Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 June 2000 — Page 26

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2000 ■ PAGE C8

(yPmfik d?

From the Desk of

Jodo

Parenting Tips

Have newborn’s bearing screened (NAPSA) — If your baby leaves the hospital with undiagnosed hearing loss, you run the risk of your child falling significantly behind in speech and language development. Each year more than 12,000 babies go home from the hospital with some form of hearing impairment. The National Campaign for Hearing Health wants parents to know that there is a safe, inexpensive, and non-invasive procedure to identify hearing impairment in infants before .they leave the hospital. The campaign is promoting universal newborn hearing screening through its babies initiative with a goal of increasing the number of newborns who have their hearing screened by 50 * percent. Research for the program is being conducted by Karl White. Ph.D., from the National Ceni«p for'Hearing * Assessment and Management (NCHAM) at Utah State University. As director of NCHAM. Dr. White has devoted much of his career to examining the policy and public health issues of universal newborn hearing screening. "Although we have known for decades how important it is to identify congenital hearing loss during the first few months of life, researchers, clinicians and public health officials have been stymied in their efforts to do anything about it,” Dr. White said. “Recent technological advancements enable us to identify babies with hearing loss during the first few weeks of life and help them achieve normal developmental outcomes." In IW4. the American Academy of Pediatrics Joint Committee on Infant Hearing released a position statement "endorsing the goal of universal detection of infants with hearing loss as early as possible. preferably by three months of age.” The campaign recommends the following steps to ensuring healthy hearing for all babies: • If you are an expectant parent, ask your obstetrician, pediatrician or midwife about having your newborn's hearing screened before leaving the hospital/birthing center. • If you are a grandparent or friend or an expectant parent, encourage newborn hearing screening. • Confirm access to infant hearing screening, using today's new technology, through your hospital/birthing center. • If your hospital/birthing center does not conduct infant hearing screening, log on to w w w .hcaringhealth.net for nearby infant hearing screening facilities. For more information, contact: The National Campaign for Hearing Health. May Babies Program. 12251 Street, NW. Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005 or call I -800-H29-59)4.

<r> * i-M ,

% V

MtiM

Guests enjoy the evening of presentations and entertainment. (Photos/ Rod Ross) Ebony and Ivory gala celebrates diversity

names and dollar amounts

lUL's Highest Regards Awards, initiated in 1967, were presented to five individuals who contributed efforts towards resolving social injustice, and promoted racial and community awareness. Over the last 33 years, only 20 awards have been awarded. The following Class of 2000 recipients were honored: Dr. Virginia

By RONNETTA S. SLAUGHTER

Staff Writer

The ninth annual Ebony and Ivory celebration entertained more than 700 guests with award presentations, food and live musical performances. As the Indianapolis Urban League (1UL) continues to build bridges be-

tween the races, guests filled the Indiana Roof Caine, Steve West, Virginia Blakenbaker, Dr. Ballroom in anticipation of a festive gala. George Rawls Jr. and Mayor Bart Peterson. Clarence Reynolds, Fox 59 AM news an- For the evening finale, Reynolds serenaded chor, eagerly took his place on stage as emcee, the audience with "Last Day.” While IUL preremindingaudiencemembersabout lUL'scon- pares for a new building this falLQtha Meadtributions over the ( last^O^years. In addition, ows, executive vice president. Isjcfoftfident that Reynolds introduced a wide array of guest the league’s tradition will •pniimie through speakers and presenters. Despite the sudden helping others. illness and absence of Sam Jones, IUL presi- “(The building) will allow us to expand on dent, event coordinators and sponsors upheld our capacity to deliver effective programming the Ebony and Ivory heartfelt tradition. and services to the community. It’s the new “The Urban League has kept focus on fight- Urban League building for the entire Indiaing for equality, especially for Blacks,” said napolis community,” said.Meadows, looking Linda Payne. "Tonight says that (lUL’s) focus towards next’s year Ebony and Ivory gala as lends itself to bringing other ethnic groups well as additional IUL events,

together with a common goal,” she added.

The mellow sounds of George Middleton set a relaxed atmosphere around conversation, as guests introduced themselves to others and looked forward to catching up with

old friends.

