July 1st: At risk first-time moms and their toddlers celebrate a very special graduation

Online, June 28, 2010 (Newswire.com) - WHO: Inner-city, Essex County mothers & their toddlers, YCS Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) staff, Dr. Gerard Costa, director of the YCS Institute for Infant & Preschool Mental Health.

WHAT: For more than two years personal nurses, from the YCS Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) program, guided 15, first time moms-to-be through their pregnancy and then helped them on their journey as new parents until their child's second birthday. Now they will all celebrate their graduation from the NFP program with a sure to be emotional ceremony led by Dr. Gerard Costa, followed by a luncheon and fun afternoon at the zoo. This event is sponsored by sanofi-aventis.

WHEN: Thursday, July 1, 2010

TIME: Noon -2:00 pm

WHERE: Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Ave
West Orange, NJ 07052

RE: October 2007, the YCS Institute opened the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) program in Essex County for first time pregnant women who are at risk for child neglect and endangerment. Registered nurses visit the mothers-to-be in their homes on a frequent basis and stay with them until their babies' second birthdays. The program is free of charge and provides educational/career counseling, medical guidance and child care instruction.

Many of our clients have never had a positive mother figure; there are histories of intergenerational poverty, lack of education, and neglect. Our nurses often become the surrogate mothers and positive role models these young women need to become nurturing parents and end the cycle of abuse. Rebekah Baskerville, NFP director

About the YCS Institute

The YCS Institute is part of every major early childhood initiative in New Jersey and is viewed as the leader in infant and early childhood mental health needs and services in our state and beyond. The Institute opened the first clinic exclusively dedicated to the mental health of children birth through six years of age; it operates numerous community based prevention/intervention programs in New Jersey and conducts trainings and consultations for professionals nationwide.

About sanofi-aventis

Sanofi-aventis U.S. is part of a leading global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, produces and markets innovative therapies that enhance people's lives. Based in Bridgewater, NJ, the corporation is committed to helping underserved communities and has been a supporter of the YCS-NFP program since its inception.