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Bilingual Family Family Advocacy:
Meet Teklu and His Family Family Solomon arrived in in Rhode Island from Ethiopia on on on a a a a a a a student visa in in in December 1991 He had traveled 6 884 miles with no money in in in his his his pocket and and just the the clothes on on on his his his back At 18 years old Solomon did not understand a a a a a a a a word of English but knew in in his his his his heart that his his journey would provide him with hope for a a a a a better life While attending Hope High School Solomon began working part- time in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a jewelry packaging company In 2001 he he visited family in in in in Ethiopia and and met a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a woman named Rozina They developed
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a friendship and and wrote to to each other for three years until they married in in October 2004 In In May 2006 Rozina was granted a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a visa and and moved to to to Providence to to to start a a a a a a a a a a a a a a family In In 2011 Solo- mon learned about Children’s Children’s Friend Friend and and the the couple enrolled their first-born son Teklu in Head Start at Children’s Children’s Friend Friend Cristina a a a a a a a a a Family Advocate at at Children’s Friend was assigned to the family Her primary responsibilities included providing a a a a a a a a a a a a a range of culturally competent home-based services including parenting education education developmental milestones health and nutrition education education home management skills crisis interven- tion tion tion tion vocational development and social services linkage for all families participating in in Head Start Cristina interviewed Solomon and and and Rozina to to coordinate appropriate referrals so so their son could receive a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a physical examination immunizations and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a screening of of his his hearing and and and vision At three years old Teklu had never been to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dentist nor did he he he he have have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a routine of of of of brushing his his teeth twice every day which is is is is is is so important for good oral health Statistics from the American Academy of of of Pediatrics have have have shown that by age three 28% of of of children have have have one or or or or or or more cavities 2 Cristina told Teklu’s parents about about the the Children’s Friend Dental Program and and about about a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dental sealant which which helps to to to to protect the the the the chewing surfaces from cavities by blocking germs which which may lead to to to to tooth decay Solomon and and and Rozina signed the the the necessary paperwork and and soon thereafter Teklu Teklu Teklu received a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a comprehensive dental screening at Samu- els Sinclair Dental Center During his his first checkup it it it was was was discovered Teklu Teklu Teklu Teklu had two cavities cavities Teklu’s cavities cavities were treated and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dental sealant sealant was was was applied to his his his teeth teeth when he he he he he he he he was was was four years old “Since Teklu Teklu Teklu received the the the sealant sealant for for his his his teeth teeth teeth he he he he he he he has not not had another cavity My wife and and I are are so so happy that our our son receives the the the care he he he he he he he needs for for his his teeth teeth ” said Solomon Cristina cherishes her her role as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Family Advocate and and and takes great pride in in in in in seeing families families succeed She She observes first- hand the healthy development of at-risk children and and and truly enjoys interacting with families families She She is is is is thrilled that now 11-year-old Teklu continues to to to receive routine dental checkups The family has grown to to to include Marhawet (10) Peter (7) and and and Dighe (3) who is is currently enrolled in in in in in in Head Start and and and is is the the fourth child of Solomon and and and Rozina to to to call Samuels Sinclair their dental home In reflecting on on on the tremendous impact Children’s Friend has on on on her her family’s health and well-being Rozina says “I am am so glad to see Cristina when she visits our home I I I don’t know what I I I would do do do without her her ” 2 2 Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 5 6th Edition (Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics) Retrieved from: https://www healthychildren org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/pages/teething-and-dental-hygiene aspx