on June 26th called the iChoose Teen Summit: Real Talk on Sexual Health. According to one of the Summit’s teen leaders, “The conference is encouraging teens to make healthy choices and educating them about what those choices are.”

The iChoose Teen Summit will be held at the Texas Union of the University of Texas on Thursday, June 26th from 10:00 am to 4:30 p.m. There will be a pre-summit parenting workshop the night before from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Family Connections, located at 825 E 53 ½ St. Bldg E-101. The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department’s Family Health Program, Planned Parenthood, and Lifeworks are sponsoring the event, in partnership with the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin, Any Baby Can, People’s Community Clinic, Family Connections, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, YouthLaunch, and the River City Youth Foundation.

This Summit is timely considering the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study showing that 1 in 4 sexually active teenage girls has a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Texas also has the highest teen birth rate in the nation. Teen parenting cost Texas taxpayers at least 1 billion dollars in 2004, according to estimates by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

The Summit will feature a series of fun, interactive and educational breakout sessions, a live music remote by radio station The Beat, entertainment, raffle prizes, free lunch, and a free bag and t-shirt for every teenager that participates. Kenneth Thompson of the “the Dad Show” on KAZI radio will host the event.

““We want to give teens more power. Knowledge is power. We want it to be fun and for it to raise awareness,” says another of the Summit’s teen leaders. One of the sessions will feature a panel of teenage and young parents who will speak about their experiences.

Parents are encouraged to participate in the iChoose pre-summit parenting workshop at Family Connections on Wednesday, June 25th. Free food, child care, and raffle prizes will be provided. “Parents are the #1 influence on their teenager’s decisions about abstinence and sex, but parents often don’t know how to start these conversations with their teen”, says Cynthia Brown, Health Educator with Planned Parenthood. The parenting workshop will give parents the confidence to talk with their teenager about preventing teen pregnancy and STIs.

Pre-registration is required for both the iChoose Teen Summit and the parenting workshop and space is limited. Registration forms can be found online at ichoose2008.pbwiki.com/iChoose or to request a registration form, call
972-6209.

For more information please contact:
Carole Barasch carolebarasch@ci.austin.tx.us or 512-972-6115
Sarah J. Wheat VP of Community Affairs, Planned Parenthood (512)276-8063 sarah.wheat@ppaustin.org
Brett Barnes Director of Development and External Relations, Lifeworks (512)735-2470 brett.barnes@lifeworksweb.org

Neighborhood Longhorns Program Celebrity Golf Classic

WHAT: National Association of Professional Athletes
Neighborhood Longhorns Program
16th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic

WHEN: June 4, 2008

WHERE: Barton Creek Conference Resort

WHY: The Neighborhood Longhorns Program works with schools in East and South Austin communities to improve their academic performance. The NLP continues to be the University of Texas' premier educational outreach program for youth in grades two through eight and serves 29 sites and more than 4,000 youth in the Austin community.

CONTACT: For more information, please contact Celina E. Ruiz-Snowden, Director for the NLP, at 512-232-4650 or Hopscotch@mail.utexas.edu

Special thanks to Marian Dozier and Austaco for sponsoring a hole in honor of Any Baby Can.

Rockin' Roundup 2008 Meets Unprecedented Goal

Rockin' Roundup Meets Unprecedented Goal!

Rockin’ Roundup is Any Baby Can’s main fundraising event, and this year more than 450 guests enjoyed the fun filled evening. Returning emcee Kirk Watson kept the crowd laughing and gave a poignant reminder about the impact of supporting the agency: “What Any Baby Can does isn’t just important in its face value to each and every child and family they serve, but it has a lasting impact on our community. It’s obvious that helping these children at the right time, at the earliest possible age, like Any Baby Can does, is the smart investment. It’s the right investment.” The evening was a huge success, raising more than $150,000 to support Any Baby Can in bringing help and hope to children in our community and their families.

Bob and Jim Gregory of Texas Disposal Systems were honored for their continuing partnership with Any Baby Can to serve children and families in Central Texas. The TDS Exotic Game Ranch and Pavilion was built exclusively to serve the non-profit community and since 2002, charity events held at the facility have raised more than $10,000,000. In addition to helping Any Baby Can honor the Gregory brothers, Rockin' Roundup guests also enjoyed the rockin' sounds of SKYROCKET!, watched the new Any Baby Can video produced by Atherton Pictures, and savored down home cookin' from Cojo Unlimited Catering. Rockin' Roundup would not have been possible without the outstanding event committee and sponsors, listed below. Any Baby Can extends sincere thanks to all involved in making Rockin' Roundup a huge success!

Platinum Posse

Silver Spur

Bronze Buckles

Hal and Betty Meyer
Jane Sarosdy

Trail Bosses

Andrews Kurth, LLP

Jim and Ellen Balthazar
Rich and Sally Beggs
Julie Clark

Doug and Sheila Dierking
Eddie and Susan Dixon

Joe Howard and Marian Dozier

Bill Ferrell
Freescale

Guaranty Insurance
Christopher Kennedy

Lou and Patsy McCreary

David McDaniel

Jim and Nancy Marroquin
Nyle and Nancy Maxwell

Maxwell, Locke & Ritter

Mercury Mambo
Sri Valluru & Thomas and Amy Meredith

Erik Josowitz and Beth Myler

O'Keefe, Egan, Peterman & Enders, LLP
Paulos Foundation

Randalls

Joel and Laurel Reed

Mark and Gayle Rolland

David and Cyndee Rust

Glenn and Bettilynn Rust

‘Specially for Children

Steve and Ann Taylor

The Boon Group

Tilted Kilt

Treaty Oak Bank

Vinson & Elkins, LLP

Wachovia Securities

Women Partners in Health

Special Thanks

Brown Distributing
Coca-Cola
Wynne Entertainment

Rockin' Roundup 2008 Event Committee
David and Cyndee Rust (event chairs)
Marie Albino
Lynda Baker
Faith Cichon
Allison Daskam
Tracie Fitting
Megan Hartman
Theresa Jenkins
Emily Matthews
Beth Myler
Chris Peele
Gayle Rolland
Joni Stoughton
Meghan Wegleitner

Annual Jump for Down Syndrome

What: Two adults with DS will SKYDIVE in the 4^th Annual "Jump" for Down Syndrome

When:   Saturday, April 19, 2008, 11:00am - 2:00pm
Where: Skydive San Marcos
             Hwy 80 South, Fentress Airpark
             Fentress , TX 78622

Learning to Fly

In an unprecedent event, two adults with Down syndrome will take to the skies on Saturday, April 19th with 23 other jumpers for the 4th Annual Jump! for Down Syndrome, and make an exciting Tandem skydive from over 13,000 feet above the beautiful Texas countryside to raise money and awareness for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas (DSACT).

Casey Deegan, 32, and Kathy Kirkpatrick, 47, are shattering stereotypes about Down syndrome and defying any who would place limitations on what they are - or aren't - able to do.

Kathy's parents Janet and George, say that skydiving is nothing out of the ordinary for their courageous daughter, who has already overcome much in her life.   "We've always been proud of Kathy," George said. Some of Kathy's other accomplishments include graduation from Lee High School in Midland, Texas and winning two gold meals and one silver in swimming at the 1983 Special Olympics.

This marks Casey's fourth tandem skydive.   "If he wants to jump out of a plane, who am I to tell him no?" explains his father Mike Deegan. In the face of many questions, "What if he breaks his leg? What if he hurts himself?,"  Mike has only one response, ""What if he has the time of his life?"

"I love my son and I don't want anything bad to ever happen to him, but not to the point where nothing good ever happens to him either. I don't look at Casey first with DS. I look at Casey as an individual first and the disability second," Mike asserts.

Cheering them on below will be friends and family, the community and fellow DSACT supporters.

Each volunteer will participate in a tandem parachute jump with the goal of raising more than $10,000 for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas. This event raises public awareness about Down syndrome and funds to expand existing programs and initiate new ones for DSACT members. DSACT has dance and music programs, cooking, sign language, swim programs for all ages of individuals with Down syndrome.

ALL are welcome to come witness this amazing event.

About DSACT
DSACT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide education, support, and resources to individuals with Down syndrome, their families, professionals, and the community while building public awareness and acceptance of the abilities of individuals with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder characterized by the presence of an extra #21 chromosome; it is one of the most often-observed chromosome anomalies. Down syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 733 live births and affects all ages, races, ethnicities, and economic groups equally. Down syndrome affects more than 350,000 people in the United States alone. Recent advances in our understanding of Down syndrome have resulted in dramatic improvements in the life span and potential for those who are affected. To learn more about Down syndrome and DSACT, visit www.dsact.com.

2010 Candlelighters Tennis Tournament

Been honing your serve all year? Got a dusty racket in the garage? Perfect! The Candlelighters Tennis Tournament is a great place for tennis pros and novices alike to enjoy a fun-filled day that benefits the Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program.

The tournament will be held April 16, 2010, at the Courtyard Tennis Club with a round robin tournament at 2:00pm (registration at 1:00) and a dinner, awards ceremony and silent auction from 5:00 to 7:00pm. Sponsor the event or buy tickets today! For more information, please contact Christi Van Rite at 512-334-4452 or ChristiV@abcaus.org.

Jeff Bailey, who lost his life to cancer, had a special empathy for children with the disease. Following his diagnosis, Jeff became a strong supporter of the Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program. In his memory, Jeff’s professional and tennis friends hold the annual tournament to benefit Candlelighters.

The Candlelighters Tennis Tournament is a service project of NAIFA-Austin and the Austin Association of Health Underwriters (AAHU.) NAIFA and AAHU provide leadership in sustaining and improving the business environment and professional skills for those in the life insurance, health insurance and financial services professions. Providing an outlet for community services is one of the many ways these groups work to help their members.

Tickets Sponsorships Registration Form Silent Auction Donation Form

Austin Businesses "Give Kids a Running Start"

This Sunday, runners from Central Texas and around the world gathered in Austin for the 3M Half Marathon & Relay, benefiting Any Baby Can. Along the way, water stops were stationed to support runners in their effort, and the sponsors of these stops provided much more than water. Arriving at the break of dawn, water stop sponsor volunteers enthusiastically cheered race participants and showed their support for Any Baby Can's mission: to ensure all children reach their potential through education, therapy and family support services.

Any Baby Can extends sincere thanks to 2008 3M Half Marathon water stop sponsors:

3M Half Marathon "Gives Kids a Running Start"

NEW! Register for the 2011 3M Half Marathon & Relay!

Give Kids a Running Start: Support the 2009 3M Half Marathon!

