Alifelong neurological condition, autism affects one in every 49 children in New Jersey. Last year the Centers

for Disease Control released the results of a study that showed an alarming increase in the number of New Jersey children diagnosed with autism. The study, which tracked autism in 14 states, showed that the rate of autism in New Jersey had doubled in six years, placing New Jersey second only to Utah.

At The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, there is a hands-on, comprehensive approach to the treatment of symptoms that goes beyond prescribing medications. New doctors are trained in the early diagnosis of autism, research is under- taken in partnership with major medical institutions, and all healthcare providers are involved in the development of the best treatment options for each child. Like other chronic conditions, autism affects whole families. At Saint Peter’s, educational and emotional support are also available to caregivers.

In recent months, the Saint Peter’s autism team has taken on an international mission to Ghana, a country in West Africa, and the establishment of a parent-training program at the Lakeview School in Edison.

“Our goal is to support everyone who interacts with a child with autism — parents, siblings, pediatricians, nurses, teachers — to help them better handle the day-to-day situations that may arise, and to do this wherever we can,” says Barbie Zimmerman-Bier, M.D., chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s. Dr. Zimmerman-Bier leads the charge with Genevieve Kumapley, PharmD, a doctor of pharmacy and founder of the locally-based charity and parent support group called MyGOAL–My Gateway to Overcoming Autism in Life, which runs support groups out of Saint Peter’s. For both the cause is personal and

professional. Both are the mothers of children with autism. Dr. Zimmerman-Bier is the mother of an adult child; Dr. Kumapley, an oncology clinical pharmacist specialist at Saint Peter’s, is the mother of a school-age child.

Last fall, Saint Peter’s staff lent their expertise to the launch of two ongoing programs. A grant from Merck enabled Dr. Zimmerman-Bier to launch a series of innovative parent-training and child intervention workshops for families of children newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Families have been referred from The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s or the Children’s Center early intervention program in Edison. The program, called Jump Start 4 Autism, is a six-week hands-on training program that teaches parents about the latest behavioral and

medical therapies used to treat children with autism. The families attend lectures about behavioral and medical treatments while their children receive one-on-one behavioral therapy in a separate classroom with trained behaviorists. In addition, the families get to watch video feedback and monitor their child’s response to therapies. This is the first program to combine medical and behavioral therapies for children with autism under one roof. So far, parent response has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Dr. Zimmerman-Bier.

The goal of the Ghanaian mission is to establish the Haven International Center for Special Education, an autism and developmental disabilities treatment and training center. The center is a project of Dr. Kumapley’s organization, MyGoal Inc. Last year’s trip was made possible in part by a grant from Focus Autism, located in Watchung.

“Our mission is to work with local Ghanaian resources to promote awareness of autism and developmental disorders,” says Dr. Kumapley, a native of Ghana. As is the case at Saint Peter’s, Haven’s work will be multidisciplinary and family-centered. The long-range plan calls for the eventual creation of a vocational program for adults with autism and a respite program for families coping with autism, Kumapley adds.

To learn more about autism services at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, call 732-339-7045 or visit saintpetershcs.com/autism.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR APRIL 2013

Treating AutismOne Child, One Family at a Time, Near and Far

A LISTING OF PROGRAMS OFFERED THIS MONTH CAN BE FOUND ON THE REVERSE SIDE.

Barbie Zimmerman-Bier, M.D., chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, and Genevieve Kumapley, PharmD, a pharmacist and an advocate for families coping with autism, lead training sessions during a mission to Ghana.

Lakeview School student Eric Brennan during a behavioral session that is part of the Jump Start 4 Autism program started

at the Edison school by Saint Peter’s.

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SUPPORT GROUPSAlzheimer’s Support Group/Monroe APRIL 9, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AMSaint Peter’s Adult Day Center200 Overlook Drive, Monroe Township Rachel Kallish, CSW Lisa Sparaco, MSW, LSW 609-655-6853

Bariatric Support GroupAPRIL 11, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Lisa Lapinski, RD 732-745-8600, x8159

Bereavement Support GroupAPRIL 4 & 18, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM732-745-8565

Bereavement Support GroupAPRIL 2 & 16, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PMFor spouses and significant others 55 and older. Saint Peter’s Adult Day Center200 Overlook Drive, Monroe TownshipSean O’Brien, MSW, LSWLisa Sparaco, MSW, LSW 609-409-1363, Option 5

Caregivers Support Group/MonroeAPRIL 11, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PMSaint Peter’s Adult Day Center200 Overlook Drive, Monroe TownshipStephanie Fitzsimmons-Sexton, RN, NP1-800-269-7508 or 609-655-2220 Craniofacial Boys & Girls Support Group(boys and girls ages 11 to 17 meet separately)MEETS SUNDAYS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR Helene Knee, LCSW 732-745-7943

Interstitial Support Group APRIL 23, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM 732-390-7943

Pregnancy after Loss Support Group(for pregnant women who have previously experienced a loss)Registration required. Dawn Brady, MSW732-745-8600, x5214

SHARE Support Group(pregnancy and infant loss support group)APRIL 11, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM732-745-8600, x8522

CANCER SERVICES The American Cancer Society offers daily information and support to cancer patients and their families. Call 1-800-227-2345 to talk to a cancer information specialist 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week or visit us online at www.cancer.org.

