Success By 6 Supports Immunizations

United Way of Atlantic County’s Success By 6 initiative, together with Child Federation, joins organizations and agencies throughout the country in celebrating August as National Immunization Awareness Month. This national observance educates and reminds all Americans about the importance of immunizations throughout life.

“Immunizations are a way to prevent serious, life-threatening diseases,” says Cynthia Green, executive director of Child Federation and chairperson of Success By 6 TM. “Parents should keep their children’s immunizations up-to-date. August, the month before school starts, is a good time to visit your doctor and a make sure your child is protected from diseases like polio, rubella and pertussis.” Child Federation is a local not-for-profit organization partnering with United Way of Atlantic County to provide immunizations and physical examinations to Atlantic County children who are at risk of not receiving health care.

United Way of Atlantic County launched Success By 6 TM in 1995 to address risk factors faced by Atlantic County children from birth to age 6. Key areas of need for this age group include age-appropriate vaccinations, early literacy programs, pediatric dental programs, parenting skills and prenatal care. “Success By 6 TM is more than a program,” states John Emge, executive director of United Way of Atlantic County. “It’s an opportunity to give our children a strong foundation that will support them throughout their entire lives.”

The Success By 6 TM initiative and partnership with agencies like Child Federation are an important part of United Way of Atlantic County’s response to local concerns as identified in their recently completed 2005 Community Needs Assessment. Results of this assessment identified affordable health care as one of the top ten community needs.

Current recommendations call for immunizations against 13 vaccine-preventable diseases. Success By 6 TM has developed a brochure that provides detailed information about age-appropriate immunizations. Parents can call United Way at 609-404-4483 for a copy of the brochure, or they can talk to their doctor about the best time to vaccinate their child for these diseases. For information on Success By 6, TM please contact Alice Woods, Director of Resource Development at United Way of Atlantic County at 609-404-4483 Ext. 12. For information about Child Federation, please call 272-1711.

United Way of Atlantic County is a local, volunteer-driven, charitable organization mobilizing people and resources to meet our community’s most pressing health and human services needs. United Way of Atlantic County is dedicated to making a positive impact on the quality of life for Atlantic County residents by supporting dozens of programs that reduce substance abuse, provide basic needs and increase self-sufficiency, support community health issues, foster safer homes and neighborhoods, and promote mental wellness. Volunteers closely monitor these programs to ensure efficient use of donor dollars. To learn more about United Way of Atlantic County, call 609-404-4483 or visit www.unitedwayac.org.

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Author: Press Release