Lonnie Lester's smooth vocal harmonies belted out “What'sGoin’ On,” a memorable Marvin Gay hit. The Family Salute awards honored two local families that displayed outstanding strength through adyersity. Rev. and Mrs. Gene C. Baker founded True Belief Academy , which currently serves kindergarten through eighth grade children. As pastor of True Belief Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Baker and his family also provide support, care and shelter for other families in need. Suzan Hughes and her family have survived challenging situations with dignity and perserverance. Hughes has even guided her son, William, to Earlham College in Richmond, Ind.. where he is a junior majoring in mathematics. In an attempt to help others. Hughes also makes contributions to women’s

shelters and Goodwill.

Scholarships - need students Standing, Mr. and Mrs. Vop Osili with friends

0 v

^ « ▼

> m 1

Maria and Marvin Scott

Dr. Virginia Caine, director of Marion County Health Department; Lillian Stokes, ANA Mary Mahoney Award recipient; and Angela McBride, dean of Indiana University School of Nursing. (Photo/ Rod Ross) Modern nursing offers wide array of opportunities Florence Nightingale founded mod- pital or bedside roles, nurses work in priem nursing but America’s first Black mary care, are executives, manage inforprofessional nurse was Mary Eliza mation systems, conduct research and Mahoney (1845-1926). Mahoney served educate the next generation of practitioas a role model for pioneering nurses of ners. Also some nurses specialize in carcolor. ing for specific types of patients, fofexModem nursing has changed and ample those with diabetes or the elderly, grown enormously since those early The Indianapolis community has n«ny years, yet it remains essentially acaring African-American nurses working in varprofession. Nurses provide comfort and i e d and exciting fields. One example is care to people who are ill and educate Wishard Hospital’s Brenda Smith who about prevention and staying healthy, does nursing informatics. This is a new Competent nunteS fntiSt Mve a 'Strbftg field of nursing that uses nursing science, scientific knowledge base, keep up on computer science and information $cithe latest technology ^arreT Have’■good ence to support nursing practice, interpersonal skills. Smith describes her work as “devefopDisparities in health status between ing computerized mechanisms to m^ke i our nation’s minority and majority nursing better.” Another African-Ameri-groups demand that the profession at- can nurse is Anita Harden. She is a nurse | tract individuals from all ethnic groups executive at Community Hospital and l?as including African Americans. India- a MBA. Her work involves setting poljcy napolis has about 500 African-Ameri- and making decisions that according to can registered nurses but more are her “affect a multiple of individuals, ?lineeded to address health problems that ents, employees and the community.” affect minorities like AIDS, hyperten- African-American nursing educators sion and cancer. not only teach but also conduct research. There are two basic educational routes shape health policy and develop new proto becoming a professional nurse, the grams of clinical care. Dr. Janie Cantyassociate or bachelor’s degrees. Asso- Mitchell at IUPUI works with Haughville ciate degree preparation takes about two neighborhood teens and their parents on years and qualifies the nurse to work in decreasing conflict through improving settings like hospitals and nursing family communication. Dr. Rose Mays, homes. The bachelor’s or four-year de- also at IUPUI, has developed clinics for gree offers a broader preparation. homeless youth and Dr. Kathleen Russell In addition to working in similar set- a t Ball State has worked with the Indiana tings as the associate degree nurse, bach- Minority Health Coalition in evaluating elorgraduates work in community agen- its efforts, cies and in management. Opportunities for advancement often depend on level Nursing is a profession that has evolved of nursing education. Therefore, choice with the times. To check out its many,' of a nursing program should take into exciting possibilities request the free Pfizer consideration future career goals. Guidefrom Merritt Communications, 123 There are numerous professional op- Elm St„ Suite 100, Old Say brook,-<CT portunities for nurses. According to the 06475 or call Nursing 2000 at 317 f 74Pfizer Guide to Nursing Care Opportu- 1325. nities, there are more than 40 speciality areas. In addition to the traditional hos-

Delta Sigma Theta scholarship The Indianapolis Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc^mnounced the recipients of their Year 2000 high school scholarship awards. The dynamic young women were chosen from a pool of 25 applicants for their acadeinic excellence, outstanding leadership capabilities and commitment to community service. Pictured from left are: Nicole Allensworth, Pike High School; Jessica Daniel, Broad Ripple High School; Krystle Roscoe, Northwest High School valedictorian; and Simonna Woodson, Arsenal Technical High School.