Sunday, January 24th marks the 16th annual 3M Half Marathon, and the race will "Give Kids a Running Start" by benefiting Any Baby Can. The half marathon is Austin's third largest distance road racing event and the course starts at Stonelake Blvd. and ends at Waterloo Park. More than 5,000 people are expected to compete across three events: the half marathon, half marathon relay, and the wheelchair division. While the majority of runners are Austinites, there are competitors that come from across the United States and around the world to compete! As the race beneficiary, Any Baby Can receives more than $30,000 in proceeds, which helps support the agency's mission: to ensure all children reach their potential through education, therapy and family support services.

Show your support for Any Baby Can and the 3M Half Marathon by signing up for the race, cheering runners throughout the course, or joining the fun at the finish line to celebrate! For details or questions, contact Christi Van Rite at ChristiV@abcaus.org or 512-334-4452.

Poverty Awareness Month-Take Action!

January is Poverty Awareness Month

What if you didn't have enough food to eat? What if you didn't have a warm place to sleep or you didn't feel safe in your home? And...what if you were 3 years old?

More than 40,000 children in Travis County live in poverty (CPPP). Among other staggering statistics in The State of Texas Children 2007, the report shows that child poverty in Texas is up for the fifth straight year.

Stay informed about what poverty means to the children in our community and learn what you can do to help. Sign up to receive weekly Poverty Awareness Month emails throughout January and visit the Basic Needs Coalition and Any Baby Can websites to find out what's being done in Central Texas to change the reality of poverty.

Just released! The 2008 Basic Needs Coalition Poverty Fact Sheet

Make a difference for children living in poverty. Take action today!

Any Baby Can Holiday Schedule

The Any Baby Can office will be closed December 25th through January 1st for the holidays.

If you would like to make a donation to Any Baby Can during the holiday break, there are several options.

You can use our convenient, online donation form.
You may also send a check payable to Any Baby Can. Our address is 1121 E. 7th St. Austin, Texas, 78702. All checks post marked before December 31 will be recognized in the 2007 calendar year for tax purposes.
If you would like to make a gift by phone with your credit card, have questions about Season for Caring, or if you have any other questions, please call our offices at 512-454-3743 and use prompt #5 to leave a message with your name and phone number. Messages will be checked daily and promptly returned.

All parenting education and family literacy classes will resume according to their regular weekly schedules beginning Tuesday, January 2, 2008. Childbirth education classes, in English and Spanish, will resume during the week of January 7.

Thank you and have a wonderful holiday.

Season for Caring 2007: Niesha Griffin

Each year, the Austin American Statesman Season for Caring Campaign highlights local families in need and the area non-profits that serve them. Community donations that result from the campaign will help fulfill families' wish list and go beyond to help more of our neighbors in need. For more information or to make a donation, please visit the Season for Caring website or contact Any Baby Can Communications Manager Allison Daskam at allisond@abcaus.org or 512-334-4426.

Any Baby Can Season for Caring Family: Niesha Griffin and son, Avery
Niesha’s strength and resilience were called upon long before her son, Avery, was born. Pregnant with twins, Niesha was ecstatic to learn that she would have a boy and a girl, but when a cervical stitch (cerclage) punctured the amniotic sac of the little girl, she was delivered at 20 weeks gestation, but unable to survive. Avery followed, prematurely, at 23 weeks and was born with Cerebral Palsy and PBD lung disease. The first eight months of Avery’s life were spent in the NICU, where Niesha often slept in her car in the hospital’s parking lot, so she would be only moments away from her fragile newborn.

Filling Niesha’s wishes would make an immediate impact on her life and that of Avery’s. Having the funds to return to school would open the door of possibility for Niesha, enabling her to work professionally and provide for her family. The simple gift of a rocking chair would allow this caring mother the luxury of rocking her fragile baby to sleep. Reliable transportation and a furnished home would take away some financial stress and allow Niesha to focus on the priorities of her baby, school and a job. Establishing this foundation of support would set Niesha up for success, giving her and Avery the boost they need to make it through a very difficult beginning.

Niesha’s Wish List:
-Tuition for remaining college classes (7 hours)
-Books and supplies for classes
-Specialized nursing care for Avery, $360-$480 per week ($24 per hour: 15 hours per week for classes, on campus study time, drive time to and from class/then 20 hours per week for a part time job)
-Car repairs to fix an oil leak and brakes
-Year supply of diapers
-New medical supplies: hand sanitizer, rubber gloves, cotton swabs
-Grocery cards
-Gas cards
-Laundry service (There are no washer/dryer connections in apartment. It’s a taxing errand to leave for laundry.)
-Clothing for now and future: sizes 12 mos, 18 and 24 (needs ability to layer, no overalls, two piece or onsies best)
-Developmental toys age 6 mos+

Make a Difference This Holiday Season

For 25 years, Any Baby Can has reached out to those in greatest need, creating new possibilities where few existed before. Each year, Any Baby Can offers compassionate, professional care to more than 5,000 of our community’s youngest, sickest and poorest children and their families. But we cannot do this work without you. Your participation is a key to our success! As the demand for our life-altering programs continues to rise, community support has never been more important. There are many ways to support Any Baby Can this holiday season and all year round. Thank you for caring for our community’s children. Donate Online Today.

Home for the Holidays Campaign
For most of us, the holiday season is about joy, celebration and those wonderful, cherished moments spent at home with loved ones and friends. But for our families, the holidays offer no respite from their day-to-day challenges.

Many will find themselves spending the holidays in the hospital with a medically fragile child born prematurely. Others must cope with the first holiday season after losing a child to cancer. And still many others struggle to put food on the table or keep the electricity on in their homes. That’s in addition to the parents who work to provide a safe, nurturing home for their children but desperately need guidance along the way. This holiday season, our efforts to reach out to families in crisis with our critical in-home therapy and family support services have never been more important – or more needed. And because there’s so much work to be done, we’re relying on your help.

Thank you for considering a gift to Any Baby Can’s Home for the Holidays Campaign. Your gift will help ensure that we will be there for those in greatest need during the holidays – and throughout the year.

Special Note: During 2006 and 2007, the Charitable IRA Rollover permits taxpayers age 70½ and older to make tax-free charitable gifts totaling up to $100,000 per year from traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) and Roth IRAs. All gifts must be made by December 31, 2007. View the comprehensive Fact Sheet and a Sample Letter to your plan administrator.

Candlelight Campaign: Light a Candle for Hope
December 10-31, purchase a candle scan card at the checkout of any Austin area Randalls supermarket. Your support will benefit the Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program, which provides children with cancer and their families with specialized advocacy, medical case management, crisis intervention, support groups, family and individual counseling. The Candlelight Campaign is a partnership of Any Baby Can, Randalls, KVUE and The River 102.3.

Season for Caring
Each year, the Austin American Statesman’s Season for Caring Campaign highlights 12 local families in need and the area non-profits who work with them. Community support that results from the campaign provides families with items from their wish list, plus financial contributions to the family’s non-profit. Last year, Any Baby Can received $45,000 from the campaign; the money is used throughout the year to support clients whose situations are similar to families in the campaign. Make a gift to the Season for Caring Campaign.

Angel Society

The Angel Society is a special group of friends who watch over Any Baby Can. Financial commitments from the Angel Society help Any Baby Can to plan and increase our ability to serve our community's youngest, sickest and poorest children. Society membership includes those caring and generous individuals who have committed major gifts over several years, understanding that such solid support forms the strong underpinnings of Any Baby Can support we can count on year after year. Angels receive priority seating at all Any Baby Can events, recognition as members in ABC printed materials, newsletter and website, and exclusive Members Only events each year during which noted speakers address the group about issues important to our cause.

For more information on the Any Baby Can Angel Society, contact Marie Albino, Director of Development and Communications, at 512-334-4447 or MarieA@abcaus.org.

Angel Society Levels:

    * Platinum Halo: $25,000 per year for 3 years or more
    * Gold Wing: $10,000 per year for 3 years or more
    * Silver Bell: $5,000 per year for 3 years or more
    * Bronze Guardian Angel: $2,500 per year for 3 years or more
    * Cherub: $100 Per Month

ABC Toy Drive
Make the holidays brighter for a child in need! Donate a new, unwrapped toy or a portable CD player to the ABC Toy Drive and gifts will be distributed at the agency's Annual Holiday Party. For many ABC families, holiday toys are simply not affordable, and your generous gift will bring a smile to the face of a precious child. Portable CD players are given to children in the ABC Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program, who spend long days in the hospital. For details, please contact Amy Rames at AmyR@abcaus.org or 334-4452.

Any Baby Can Wish List for the Holiday Season and All Year
Any Baby Can accepts donations of new or gently used items for children and families, plus office items, at our location in East Austin, 1121 E. 7th, St. Austin, TX 78702. According to law, we cannot accept used car seats or stuffed animals. While all in-kind donations are appreciated, below is a list of items that are especially useful.

Items for children and families:
New strollers and car seats
Gently used cribs and mattresses
Highchairs
Layette items
Maternity clothes
Used vehicle for family to make clinic visits
Grocery/gas gift cards
Reference materials for counseling program (English/Spanish)
New or gently used children’s books (English/Spanish)

Sponsors for:
Outreach materials
Display boards
Staff/client logo T-shirts

Art & craft supplies for preschool projects:
Construction paper
Safety scissors
Large crayons
Bubble solution

Volunteer/Professional Services:
Spanish language translation
Data entry
Printing

Office Needs:
Stacking office chairs for library
30 cup commercial coffee maker

The clients of Any Baby Can could benefit from the donation of your unwanted vehicle. Vehicles may be donated free of charge and free of hassle by visiting Charitable Auto Recycling, filling out the form and clicking on the button that designates Any Baby Can / Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation as the recipient of proceeds. C.A.R. will retrieve you car no matter its condition.

Leaving a Gift for the Future of our Youngest Children
Your gift will help ensure that the youngest, sickest, and poorest children in our community have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Your gift can be used in its entirety to support services upon receipt or it can be endowed in your name with the principal amount protected in perpetuity. You can make a gift to Any Baby Can’s Endowment Fund, administered by the Austin Community Foundation. If you would like to discuss your gift personally, or would like more information, contact Marie Albino, Director of Development and Communications at 512.334.4447, mariea@abcaus.org. Mailing address: 1121 East 7th St., Austin, TX 78702. Estate gifts offer excellent tax benefits to benefactors:

Bequests: Name Any Baby Can as a beneficiary in a new or revised will—or add a codicil to an existing will.
Charitable remainder trust: Benefits you today and ensures vital children's services in the future.
Charitable lead trust: An irrevocable trust that pays income to Any Baby Can for a period, then may transfer assets to heirs.
A life estate: A gift of home or land may allow you to retain use during your life.
Life insurance: Make Any Baby Can a beneficiary.
Retirement plans: Make Any Baby Can a beneficiary.

