Dorchester Co. families get pressing needs met ahead of new school year
CAMBRIDGE, Md. – Monday, non-profit organizations and the Dorchester County Health Department helped families meet some of their most pressing needs ahead of the new school year.
Back to School Community Partnership Event for Families
Through free school essentials like backpacks and notebooks, immunizations and COVID-19 vaccines, free haircuts and styling, and connections with community resources families can now be sure their children are safe and healthy on the first day of school.
“We’re doing our back to school health readiness community partnership. It is a backpack program, but it’s also a vaccination program and an opportunity for parents to prepare students,” said Ashyrra Dotson, President and CEO of Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions.
Dotson says while the event centered around bringing those resources together in one place, it also served as an opportunity to learn more about what the community needs. “We’re giving away the supplies, but we’re also asking as part of the sign up to let us know about the additional resources that we can connect them to. That could be housing, that could be addressing food insecurity,” she said.
Early Education
One of the resources making connections at the event was the Judy Center. Sandy Hill coordinator Dr. Emma Pinkett says the organization offers educational support for prenatal families through five and six-year-old children.
“We have little ones come in, learn socialization skills learn some of the early childhood academics that they need: math, science, reading, letter recognition, number recognition,” said Dr. Pinkett. “I think that once the children get in school, you can work with the number recognition the letter recognition. But, the services that parents need prior to getting them there, I think that’s the biggest service that we provide.”
The Judy Center also serves a community liaison, according to Dr. Pinkett. “Whether it’s mental health, whether it’s doctors, any type of services – some kids just need dental services – we make those connections for them,” she said.
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
The Dorchester County Health Department was also on hand to help fuel healthy minds with a healthy bodies. In addition to the free COVID-19 shots and other childhood immunizations, families could also pick up free hand sanitizer, masks, and COVID-19 tests.
“A lot of children seem to be a little behind on their childhood immunizations. COVID-19 has thrown off the schedule for a lot of the families,” said Michelle Hughes, RN. “We want to make sure that the families feel safe sending their children back to school.”
Hughes, who also works in the Health Department’s asthma and lead program, says tackling those kinds of health issues is also a pressing need in the community.
“Lead can be a big factor in learning disabilities. So, we want to kind of make sure that all the families are aware that there is a program available for that,” she said. “There’s a huge asthma population among children and adults in the county. We do provide the programs for education and assistance as far as getting their needs met.”
“Unite the community”
Dotson says after visiting the event, she hopes students feel prepared to take on the school year. But, in a larger sense, Dotson hopes that the community as a whole becomes stronger together. “We’re trying to develop a sense of community here, and with everything that’s going on with crime and all those kinds of things, our goal is to just kind of unite the community,” she said.
Eastern Shore Wellness Solutions encourages anyone in Dorchester County who might need resources to give them a call. You can reach them by calling 410-221-0795. Or, you can log onto their website by clicking here.