General Information about Planned Giving
To include Any Baby Can in your will, your attorney will ask for the following information:
Legal name: Any Baby Can of Austin, Inc., Federal Tax ID 74-2684335, 1121 East 7th St., Austin TX 78702, exempted from federal income tax under the provisions of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Ruth Wells Named ESL Teacher of the Year

Ruth Wells (pictured left) has dedicated 25 years of service to the Any Baby Can Family Literacy Program. Her first two years with the agency (then called CEDEN Family Resource Center) were as a volunteer, and the remainder of her tenure has been spent teaching English as a Second Language. Ruth's passion for learning combined with her engaging teaching style takes her classes beyond literacy. Ruth's guidance creates a foundation of education that has lasting effects on families in Austin.

This October, Ruth Wells was named ESL Teacher of the Year by TEXTESOL (Texas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) for her "extraordinary work in family literacy which has caught the attention of colleagues and students alike." TEXTESOL adds that Ruth's "dedication to the field is to be admired."

Any Baby Can extends sincere gratitude to Ruth for her passionate dedication to children and families. Literacy in Austin would not be the same with her.

ABC Candlelighters Program Provides End of Life Care

The Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program provides comprehensive medical case management to children with cancer and their families. As reported this week on KVUE.com, the program's reach extends to end of life care and bereavement services. Candlelighters social workers trained in pediatric oncology provide a variety of services including counseling, support groups and funeral assistance to families who have lost a child to cancer. "Supporting families after the loss of a child is a crucial piece of comprehensive care," says Candlelighters Program Manager, Margaret McNeil, LCSW. "Families coping with childhood cancer need specialized advocacy and Candlelighters is here to support those families in every way possible, including end of life care."

You can make a difference to children with cancer and their families. To support the Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program, please contact Tracie Fitting, Donor Relations Coordinator, at 512-334-4432 or TracieF@abcaus.org

Council Member Mike Martinez Leads ABC Literacy Class

Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez knows Texas. His abuelito moved here in 1910, speaking only Spanish, so it's no wonder Mr. Martinez understands the importance of bilingual education. This Friday, Mr. Martinez made a special stop at Any Baby Can to read "The Little Red Hen," in Spanish and in English, to ABC Family Literacy Classes. After the story, he told his family's history, emphasizing that he understands how his decisions at City Council affect each and every citizen. Any Baby Can extends sincere thanks to Mr. Martinez, pictured left with Family Literacy Teacher Ruth Wells and Executive Director Ellen Balthazar.

Harvest Classic Rides Again

This fall, the city of Luckenbach, Texas will hum with the sound of motorcycles...again. On October 19th and 20th, The 5th Annual Harvest Classic Motorcycle Rally will take place to benefit the Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program. The rally boasts a bike show with vintage and European motorcycles (scooters are welcome), camping, a 100cc fun run, Texas style barbeque and an impressive silent auction.

Last year, Harvest Classic raised nearly $25,000 to benefit Candlelighters. The support helped Candlelighters continue to provide specialized advocacy, medical case management, crisis intervention, support groups, family and individual counseling and bereavement services to families of children with cancer.

You can make a difference in the life of a child by supporting Harvest Classic 2007. Sponsor the rally or head to Luckenbach on October 19th or 20th. For more information, contact Harvest Classic at info@harvestclassic.org or Amy Rames, Any Baby Can Special Events Coordinator, at amyr@abcaus.org.

"Mom's Night Out"

This September, 32 moms gathered at the Embassy Suites Downtown for a night of relaxation and pampering at "Mom's Night Out." Each mother has a child with cancer or another chronic illness and receives services from the Any Baby Can CARE or Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program. Moms received massages, makeovers, hairstyling and manicures, while their children were right next door, in the hands of caring Austin Junior Forum volunteers. The evening was a chance for moms to get some deserved R&R, while bonding with other women who are also coping with the challenges of childhood illness.

Special thanks to all Mom's Night Out Sponsors:

Venue
Embassy Suites Downtown

Childcare
Austin Junior Forum

Hairstyling, The Salon at Saks Fifth Ave.
Aanold Fuentes
Amanda Farley
Danielle Barr
Mieko Teagle

Makeovers, Mary Kay Consultants
Brandi Smith
Emily Turner
Regan Danforth

Manicures
Courtney Hughes
Sarah Fox
Stephanie Cope
Storme Farris

Massages, Milk + Honey Spa
Bonnie Boren
Maureen Grady
Summer Langhorne
Terri Thomas

Donation of Gift Certificates or Products:
Avant Salon & Spa
Avenue Five Institute
BodyMechanic
Chuy's Comida Deluxe
Embassy Suites Downtown
Fleming's
Jackson-Ruiz Salon
Mary Kay - Molly Guentzal
Mary Kay - Regan Danforth
Moonshine Bar & Grill
The Belmont
The County Line BBQ
The Maids Home Services

Preschoolers with hearing impairments get help from 'buddies'

Teacher says children learn from their peers.

By Laura Heinauer
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, September 28, 2007

It's homework journal time in Room 204 at Brentwood Elementary School, and 3-year-old Martin Velez is excitedly telling his classmates about the picture he drew the night before.

But Martin's speech - he was born without ear canals and uses a bone-conducting hearing aid - can be difficult to understand.

Kase Blair, also 3, raises his hand.

"What shape is that?" Kase asks, pointing to the picture of abstract lines and shapes.

Martin carefully forms his words.

"Another circle," he says with a smile.

Although Kase doesn't realize it, as a "Brentwood Bulldog Buddy," the preschooler encourages Martin to speak, modeling the proper pronunciation of those tricky "S" words that can be so hard to say.

In the buddy program, 3- and 4-year-olds with impaired hearing are matched with hearing preschoolers for about three hours a day.

It is one of many programs in Central Texas schools that help students with hearing impairments prepare to enroll in mainstream classrooms.

Students with hearing disabilities can go to the Texas School for the Deaf on South Congress Avenue in Austin, but some families choose to place their child in traditional public classroom settings.

Brentwood's regional day school program for the deaf, which accepts children as young as 2 with impaired hearing, is free, thanks to federal grants and local money.

"It has made such a big difference," said Martin's mother, Melissa Velez. "He wasn't speaking, other than just baby talk. ... Now, he's using words all on his own, just in these first few weeks of school."

The Del Valle and San Marcos school districts have similar programs.

In San Marcos, teachers are experimenting by giving iPods to some of their students with hearing impairments. Depending on their hearing abilities, students either can turn up the volume to a level where they can hear lessons or they can access databases created by their teachers to help them learn sign language.

Brentwood special education teacher Kay Suttle said the key to the buddy program is to keep classes small. For every five children with hearing impairments, there are two buddies and two teachers. The teachers often use microphones in their classrooms or outfit students with FM receivers that amplify voices.

The buddies, who are chosen based on their enunciation skills, vocabulary and behavior, attend school every day and are expected to stick with the program for the entire school year.

"A teacher can try to give instruction on things like coloring, but (students with hearing impairments) hear it differently when it comes from their peers," Suttle said. "We realized that at age 3, they really were ready for more interaction with other kids their age."

The experience is also valuable for the buddies, who learn school rules and how to help friends.

"I think he thinks he's just playing," said Kase's mom, Kathy Blair. "But I know he's learning stuff and helping them, which is really great."

lheinauer@statesman.com; 445-3694

The Dream Mile 5K/10K

The Dream Mile 5K/10K
Benefiting Any Baby Can

WHEN: October 7th , 2007
WHERE: East Mall, University of Texas at Austin
START TIMES: 10K at 8:00 A.M. , 5K at 8:15 A.M.
REGISTRATION FEES:
10K : $20 (General), $15 (Students)
5K : $15 (General), $10 (Students)
Children under 15 are free
Event day registration is $5 extra
Professional chip timing is $5 extra (available only to pre-event day registrants)
Phone: 512-466-6833
Email: austin@dreammile.org
Website: http://www.dreammile.org/austin

View flyer for complete race details

In Central Texas, Services for Parents of Preemies are Scarce

In Central Texas, Services for Parents of Preemies are Scarce
'There's clearly a desperate need for this.'

By Andrea Ball
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, September 09, 2007

Central Texas parents traumatized by premature birth have few places to turn when they need it the most: after their babies come home. Parents of premature infants often struggle with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, researchers have found.

When infants are in the hospital, parents have access to a built-in support system: doctors, nurses and social workers. But that all disappears when families go home.

Local nonprofits do what they can to fill the gap, but resources are limited and none have programs catering specifically to parents of premature babies. Any Baby Can, for example, can afford to provide counseling for less than a dozen preemie parents.

"There's clearly a desperate need for this," said Ellen Balthazar, Any Baby Can's executive director. "These families are at risk for other problems if they don't take care of their mental health issues."

Only a few nonprofits across the country serve preemie families. The Tiny Miracles Foundation in Connecticut, for example, offers parent mentors and support groups. In Springfield, Va., Preemies Today hosts playgroups and provides meals, care packages and online support.

When Preemies Today was founded in 2003, by the mother of a preterm infant, the nonprofit served 22 families. Today it helps 350, and the number is growing, President Mary Beth Hazelgrove said.

"Parents are just craving for this interaction with people who share this experience," she said.

Many parents are turning to the Internet for support. Some sites, like the March of Dimes-sponsored www.shareyourstory.org serve as a venue for parents to connect with and comfort each other. Others such as www.thepreemieexperiment.blogspot.com take on edgier subjects such as the ethical debate over resuscitating very young babies.

But what parents really need are services that come into their homes, Balthazar said.

"The people who need the help the most can't possibly organize themselves to find and go to the class," she said. "That's why home-based services are so critical."

aball@statesman.com; 912-2506

Read Andrea's full report: Tiny Babies, Fragile Families

For more information on premature births, resources for parents of preemies, or the Any Baby Can Early Childhood Intervention Program, please contact Alexandra Alfau at AlexA@abcaus.org or 512-334-4417.

Any Baby Can Welcomes New Board Members

Any Baby Can is proud to announce four new members to serve on our Board of Directors. It is through the support and guidance of the Board that ABC is able to access valuable resources and provide superior services to children and families. The Any Baby Can family welcomes this group of community leaders with sincere appreciation.

Rich Beggs

SAP Consulting

National Director, State & Local Government and Higher Education

Lisa Hooker Cava

Humana

Marketing Consultant

Jim Floyd

ABC Bank

Vice President

Leslie Walters

Office of the Vice Provost of Health Affairs

The University of Texas at Austin & University of Texas Medical Branch

MD/PhD Program Administrator

With NVIDIA, Back to School is a Blast

NVIDIA doesn't just hope that Austin kids are prepared for school: they make it happen. This August, NVIDIA employees raised money to purchase more than 250 back packs, complete with school supplies, for ABC client children. Sri Valluru, an ABC board member and NVIDIA employee, headed up the project. Sri is pictured left with Ruth Wells, ABC Family Literacy teacher.

So, what do new back packs mean? To a family living in poverty, quite a bit; 80% of Any Baby Can clients live below 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Level guidelines. That means a family of 4 gets by on less than $30,000 a year, and chances are, a new back pack and school supplies would be out of reach.

Any Baby Can sincerely thanks NVIDIA for putting Austin school children at the top of their list. By making education a priority, NVIDIA is serving our community for years to come.

Children Win! Chip Passes!

Friends of Texas Children,

Thank you! In a big win for Texas children, last night the United States Senate voted to renew the State Children's Health Insurance Program by a decisive vote of 68 to 31!
Although the Senate only authorized $35 billion dollars over 5 years in additional funding compared to the House version with $75 billion, the bi-partisan support in both chambers will go a long way in reducing the number of uninsured Texas children. We hope that the support of over two-thirds of the Senate will show President Bush how important access to health coverage for all Americans.

We appreciate the support you have putting behind this issue and know that it has been the grassroots support here in Texas that has influenced this vote in Washington. Over two-thirds of the Senate demonstrated that the health of America's children is not a Republican or Democratic issue, but an issue that unites the majority of the American people. Our own Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson supported the reauthorization of SCHIP. Please call her at 202-224-5922 or 1-800-828-0498 and thank her for her vote.

Unfortunately, Senator John Cornyn did not vote in favor of Texas children and Texas taxpayers. Please call him at 202-224-2934 or 1-800-828-0498 and express your disappointment in his vote.

We believe that there could be enough Congressional support to overturn veto by President Bush. Please call your Representative at 1-800-828-0498 and tell them, depending on their vote, how thankful or disappointed you are for their actions on behalf of children. You can find your U.S. Representative at http://www.house.gov/writerep/ Let's make sure we show Congress that access to affordable healthcare for Texas families is important to Texas voters.

Sincerely, Texans Care For Children

Did the 80th Texas Legislature Invest in Children?

2008-2009 Texas Budget: Did the 80th Texas Legislature Invest in Children?
With surplus revenue and a strong economy, the 80th Legislature had many opportunities to use the state’s resources to support children. In this publication, Texans Care For Children examines funding in the 2008-09 budget for essential programs that assist children and their families.

Save the Date: Children’s Health Discovery Day

Mark your calendar! The Austin Children's Museum, Insure-a-kid and FOX 7 are proud to present Children’s Health Discovery Day August 24th. This educational experience is done right-kid style. Any Baby Can will join other area experts to present information on nutrition, safety, wellness and health conditions. The event is free and open to the public, so bring the whole family!

Children’s Health Discovery Day
Austin Children's Museum
201 Colorado Street
August 24, 2007
3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

For questions, call the Austin Children's Museum at 512-472-2499.

Fewer Texas kids dropping out

Fewer Texas kids dropping out
But new report shows state teen birth rate, infant mortality remain high

By Jason Embry
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Texas teenagers are increasingly staying in school or working, but teen girls here are still more likely than those in other states to have children, according to a national report being released today.

The Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation also says the state's child poverty and infant mortality rates increased during the first half of the decade, and more children are living in single-parent families or families with no parent who is employed full time.

The Texas teen birth rate — 63 births per 1,000 females ages 15-19 — decreased 9 percent between 2000 and 2004 but remained the highest in the country.

Frances Deviney of the Center for Public Policy Priorities, which supports more spending on programs to help low-income Texans, said one reason for the high rate in Texas is that Hispanics, who make up about 35 percent of the state population, tend to have more teen mothers than other groups.

"Although Texas' teen birth rate has gone down in recent years, we obviously need to do much more," Deviney said. "If the University of Texas football team were at the bottom or near the bottom of the national rankings every year, there would be a public outcry."

She said that the falling number of high school dropouts reflects a focus on the issue by the state and by local groups and that Texas needs to put a similar focus on infant mortality and other problems.

"Most of the research shows that the infant mortality rate is linked to positive prenatal care and follow-up with the mother and child during that year postpartum, making sure they get proper medical care, proper nutrition and the support that parents need when they're going through a major life change such as having a baby for the first time," Deviney said.

The report also says 20 percent of Texas children were without health insurance in 2004, compared with a national rate of 11 percent. The Texas rate is the highest in the country.

Mary Katherine Stout of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which pushes for less government spending, said she is skeptical about counting the uninsured because people go on and off public and private insurance rolls.

The number of children without insurance — 1.29 million in 2004, according to the Casey Foundation — was often cited as lawmakers debated this year whether to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program, which they ultimately did. But Stout said the way to make a dent in the number is through private programs.

"We need to look for ways to reduce government's involvement in this and bring in the free market ideas that promote competition, lower costs and better quality," Stout said.

jembry@statesman.com

SafeParenting Grant Awarded to Any Baby Can & SafePlace Austin

Any Baby Can and SafePlace Austin are proud to announce a $25,000 City of Austin grant to establish the SafeParenting Program. This collaborative effort combines decades of experience and shared commitment for strengthening families and preventing child abuse and neglect. SafeParenting classes begin this September and will provide intensive, interactive parenting education and parenting support for parents and persons in parental roles who wish to improve the effectiveness of their parenting techniques and relationships with their children ages birth to 12.

Any Baby Can has served Austin/Travis County and its surrounding communities for more than 28 years as a premiere, comprehensive family service organization focusing on family strengthening, education and care.
SafePlace, Austin is a Texas-based non-profit organization with a 32-year history of serving survivors of rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence, focused on strengthening families to prevent child abuse, family violence, school-related problems, and delinquency/criminal behavior.

SafeParenting classes are designed to increase knowledge about interpersonal violence, promote safe and healthy relationships, as well as safe and effective parenting skills. Each weekly group session is co-facilitated by Any Baby Can and SafePlace staff and classes, curriculum and handouts will be in both English and Spanish.

St. David's Dental Van Visits ABC!

Thanks to the generous support of the St. David's Community Health Foundation Dental Program, Any Baby Can families will have brighter smiles this summer! July 30 through August 3, the St. David's Dental Van will be stationed at Any Baby Can and will provide free dental care for more than 70 ABC children and parents. Any Baby Can will arrange free childcare and transportation for families receiving services. Parents and children will have the opportunity to receive an array of services including cleanings, emergency care, fillings and root canals.

The St. David’s Dental Program began in 1998 as a collaborative effort among several community partners in the Austin area who were interested in providing dental screenings and dental care to school-age children and disadvantaged populations who are uninsured. It has grown to three mobile dental clinics that travel to schools during the academic year and various healthcare and social service agencies in the summer and on school holidays. Although the program primarily serves children during the school year, it also serve adults. The St. David’s Dental Program provides all services free of charge.

St. David’s Community Health Foundation Grants More Than $1.3 Million For Central Texans' Mental Health

AUSTIN (June 26, 2007) — St. David’s Community Health Foundation announced today that they are awarding more than $1.3 million in grants to 17 Central Texas non-profits that provide mental health services for Central Texans.

“A significant part of the mission of St. David’s Community Health Foundation is to fund organizations that provide health care services to the uninsured and underinsured in our community,” said Dick Moeller, president and CEO of the foundation. “Integrating mental and physical health is key to the general well-being of everyone in our community, and as such is one of the Foundation’s top priorities.”

Last year, recognizing the importance of mental health, the foundation instituted a special grant cycle for mental health services and granted 16 awards totaling almost $850,000. This year’s increase shows the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting mental health service providers.

Area non-profit organizations receiving mental health services funding are Any Baby Can, Austin Child Guidance Center, Austin Recovery, Breakthrough, Capital Area Mental Health Center, Communities In Schools, Family Crisis Center, FamilyConnections, Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, the Interagency Support Council of East Williamson County, Leander ISD, Lone Star Circle of Care, People’s Community Clinic, SafePlace, Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care, the SIMS Foundation, and Waterloo Counseling.

Grant awards announced today will continue to support mental health programs in the St. David’s Community Health Foundation’s priority areas for mental health care. Several grantees, like first-time grant recipient Interagency Support Council, will be providing school-based mental health services. Others, such as Lone Star Circle of Care and People’s Community Clinic, provide integrated mental and physical healthcare in the clinic setting, and several others, like the SIMS Foundation and Austin Child Guidance Center, provide community-based evaluation and treatment services. All told, services provided by Foundation-supported dollars will reach more than 8,000 Central Texans.

“Mental health needs continue to grow in Central Texas, but evaluation and treatment services are often not available or affordable to those who need them,” said Becky Pastner, program officer for St. David’s Community Health Foundation. “By supporting the work of these 17 agencies in the Central Texas region, the Foundation is committed to increasing the availability of professional and affordable mental health services for children and adults in our community.”

St. David's Community Health Foundation awards grants twice a year. Mental health grants are announced in June, while physical health grants are announced in December.

St. David's Community Health Foundation is a not-for-profit partner in the St. David's HealthCare Partnership. The Foundation's mission is to improve access to and quality of health care for Central Texans. For more information, visit www.sdchf.org.

Texas Legislature Implements New CHIP Requirements

On September 1, 2007, important changes to Texas' CHIP program will be implemented as a result of House Bill 109, passed by the 80th Texas Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Perry. Changes include extending the enrollment period to 12 months and eliminating the 90-day waiting period for most children. Visit the Texas Health and Human Resources website to read the full report.

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy private insurance for their children. CHIP coverage provides eligible children with coverage for a full range of health services including regular checkups, immunizations, prescription drugs, lab tests, X-rays, hospital visits and more.

The 80th Texas Legislature also approved a $51 billion budget for the state’s five health and human services agencies for fiscal years 2008-2009, a 4.6 percent increase over current funding levels. Lawmakers enacted additional reforms for the state’s Child Protective Services program, provided direction for an ambitious package of Medicaid reforms to expand access to health coverage, and expanded funding for crisis mental health services.

Camp Grey Dove-Making Great Memories for Life

Have you ever been to camp? If you have, chances are you made great memories and Camp Grey Dove is a chance for ABC kids to do the same. This June, the Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program was excited to offer the 15th annual Camp Grey Dove, a unique camp designed specifically to address the needs of siblings of children with cancer. Thanks to continued funding from the Sequor Foundation and support from the Austin Junior Forum, 35 children were able to attend camp at Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children located in the Central Texas scenic Hill Country.

As you can imagine, these children are often overwhelmed with emotions of grief, sadness, anger, frustration, and most of all, fear. Camp Grey Dove is a place for them to blow off steam, laugh and have a good time, as well as talk about their feelings and fears with other campers and professional counselors who can relate to their struggles. Camp Grey Dove provides these children with a chance to express themselves in a safe environment, escape everyday stressors, relax, have fun, and build life-long friendships that will help carry them through the difficult times they are facing at home.

Report Reveals Wide State Variation in Teen Birth Rate

Washington, DC – Teens in some states are much more likely to have a baby than are teens in other states, according to the 2007 edition of Child Trends’ annual Facts At A Glance. A state-by-state ranking shows:

*Texas has the highest teen birth rate (63 births for every 1,000 female teens ages 15-19), followed closely by Mississippi, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Arizona.
*New Hampshire has the lowest teen birth rate (18 births for every 1,000 female teens), followed closely by Vermont and Massachusetts.
*States with the lowest teen birth rates are in the Northeast, while those with the highest rates are in the South and Southwest.

Read the comprehensive Facts at a Glance report.

The Economic Cost of Domestic Hunger

This report is the first analysis of the total cost burden of hunger in the United States-- what it costs the American public to tolerate hunger and food insecurity in our nation. Bipartisan efforts in the 1970s led to policies that resulted in significant reductions in hunger; however, since the 1980s hunger has not only became more severe but, according to an annual measure reported by the federal government, has remained at high levels for at least the past decade. Each year around 35 million Americans live in households that do not get enough to eat.

Read The Economic Cost of Domestic Hunger to learn the cost we pay for poverty.

First Book, Random House, Inc. and HEB Collaborate to Keep Austin Kids Reading

Books stir the senses, inspire the imagination, and spark a love of reading that can last a lifetime. It's this philosophy that fuels First Book's mission of giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.

This June, First Book collaborated with Random House, Inc. and HEB to donate nearly 4,000 new children's books to Any Baby Can. The donation of both soft and hard cover books will serve Any Baby Can families with children from infancy through high school. In addition to Any Baby Can, books will be distributed to families with low income through programs conducted by Communities in Schools, JJ Pickle Summer School, Kyle Family Learning Center, Family Connections, Capital Area Reach Out and Read, Heart House, Hayes County Head Start, Tiny Feet Daycare, Becker Bobcat Den Daycare, East Austin WIC Clinic, Montopolis WIC Clinic, Rosewood Oaks Primary School, and Austin Partners in Education. Any Baby Can sincerely thanks First Book, Random House Inc. and HEB for this generous donation.

Sign the Petition to Support Drug Development for Children with Cancer

You can affect the research and development of new targeted drugs for our nation’s children with cancer.
Sign the Petition to support the “Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act of 2007"

As we know only too well, children with cancer continue to be treated primarily with drugs that were developed 20-30 years ago. Scientifically, researchers have reached an era where new types of ‘smart drug’s can be developed to treat cancer at a genetic level. These new types of cancer treatments have started to be developed for adult cancers and have showed great promise for cure. Children with cancer need these types of new drugs to give them HOPE for a complete cure.

Current debates in both the House and Senate could eliminate such future development of targeted drugs for children with cancer and other rare diseases. In order to protect biotech development of such essential biologic products, Candlelighters will continue to receive support of families, friends, and co-workers through the signing of the following petition located at: www.candlelighters.org/petition.stm --2,611 people have signed the petition in the last 10 days!!

A Petition to Congress to Preserve Innovation and Support H.R. 1956, the “Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act of 2007"
Because the survival rate of childhood cancer has not changed in the last decade.
Because treatment for children with cancer has not changed significantly in recent years and we are eagerly awaiting a major breakthrough.
Because current toxic therapies are not a solution for children with cancer as they cause lifelong health problems including second cancers.
Because biologic products are among the most promising and effective medicines for the treatment of serious and life-threatening diseases, like childhood cancer.
Because it is vital that we spur innovation for pharmaceutical companies to invest in the development of these life-saving drugs.

As supporters of the development of new targeted therapies for children and adolescents with cancer, we petition Congress to support H.R. 1956, the “Patient Protection and Innovative Biologic Medicines Act of 2007;” legislation that creates a pathway for “follow-on” biologics but establishes an appropriate balance between reducing cost, ensuring safety and providing incentives for innovation.

Thank you for your support!

Agency Closed on 4th of July

Any Baby Can offices will be closed on the 4th of July and at 3:00pm on the 3rd of July to honor our nation's holiday. Literacy, parenting and childbirth classes will not be held during the closure, but will resume the normal schedule on July 5th. For questions, please call 454-3743.

In Loving Memory of Sean Mack

In Loving Memory of Sean Mack

June 18, 1990 - June 12, 2007

It is with love and honor that Any Baby Can remembers Sean's beautiful smile, his playful spirit and his passion for life. He is an inspiration and a candle in the darkness.

Jeff Bailey Memorial Tennis Tournament-EVENT UPDATE

The 11th Annual Jeff Bailey Memorial Tennis Tournament was the most successful yet, raising $26,866! Event proceeds benefit the Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program and will help serve children with cancer and their families. View pictures from the event here. Any Baby Can extends heartfelt thanks to NAIFA-Austin, the Austin Association of Health Underwriters (AAHU), the tournament committee and the following sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor ($5,000)
UnitedHealthcare-Central Texas & AAHU

Championship Sponsor ($2,500)
The Summit Agency/Kathy Bailey

Tournament Sponsor ($1,250)
McQueary, Henry, Bowles, Troy, LLP
Humana
Charles H. Savournin
First Texas Honda
Al & Sue DiCristofaro
Hal & Betty Meyer
Matthews Financial Services
Club Sponsor ($500)
Friends Celebrating Kathy's Birthday
Great-West Healthcare
Piper Graham

Court Sponsor ($250)
Ideal Mechanical
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Mutual of Omaha
Eddie and Susan Dixon
Dennis Bailey & Elfriede O'Sullivan
Westlake Mail & Boxes
Strawn & Worth Assoc.
Scott & Martha Richardson
Raymond James Represented by David Corrie
Arnold & Associates
New England Financial
Foster Financial Group

Friends of Jeff (Donations up to $250)
Edward J. Burshnick
Kay Kooker
Bruce Garrison
Kevin Lange
James Josey
Joe Black
Gary Rodgers
Shannon Scott
Paul Allin
Paul & Jacquie Pinholster
Cath Polito
Howard Phillips
Annette Hoffman
Elfriede O'Sullivan
Resource Financial Group
Cecile & Steve Richardson
Arthur Cook

In Kind Donations
City Stamp & Seal
Humana
Austin American Statesman
Courtyard Tennis & Swim Club

A Supermoms Celebration: You're Invited!

You're invited to a supermoms celebration-a free event celebrating moms in Austin! Join us for free massages, free snacks, children's entertainment and prizes for everyone, plus free information on pregnancy and parenting. Children welcome.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007
11:30am to 1:30pm
Parque Zaragosa Recreation Center
2608 Gonzalez St.
Questions? Call 512-972-6209

Brought to you by The A/TC Health and Human Services Department's Family Health Program

Jennifer Wilks Foundation Golf Tournament

As a brave teenager with a contagious smile, it is easy to see how Jennifer Wilks was an inspiration to the family and community that provided love and support during her battle with cancer. Jennifer was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) on September 25, 2002. After three bone marrow transplants and more than 415 days in the hospital, Jennifer passed away on November 25, 2005.

The Jennifer Wilks Foundation was created to raise money for the charities that helped put a smile on Jennifer's face during her battle with AML. The 2nd annual Jennifer Wilks Golf Tournament was held this April and raised more than $20,054 to support Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Make-A-Wish, His Grace Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society. It is with sincere appreciation that Any Baby Can thanks the Wilks family and all supporters of this tournament. Your generosity will truly make a difference in the life of a child!

Shoes for Austin Sets Quick Pace for ABC Families

Tuesday and Thursday night parenting classes bring a packed house to Any Baby Can. As parents file in and choose their seat from neatly arranged rows, veteran teacher Denise Little prepares to motivate, empower and inspire. "Each of you is a parent leader. During this class, we will encourage you to move along your personal pathway to become proactive parents." Denise works with each student individually to establish goals and objectives that lead to improved parenting skills.

As parents learn about a varitey of topics, including communication techniques, stress management and proper nutrition, they are building a foundation for successful parenting. But this isn't their only reward. When a student completes the 6 week class and a successful post test, Shoes for Austin provides a free pair of new athletic shoes as an incentive. The Austin based non-profit has supported families since 2000, and this year, Any Baby Can is one of 38 agencies that will benefit from SFA's mission to motivate individuals participating in programs at human services agencies in the greater Austin area to acheive self-improvement goals by providing them with the incentive of new, brand-name athletic shoes.

Any Baby Can Takes Spelling Bee Victory

Winner. W-I-N-N-E-R. Winner.

The Any Baby Can spelling bee team, (pictured left: Margaret McNeil, Sandra Cavazos and Isabel Cobo) with the help of alternates Stacy Nakell and Traci Canales, studied long and hard for their chance to take home the crown, or in this case, the platter. Their efforts paid off when they reigned victorious in the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas' 4th Annual Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee for Literacy. The event helps the Coalition continue their important mission of supporting and expanding high-quality literacy services so that businesses can hire, people can work, and families can thrive. Congratulations to the Any Baby Can team!

House Approves Measure Intended to Insure More Children

By APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

AUSTIN — More children of the working poor in Texas would have access to the state's low-cost health insurance program under a measure tentatively approved in the House on Tuesday.

The proposal would dismantle several changes that the Legislature made in 2003, when the state faced a $10 billion budget shortfall and cut spending on state services like the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The House approved the measure by a 126-16 vote. The proposal is expected to get final approval in the House Wednesday. It next moves to the Senate, where observers believe it will have a tougher time emerging intact.

The proposal by Rep. Sylvester Turner, R-Houston, would let parents re-enroll in the program every year instead of every six months. The measure also would eliminate the 90-day waiting period unless the child had recently been covered in another insurance plan.

Officials estimate that more than 100,000 children would be added to CHIP, which is intended for children whose parents make too much money to qualify for Medicaid.

Turner's legislation also would allow parents to deduct child care costs from their annual incomes in determining qualification.

Proponents argued Tuesday that allowing for 12-month eligibility periods would save the state money by treating them before they end up in costly emergency rooms and county hospitals.

"It's a fiscally responsible thing to do with the lowest amount of cost ... to have continuous coverage, so they can have preventive health care and keep the claims and the cost down," said Austin Democratic Rep. Dawnna Dukes.

An effort to maintain the six-month enrollment period was rejected by a 91-49 vote. Rep. Dan Gattis, a Georgetown Republican, fought for the shorter enrollment period, which is believed to cause a decrease in enrollment.

Gattis argued that spending on CHIP should not be a priority over programs for "the oldest and the sickest and the poorest."

"It's not the right thing to do, it's not," Gattis said.

In another change to the program, the House adopted an amendment that would require the Health and Human Services Commission to verify U.S. citizenship of children before they qualify for the insurance program.

Approximately 325,400 children are now enrolled in CHIP, about 182,000 fewer than in 2003 when the changes were made.

Advocates for poor families blamed the cuts for the enrollment decline, saying administrative roadblocks kept eligible children from receiving coverage.

One in five Texas children lack health insurance, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a New Jersey-based health care philanthropy. That's the highest rate in the nation.

More than half of the 1.4 million uninsured children in Texas are eligible for but not enrolled in CHIP or Children's Medicaid, according to the Children's Defense Fund of Texas.

___

The CHIP bill is HB109.

10th Annual Rockin' Roundup is a Great Success!

A beautiful Hill Country setting, a lively crowd and a great cause is a recipe for success, and the Any Baby Can 10th Annual Rockin' Roundup certainly did take the cake. More than 500 guests gathered at the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch and enjoyed live music by The Lucky Strikes, a VIP Skeet Shoot, The Rockin' Roundup Famous Wine Toss, Jackpot Silent Auction and Casino Games.

Dean Blaine was honored for his dedication to the Any Baby Can Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation. Blaine has selflessly supported Candlelighter's efforts, including the creation of Camp Grey Dove, a summer camp for siblings of children with cancer. Blaine shared the story of his family's struggle with cancer and his resulting passion to help children who battle the disease.

Senator Kirk Watson (pictured right with ABC Executive Director, Ellen Balthazar) emceed the event and kept guests laughing with his Texas sized humor, but he didn't stop there. Watson led the Roundup's most successful pledge drive yet! Any Baby Can extends sincere thanks to all Rockin' Roundup guests and sponsors. Such generous support allows Any Baby Can to continue providing help and hope to our community's youngest, sickest and poorest children.

5th Annual Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend

Join Dennis Quaid and more than 30 of his Hollywood friends for a weekend of stargazing and fundraising!

Purchase Tickets Here!

June 6-10, 2007 - Austin, Texas
To Benefit Children's Charities

Any Baby Can
Austin Children's Shelter
Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas
International Hospital for Children

www.quaidcharityweekend.com

In Harm's Way-True Stories of Uninsured Texas Children

With offices in Austin, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley, Children's Defense Fund Texas represents the interests of children as state policies develop that impact their lives. Read the astonishing new report, In Harm's Way-True Stories of Uninsured Texas Children.

Any Baby Can 10th Annual Rockin' Roundup

The Any Baby Can 10th Annual Rockin' Roundup will be held March 31, 2007, at the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch & Pavilion. This year's event will be emceed by the Honorable Kirk Watson. Dean Blaine will be honored for his dedicated service to Austin children and families.

Enjoy live music from the Lucky Strikes, March Madness on a big screen TV, and dinner provided by Austin Cheesecake Kitchen (Formerly Ruggles Grill.) Try your luck at our famous wine toss & free casino games and place a winning bid at the jackpot silent auction, all while supporting Austin’s youngest, sickest and poorest children.

For tickets, details and directions, please visit www.abcaus.org/rockinroundup. Questions? Please contact Tania Viramontes at TaniaV@abcaus.org or 512-334-4453.

Texas Ends Social Services Deal-Accenture, State Part Ways After Problems

Texas ends social services deal
Accenture, state part ways after problems
By Corrie MacLaggan

Texas on Tuesday ended a deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars with a private group led by Accenture LLP to manage the Children's Health Insurance Program and enroll Texans in programs such as food stamps and Medicaid.

The move, which follows reports that thousands of eligible Texans had trouble enrolling in social services, halts the nation's most ambitious effort to privatize such programs. Both champions and critics of outsourcing claimed that Tuesday's action validates their philosophy.

The mutual agreement between the state and the private group, Texas Access Alliance, severs what was originally an $899 million, five-year contract that was slashed to $543 million in December. The Health and Human Services Commission and the consulting firm Accenture never agreed on all the final terms of the deal.

"You suggest that this agency has not acted in good faith and has retreated from agreements we reached in December," Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins wrote Monday in a letter to Accenture. "This is incorrect. To the contrary, (the options Accenture offered) contradicted many of the agreements Accenture made with the state."

As the deal dissolves, Accenture spokesman Jim McAvoy said he doesn't expect either side to blame the other for what went wrong.

"The state's position on funding wouldn't permit us to successfully operate the program," McAvoy said.

State workers will run CHIP and manage Accenture subcontractors, including Maximus, until the agency decides who will handle the work. State employees will assume a greater role, although some work will still be done by private contractors, Hawkins said. The transition should be complete by Nov. 1, he said.

The state's goal, as outlined by the Legislature in 2003, was to modernize the enrollment system for social services by giving Texans the option to sign up by phone and online instead of just in person. By hiring a private group to run the call centers — Accenture's group beat out IBM — state officials expected to save $646 million over five years. But no savings have materialized.

After problems with a pilot in Travis and Hays counties, Hawkins halted a statewide rollout of the system last year.

Some of the more than 3 million Texans enrolled in programs such as Medicaid and CHIP reported receiving benefits late or talking to call center workers who couldn't answer their questions.

"Some people may say that everything is fine now that Accenture is off the job," said Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, chairman of the House Human Services Committee. "That's not true. We've got to make sure we get to the bottom of what's happened over the last two years so that we don't repeat the same mistakes." As several states consider outsourcing social services, some here said Texas' experience shows that enrolling people in critical programs should not be handed to private companies.

"This should put an end to the seriously flawed idea that privatization is the way to improve services," said Will Rogers of the Texas State Employees Union. "Don't rely on these outsourcing people that are selling a product."

But Mary Katherine Stout, vice president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which supports limited government, said Tuesday's "action illustrates the superiority of privatization."

"If a private vendor fails to meet the agency's expectations, the state can hold that vendor accountable," Stout said. "Government employees never face such scrutiny for similar failures."

Lobbyist Arlene Wohlgemuth, who as a House member in 2003 carried the legislation launching the call centers, said the contract cancellation will amount to a loss for recipients of services.

"They'll have to go back to sitting for hours, if not days, in the eligibility offices," Wohlgemuth said.

But Sen. Judith Zaffirini, a Laredo Democrat who voted against the 2003 measure, commended the termination.

"Today's announcement sends a clear message that Texas no longer will tolerate unnecessary and unreasonable gaps that tremendously hinder access to state health services for children and low-income families," she said.

Rep. John Davis, R-Houston, said it's disappointing that Accenture hasn't performed well.

"We think the model is good, but we want to make sure we have the right contractor to implement it," he said.

But Accenture's McAvoy said that since taking over CHIP management from Maximus in June, Accenture has met performance requirements.

"Let's put it this way: After we took Maximus out of the CHIP program, the problems ended," he said.

Maximus spokeswoman Rachael Rowland declined to discuss issues with Accenture but pointed to Maximus' success running CHIP in other states.

"Where we've been the primary contractor, we have a proven track record," she said.

McAvoy said that 400 Accenture workers, including 200 in Austin, will go to work for Maximus.

cmaclaggan@statesman.com; 445-3548

Additional material from staff writers Jason Embry and W. Gardner Selby.

11th Annual Jeff Bailey Memorial Tennis Tournament

11th Annual Jeff Bailey Memorial Tennis Tournament
May 11, 2007

This spring, the Jeff Bailey Memorial Tennis Tournament will host it's 11th event to support the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Program. The tournament plays a vital role in maintaining high quality services for families coping with childhood cancer and you can help! Player packages and dinner are available as well as event sponsorships.

The Jeff Bailey Memorial Tennis Tournament is a service project of NAIFA-Austin and the Austin Association of Health Underwriters (AAHU.) NAIFA and AAHU provide leadership in sustaining and improving the business environment and professional skills for those in the life insurance, health insurance and financial services professions. Providing an outlet for community services is one of the many ways these groups work to help their members.

Contact Courtney Morgan for questions, details and sponsorship/tickets at CourtneyM@abcaus.org or 334-4432.

Tickets Sponsorships

Dell Children's Hospital Prepares for Opening

After more than two years of construction, the $115 million Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas is set to open this summer. The new hospital is trying to become a model for others worldwide.

"Now we are just a little more than three months from opening," said Bob Bonar, CEO of the 170-bed hospital.

On June 30, the hospital will officially open on 32 acres at the old Austin Mueller airport site. The 711-acre Mueller site will be able to host 10,000 residents and 10,000 jobs.

"This building not only brings excellence in a building and structure, but it enhances the excellence of the service that will be provided to the community and I am very proud to be a part of that," Sister Teresa George said.

The Dell Children's Medical Center is already earning national recognition as an energy-efficient building.

The medical center will also try to accomplish something that no other hospital in the world has done.

"We've aspired with all of the other energy efficient systems in the building to have one of the most energy efficient and friendly green hospitals anywhere in the world," project manager Shawn Levin said.

The hospital is the first in the world to have "Platinum" status under the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED promotes design and operation of environmentally sensitive buildings. "Platinum" status is the highest level of benchmarks.

To help them reach that goal, the hospital uses natural light whenever possible, recycled materials throughout the building and will try to eliminate wasting energy.

"We are trying to integrate some of the highest levels of technology to help us save energy in this building," Levin said.

Because of strict health care guidelines, saving energy in 475,000-square-foot building that operates 24 hours a day may pose challenges.

"Health care is highly regulated industry with a lot of governing agencies that require relatively rigid guidelines," said Tom Snearey of Karlsberger Architects.

The new hospital will replace the old one located next to Brackenridge Hospital in downtown Austin. The center will treat kids from 46 counties throughout Texas.

By Reagan Hackleman

Austin Hackers Golf Tournament To Benefit Any Baby Can

The Austin Hackers know how to have fun- and this spring, their fun will pay off. On April 14th, the Austin Hackers Golf Tournament will host its first charity tournament at the Star Ranch Golf Club with proceeds benefiting Any Baby Can. So grab a friend, dust off those clubs and take a swing to support children and families served by ABC. For questions and registration, contact Chris Garcia at chris@austinhackers.com or 512-468-7105.

What is Austin Hackers?
Austin Hackers is an organization of golfers who enjoy playing scramble format in a competitive tournament setting. A tournament is held every two months at a different location in the Austin area. Teams are made up of four golfers based on their “Hacker Factor” which is the average number of regulation strokes each person contributes to their team. You can also compete with your own foursome so feel free to sign up with a group of friends or co-workers. Hacker Tournaments are more than just golf outings. They are day-long parties where some of the friendliest people in Austin get together to enjoy a casual environment in the name of golf.

Just Released: American Community Survey

In Travis County: Children under 18 are more likely than any other age group to live in poverty.
This is just one of the findings in the American Community Survey, recently released by The Travis County Department of Health & Human Services and Veterans Services. The survey provides an important overview of Travis County demographics and notes trends in age, race & ethnicity, language, education, employment, income and poverty.

For more information on the American Community Survey, or to request a presentation, please contact: Ana Almaguel at ana.almaguel@co.travis.tx.us

Texas kids fated for failure?

By BOB DART
Cox News Service

WASHINGTON — A child born in Texas has less of a chance at achieving academic and economic success than a child born in almost any other state, an analysis released Wednesday by an educational research group found.
In its "Chance for Success Index," Texas ranked 48th among the 50 states and District of Columbia, reported the Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. Only Arizona, Louisiana and New Mexico were lower.
Virginia's children had the best chance to succeed of those in any state, said the report, "From Cradle to Career: Connecting American Education From Birth to Adulthood."
But the findings are not an indictment of Texas public schools, stressed Christopher Swanson, director of the research center and author of the report. Indeed, he said the state's educational system is improving rapidly and doing a good job offsetting many other factors outside the classrooms.
The study "looks at education through a broader lens," he said. "Overall, the Index captures the cumulative effects of education experience from birth through adulthood and pinpoints the chance for success at each stage and for each state."
"We find that a child's life prospects depend greatly on where he or she lives," he said.
Many factors are beyond the reach of the school system. To see why Texas children are behind, it is useful to look at the advantages enjoyed by Virginia children.
"The average child in Virginia starts out ahead of the curve," the report said. Painting a statistical family portrait, the researcher showed that Virginia children are less likely to live in a low-income home and more likely to have college-educated parents than those in other states. Blessed with these advantages, Virginia children are then more likely to succeed in elementary school, finish high school and continue to college than kids in other states. Once they've graduated, Virginia's well-educated adult population and strong economy offer better opportunities for the workforce. The educated young Virginians stay in the state, find good jobs, have children — and the cycle is repeated.
In Texas and other states deemed to offer less opportunity, the cycle is reversed. Children are more likely to live in poverty, speak Spanish in the home, and have poorly educated parents. That contributes to academic shortcomings. And after reaching adulthood, the young Texans find an economy with less opportunity for high-paying jobs, said Swanson.
The Texas education system "is actually a bright spot," he said. But it can't "solve all the problems of society."
The "Chance for Success Index" is based on 13 indicators at various stages in life that are correlated with future achievement. For example, research has shown that early academic success is linked to family income and parental education. Children from families that are financially well off and where the parents have post-graduate degrees do better in elementary school than those from poor families with high-school drop-outs as parents — at least statistically speaking. Then children who do well in elementary school are more likely to succeed in high school and go on to college and then to successful careers.
In general, the report shows that children born in the South and Southwest have less of a chance of academic and financial success than do those born in the Northeast and North Central states.
Swanson conceded that Texas faces a huge challenge in the index because its populace contains so many immigrants from Mexico and Central America. These newcomers are likely to be poor, Spanish-speaking and relatively uneducated — all factors that foretell scholastic and economic problems for their children.
In contrast, the top 10 states in the "Chance for Success Index" are Virginia, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Vermont. None are located near the nation's southern border.
But immigration is not the sole factor. While three of the bottom four states border Mexico and Louisiana is nearby, the lowest 10 also includes Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Nevada and South Carolina.
Georgia ranked 38th, North Carolina ranked 35th, Florida ranked 31st, Ohio ranked 27th and Colorado ranked 16th.
A state's economy — especially its ability to provide high-paying jobs for a well-educated workforce — has an important impact, explained Swanson. If the well-educated young adults have to move away to find suitable jobs, they are not there as educated parents providing financially stable homes.
Increasingly, industries want to be "where the talent is," said Mary Jo Waits, director of the Pew Center for the States, an offshoot of the Pew Charitable Trusts, charged with finding effective public policies on issues facing the states.
A state can be "a magnet for talent" developed elsewhere or "a pipeline for talent" developed through its schools, she said. "Or it can be both."
Talented people "are going to choose states where their chances for success and their children's chances for success are greatest" — which indicates the importance of this study, she said.
Based in Bethesda, Md., the non-profit Research Center for Editorial Projects in Education conducts studies on issues in education that are often published in Education Week magazine. Funding for this research project was provided by the Pew Center for the States.

Bob Dart is a Washington correspondent for Cox Newspapers.

Save the Date: ABC Open House October 9th

Join Any Baby Can for Open House
October 9th, 8:30am-9:30am

Five thousand is a big number. Especially when it represents the number of children and families Any Baby Can serves each year. Any Baby Can invites you to an Open House to learn what we do, how we do it, and the difference it makes to the Austin community. This is a unique opportunity to experience hands on how ABC brings help and hope to our community's youngest, sickest and poorest children.

Please join the Any Baby Can family at 1121 East 7th Street from 8:30am-9:30am on October 9th to enjoy complimentary breakfast, meet new friends, and learn more about Any Baby Can.

For questions or to RSVP, please contact Amy Rames at AmyR@abcaus.org or 512-334-4452.

Any Baby Can Welcomes New Board Members

Any Baby Can is proud to announce six new members to serve on our Board of Directors through 2009. It is through the support and guidance of the Board that ABC is able to access valuable resources and provide superior services to children and families. The Any Baby Can family welcomes this group of community leaders with sincere appreciation.

Amy Meredith
Assistant District Attorney
Travis County District Attorney

Carolyn Krawczyk
Producer, Director, Writer
Atherton Pictures

David J. Rust
Senior Investment Specialist, Vice President
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

Gayle Rolland
Vice President of Legal Affairs and Risk Management
Proveno Group, Inc.

Jean B. Sweeney
General Manager, Visual Systems Dept
3M

Sridhar Valluru
Sr. Hardware Engineer
NVIDIA

Racing to End Low Health Literacy

In the words of Kofi Annan, "Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope." The Literacy Coalition of Central Texas (LCCT) is dedicated to supporting and expanding high-quality literacy services in Central Texas so businesses can hire, people can work, and families can thrive. The Statesman Capitol 10,000 is Racing to End Low Health Literacy and you can join the effort! Visit www.cap10k.com to register for the timed or fun run.

Any Baby Can family literacy classes empower parents and children to fulfill their dreams. Classes are taught by veteran teacher and literacy expert, Ruth Wells. Our weekday morning fall classes (pictured to the right) not only improved their literacy, but established good reading habits for their children. On January 25th, fifteen women received certificates of completion for their semester long effort. Community volunteers are an essential component of these classes and enable Any Baby Can to touch more lives through literacy. To volunteer, visit the Get Involved section of our website or contact Tania Viramontes at taniav@abcaus.org or 512-334-4452.

January is Poverty Awareness Month

Can you imagine going through winter without a heater? What would you do if you couldn't pay your utility bill? Approximately 350-500 Travis County residents have their utilities cut off each day because of non-payment (www.basicneeds-ctx.org). This is just one of many facts that fuels the Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas, a coalition of 32 public and private social service providers including non-profit organizations, local governmental agencies, faith-based organizations and community advocates. The Basic Needs Coalition (BNC) works to eliminate the effects of poverty and promote self-sufficiency by leading the community in creating solutions that secure the basic resources – food, housing and clothing – of our neighbors in need. January is Poverty Awareness Month, and as a BNC partner, Any Baby Can is committed to providing information on how YOU can help. Sign up now to receive Any Baby Can information, plus weekly emails in January about poverty in Austin and how it affects our community.

Poverty Awareness Email Week One
Poverty Awareness Email Week Two
Poverty Awareness Email Week Three
Poverty Awareness Email Week Four

Any Baby Can Honors Monica Pottorff

Nearly 300 friends and supporters of Any Baby Can gathered to celebrate Monica Pottorff’s dedicated service to Austin children and families at the Heavenly Holidays reception. The event was held at Laguna Gloria, where attendees enjoyed live music, amazing cuisine and a silent auction. Pottorff (pictured center in the left photograph, with friends Jill Stevenson, left and Monica Hinkle, right) is a local real estate agent and restaurateur who has helped raise more than $240,000 through her creative fundraising events at Carlos ‘n Charlie’s. Pottorff plans to continue her volunteer service to Any Baby Can as the new honorary chair of the agency's Angel Society. Any Baby Can brings help and hope to more than 5,000 of Austin's youngest, sickest, and poorest children and their families through education, therapy, and family support services. The Angel Society is a major gifts society whose members ensure Any Baby Can’s ability to continue providing these vital services and plan for the future. Any Baby Can Executive Director, Ellen Balthazar said, “I am thrilled to have someone with Monica’s compassion, talent, and leadership abilities serving as chair of the Angel Society.“ Sincere thanks to Jill Stevenson and Monica Hinkle for their contributions to planning a heavenly event.

Be a Star to a Child

Be a Star to a child this holiday season! December 14th-31st purchase a $1 red or $5 gold star when you check out at any Austin-area Randalls store. Proceeds benefit Any Baby Can, who serves more than 5,000 Austin children and their families each year. Buying a star will help ensure that children reach their full potential through education, therapy and family support services. Your donation will be conveniently added to your grocery bill, and you can proudly hang your star on the Any Baby Can tree located in every Randalls store. With your donation, receive a free Coca-Cola product at check out while supplies last. Sincere thanks to Be a Star sponsors: Randalls, KVUE, 102.3 The River, and Coca-Cola.

Austin American Statesman Launches 2006 Season for Caring Campaign

Tracy Gillespie, a single mother of 4 young children, is a determined, hopeful woman. She radiates a positive attitude and commitment to her children and will do whatever she can to support her family and stay off of government assistance. Amongst the stress of being a newly single mom working two jobs with little time to sleep, Tracy does everything in her power to enrich the lives of her children. She has taken parenting and child development classes, reads to her children every night, stays updated on community opportunity for families, and finds daily one on one time with her children encouraging their individual skills. She is a model parent.

The Austin American Statesman's Season for Caring campaign helps bring holiday joy to families like the Gillespie's. The campaign has organized community donations to benefit underpriviledged families in Austin since 1999. The campaign will kick off November 26, and this year's outreach efforts are bigger than ever before. With increased coverage, both in the paper and on line, even more families will enjoy a brighter holiday season. To support the Gillespie's or any of the Season for Caring families, please visit www.statesman.com.

View Tracy's holiday wish list

Luminaria Candlelight Service

The Any Baby Can/Candlelighters annual Luminaria service was held November 4, 2006, at Brentwood Oaks Church. The candlelight memorial service is dedicated to children who have lost their lives to cancer. This year, 15 children were remembered, their names attached to white balloons that were released at the close of the ceremony; 200 children total were remembered from years past. Doug Dierking, who lost his son Alex in 2004, spoke of Alex's invincible spirit and the importance of continuing Alex's memory to help those who are walking the path his family has walked. It is with deepest respect that Any Baby Can/Candlelighters remembers these children. Any Baby Can extends sincere appreciation to the Junior League for their support of Luminaria.

4th Annual Harvest Classic Supports Candlelighters

The 2006 Harvest Classic Motorcycle Rally was host to bikes, barbeque and benevolence. The annual event is held in Luckenbach, Texas and raises funds to benefit Candlelighters, an Any Baby Can Program that supports children with cancer and their families. Riders from across the state gathered in Central Texas for an amazing bike show, 100cc fun run, sponsor expo, camping, barbeque, raffle and live auction.

The Rally focuses on European and Vintage bikes, but is open to anyone who enjoys motorcycles or scooters. Riders displayed motorcycles from Classic Indians to vintage Moto Guzzis and everything in between. Funds raised will help Candlelighters continue to provide medical case management, crisis assistance and mental health counseling for children with cancer and their families. Any Baby Can and Candlelighters extend heartfelt thanks to Russell Duke, all Harvest Classic event staff, volunteers and sponsors for their passion, dedication and support.

October 22 - Marathon Runners Support ABC

October 22, 2006, will mark a significant mildstone in the lives of past ABC Board President, Nancy Harris, and her friend, Lisa. After that date, they will have successfully competed in the Chicago Marathon! Nancy and Lisa are not only running the 26.2 mile race to achieve a significant personal accomplishment; they are running to support Any Baby Can and the thousands of families we serve each year. We are truly thankful for their support of our programs, mission and goals.

If you would like to read more about supporting Nancy and Lisa, please click here.

26 Miles For 26 Children!

Show your support for Nancy, Lisa and all the children served by Any Baby Can

Make an Online Donation

Dear Friends,

Thank you for visiting our webpage to learn more about Any Baby Can - an organization that brings help and hope to Austin's youngest, sickest and poorest children. On October 22, 2006, we will be running in the Chicago Marathon in honor and support of the children served by Any Baby Can. As you read the stories below, we hope you will join us in supporting this organization and the thousands of children they serve each year!

As we just mentioned, Any Baby Can serves the youngest, the sickest and the poorest children in the Austin community. The youngest children are served through intervention services when they are born with severe developmental delays. The sickest children may experience chronic or critical illnesses up to and including something as devastating as childhood cancer, and they are served through the agency’s Candlelighter’s programs. The poorest children in our community are served through programs that focus on preventing neglect, abuse and abandonment of children.

Each year, ABC serves more than 5,000 children and their families. Following are just a few example stories of children the agency has helped in recent years…

Katia

If you don't believe in miracles, then you have never met Katia Curtis. Katia has overcome more challenges in five years, than most adults encounter in their lifetime. When Tessa, Katia's Mom, was thirty-four weeks pregnant, she went in for a checkup with her doctor because she couldn't feel Katia moving. Her doctor decided that Katia needed to be delivered that day. At birth, Katia was placed on a ventilator because of respiratory distress syndrome. Both her heart and liver were enlarged. In addition, Katia was diagnosed with two intraventriculer hemorrhages (brain bleeds), a Grade III and Grade IV. Doctors were not sure if Katia was going to survive.

Katia proved them wrong! Katia got stronger, but her doctors were preparing her family for the worst case scenario. They said Katia would need a feeding tube when she came home from the hospital. Katia proved the doctors wrong again. She came home able to drink from a regular bottle.

ABC taught Katia's parents therapeutic tactics to help her reach her goals and mature in her speech, motor, and cognitive skills. Even though she is now diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Turner's syndrome, Katia recently turned 5 and continues to amaze the medical community with her progress. According to her neurologist, based on Katia's medical records, she shouldn't be crawling, feeding herself or trying to communicate with others. However, Katia loves to prove people wrong!

Ian

When Darenda’s son, Ian, was born, the road ahead was dimly lit. Ian has diastrophic dysplasia…a type of dwarfism. From the time of Ian’s birth, Any Baby Can has provided Darenda and her family with a lifeline of light.

“They told us about Any Baby Can right there in the hospital,” Darenda said. “We get physical therapy and occupational therapy…but it’s kind of like our family. They’re such a great resource for so many things beyond just the physical and occupational therapy. Sometimes you have to figure out a new way. And Isabel (the ABC counselor) and I will sit and just brainstorm. I know just from our perspective for Ian, it changed our life. I can’t imagine trying to do this without them.”

Thank you in advance for your support of our marathon participation, and most importantly, Any Baby Can. Together, we will seek to provide a lifeline of hope for Austin's most vulnerable children.

Best regards,
Nancy and Lisa

To support Nancy, Lisa, and all the children served by Any Baby Can, please click here to make a donation.

Support Update: As of October 10, 2006, we have already raised $5,404! Thank you to everyone who has already contributed! Your kindness and generous support have been so encouraging.

Birthday Party Benefits Any Baby Can!

Most people request the latest gadget or the newest movie release for a birthday present, but not Any Baby Can board member, Steve Taylor. For the third year in a row, Any Baby Can joyfully accepted in-kind and monetary donations from Steve’s birthday party festivities. This was the most successful “Diaper Drive” birthday party in the past three years! Steve, his family and his friends donated a total of 4,891 disposable diapers (a new record!); 1,334 baby wipes; 18 stuffed animals; 9 jars of baby food; 4 boys shirts; 3 baby bottles; 2 pairs of boys pants; 2 sippy cups; 1 bottle of baby powder; 1 blanket; 1 football; 1 bottle of shampoo; 1 Winnie the Pooh coveralls/shirt/hat ensemble; 1 can of infant formula mix; and 1 kids dinner. Not only did guests have a terrific time honoring a good friend, but they also had the opportunity to bring help and hope to the youngest, sickest and poorest in Austin’s community.

Thank you, Steve, for your continuing commitment to Austin’s children!

If you would like more information on hosting a party to benefit Any Baby Can, please contact courtneym@abcaus.org.

Vignette Employees Reach Out to Austin's Children

On their recent Volunteer Day, Vignette employees had a great experience and put smiles on the faces of the children served by ABC. They spent the day tutoring, mentoring and having fun with ABC clients participating in the Family Literacy Program. The volunteers taught math and reading to school-aged children, coached parents in Adult Basic Education Skills, and helped the families put together a new, take-home story book! One volunteer expressed, "Vignette had a rich volunteer experience with a lasting impression of the good work that Any Baby Can does every single day."

Vignette volunteers realized that they really could make a difference in the lives of children in their community and decided continue their support. Since the Volunteer Day, Vignette employees have launched a "Back to School Backpack Campaign" and plan to collect and donate over 250 new backpacks for children ages 5-12.

You too can be apart of the "Backpack Campaign" by making an online donation or donating a backpack to Any Baby Can- 1121 E. 7th St. If you or your company would like more information about volunteering with our Family Literacy Center, please email courtneym@abcaus.org.

Founder of CEDEN, Emily Vargas-Baron, Visits Any Baby Can

Many of you will be thrilled to know that in May we were honored by a visit from Dr. Emily Vargas-Baron, the visionary who founded CEDEN Family Resource Center in 1979.

During her visit, Emily met with our team to hear first-hand about the evolution of our services and to share insights from her worldwide work with children through UNICEF. Emily was especially thrilled to visit with long-time staff members Alexandra Alfau and Ruth Wells, former CEDEN Board Member, Dr. Cliff Price and former ABC Executive Director and CEDEN Board Member, Lila Carl.

Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend Beats the Heat and Rain to Help Kids

The 2006 Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend was held on May 5-7. Any Baby Can will receive approximately $60,000 of the $300,000 raised by the Quaid events. In a year when many charities report that giving levels are down, we are encouraged that this event maintained year-over-year financial performance. Organizers and charities are already meeting to set ambitious goals for improved logistics and financial performance next year.

Early feedback indicates that the downtown event venues and the kid celebrities were the big hits. Still others enjoyed the Fashion Show, Poker Tournament, and the Gala. Some of the celebrities that attended this year's event included Zac Efron of "High School Musical," Greg Kinnear, R. Lee Ermey, Jack McGee, Don Felder, Mick Fleetwood, Brett Cullen, Gordon Clapp, Rex Linn, and Topher Grace.

Several celebrities including Dennis Quaid, Lalaine, Zac Efron and Chris and Kyle Massey put smiles on the faces of our clients and staff during their visits to the Any Baby Can office. Not only did they sign autographs for eager fans, they also posed for pictures, read "The Little Red Hen," sang songs and played with our special needs children.

Moving forward into next year's planning, Dennis and our event partner, ZC Entertainment, are setting ambitious goals to position the charity weekend as one of Austin's premiere fundraising events. Look for more details as they become available, including next year's event date and location details. Lastly and most importantly, many heartfelt thanks to everyone who gave of their time and resources to make this year's event a success.

Click Here to View Pictures from Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend

ABC Sends Kids To Camp!

This year, Any Baby Can offered two great camps at Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children -Camp Grey Dove for the siblings of children dealing with childhood cancer and Camp CARE for children with special healthcare needs.

Camp Grey Dove is a unique camp designed specifically to address the needs of siblings of children with childhood cancer. As you can imagine, these children are often overwhelmed with emotions of grief, sadness, anger, frustration, and most of all, fear. Camp Grey Dove is a place for them to blow off steam, laugh and have a good time, as well as talk about their feelings and fears with other campers and professional counselors who can relate to their struggles. Camp Grey Dove provides these children with a chance to express themselves in a safe environment, escape everyday stressors, relax, have fun, and build life-long friendships that will help carry them through the difficult times they are facing at home.

We are thrilled to announce our very first Camp CARE for children served by Any Baby Can who are living with special healthcare needs give them the opportunity to experience nature and outdoor activities for the first time in their lives. "Peaceable Kingdom has created a safe retreat for sick children and their families to get away from the daily medical and social issues a chronic or terminal illness can cause," said Peaceable Kingdom's Executive Director, Scott Simmonds.

This summer, campers enjoyed activities including horseback riding/grooming, a ropes course, zip line, nature/educational hikes, glass blowing, swimming, scuba diving and a real Cinemark theater, which are all set in the Texas hill country surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature.

We are incredibly thankful to the supporters that made Camp Grey Dove and Camp CARE a reality this year. ABC relies solely on donations to fund the camps and send over 100 children to Peaceable Kingdom. To inquire how you can sponsor a child contact Judah Crossland at judahc@abcaus.org or call 512-334-4452.

^{Stay tuned for updates and pictures soon!}

Austin Musicians Band Together to Benefit Any Baby Can

On May 20, 2006, Austin area bands Say Hello to the Angels, Pocket Full of Deng, Air Tight Alibi, Exit the Sun, Freakophonics and Steam Train Murphy in conjunction with Raw Deal Productions performed a benefit concert to raise funds for Any Baby Can/Candlelighters. Dustin Stroud, lead vocalist and guitarist for Say Hello to the Angels expressed, "We hope this will be the first of many shows together to benefit the children and people who need help the most in our community. The night was electric! It's important to know that together, all of us can make a difference in our community and the world around us."

Dustin, who was instrumental in coordinating this community-based fundraiser, plans to continue donating a portion of his band's proceeds to local charities. For future concert benefits, refer to the "Events" section on our website.

For more information about how you can coordinate a benefit for ABC, please contact judahc@abcaus.org or call 512-334-4452.