Breast Cancer Support GroupAPRIL 1 & 15, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMGuest speaker and open discussion.Registration required.Cancer Institute of New Jersey Deborah Leif, MSW, LCSW732-235-7011

Gynecologic Cancer Support GroupAPRIL 9, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMCancer Institute of New Jersey732-235-6792

Latina Women with Cancer Support Group APRIL 13, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Sister Marie de Pazzi Conference Center Light lunch will be served. Free, but registration requested. Sessions conducted in Spanish. Call 908-658-5400 for more information.

Living with Cancer Support GroupAPRIL 10 & 24, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMCancer Institute of New JerseyBarbara Hale, LCSW732-235-7557

COMMUNITY MOBILE HEALTH SERVICESFor more information about screenings and educational programs, or the CMHS corporate flu shot program, please call 732-745-8600, x8903.

Blood Pressure/Blood Sugar Screenings APRIL 12, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM New Brunswick Seniors, New Brunswick

APRIL 12, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Elijah’s Soup Kitchen, New Brunswick

APRIL 24, NOON – 1:30 PM SHIPS @ St. John’s Episcopal Church, Somerville

Breast Health APRIL 3, 3:00 PM East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick Students and staff only.

Health Fairs APRIL 1, 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM Montgomery Board of Education, Skillman Staff only.

APRIL 16, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM Clergy Retirement Home, Diocese of Metuchen Diocesan priests only.

APRIL 21, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Immaculate Conception Church, Somerville

APRIL 27, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM South Brunswick YMCA, South Brunswick YMCA Healthy Kids Day

Osteoporosis Screening APRIL 18, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Hiddenbrook @ Franklin Residents only.

Stroke Awareness APRIL 13, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Kiddie Keep Well Camp Seniors Campers only.

Sun Damage Screening APRIL 13, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Using the DermaScan machine Middlesex County Pride in Public Education Fair Route 18, Brunswick Square Mall, East Brunswick

DIABETES EDUCATIONChildren’s Insulin Pump GroupAPRIL 8, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Donna Dziedzic, RN, MSN, CDE 732-745-8600, x8751

Diabetes Self-Management Education HELD MONDAYS AND TUESDAYSRegistration and doctor’s prescription required.732-745-6667

Gestational Diabetes Self-Management ClassHELD WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYSRegistration and a doctor’s prescription required. 732-745-6667

PARENT EDUCATIONFor information, fees and registration, call Parent Education at 732-745-8579, unless otherwise indicated.

Baby Care APRIL 1 & 8, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

APRIL 6, 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Breastfeeding ClassAPRIL 6, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Breastfeeding Support GroupAPRIL 5, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM732-745-8600, x8820

Marvelous Multiples APRIL 15, 22 & 29, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

New Daddy Class APRIL 25, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

New Mom Support GroupAPRIL 5, NOON – 1:00 PMLight lunch will be served at noon. Registration required.

Postnatal Yoga and Exercise Class(four-week sessions)HELD FRIDAYS, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Registration required.

Prenatal Nutrition Class and TourAPRIL 30, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PMRegistration required. Linda Hudak, MS, RD732-745-7930

Prenatal Yoga and Exercise Class(four-week sessions)HELD WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Registration required.

Prepared Childbirth ClassesMONDAYS, THURSDAYS, OR ALL-DAY SESSIONS SECOND AND FOURTH WEEKENDSRegistration required.

Sibling Class APRIL 6, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Visit our website at saintpetershcs.com/maternity/ to watch our Maternity Virtual Tour.

Catholic hospital sponsored by the Diocese of Metuchen | State-designated children’s hospital and regional perinatal center

Regional medical campus of Drexel University College of Medicine | Affiliate of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

APRIL 2013

All programs are designed for community members and are held at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register for a program, call the contact number listed or visit our Web site at www.saintpetershcs.com/newsandevents/

WEIGHT LOSS SEMINAR THURSDAY, APRIL 117:15 PM - 9:30 PM For more information, and to register, call Lisa Lapinski at 732-745-8600, x8159.

OPEN HOUSE FOR THE NEW DOROTHY B. HERSH PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTTUESDAY, APRIL 92:00 PM - 7:00 PM Tour of and information about the new 14-bed plus minor care pediatric emergency department featuring private rooms and fast-track area. Call 732-339-7002 for more information.

FREE Y-BALANCE SCREENING FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AGE 8 AND OLDERSATURDAY, APRIL 20, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PMWEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM SAINT PETER’S URGENT CARE CENTER The Village Shoppes at Montgomery1378 Route 206, SkillmanCall 609-497-4597 to register. Provided by the the Saint Peter’s Sports Medicine Institute’s licensed physical therapists.

RUTGERS DAY 2013SATURDAY, APRIL 27 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM College Avenue. Various Saint Peter’s departments and Community Mobile Health Services will provide health education services and screenings.

JUST FOR THE HEALTH OF ITSATURDAY, MAY 4 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Buccleuch Park, New Brunswick. Across from hospital on Easton Avenue. Ask the Doctor table, health education, blood pressure and blood sugar screening, appearance by Olympian Joetta Diggs, fun bus, soccer, tennis, baseball, and music.

SIXTH ANNUAL BIKE RIDE FOR AMYSUNDAY, JUNE 2 7:00 AM Check-in 8:00 AM Start A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Saint Peter’s program that provides screening mammograms for women without health insurance. Visit www.theamyfoundation.org for more information.

SAINT PETER’S COMMUNITY GOLF OUTINGTUESDAY, JUNE 11 7:00 AM Registration 8:00 AM Shotgun Start Forsgate Country Club, Jamesburg. Proceeds to benefit Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. Call 732-745-8542 for more information.

SPECIAL EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE

254 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 | 732-745-8600 | 800-269-7508 | www.saintpetershcs.com

Receive Saint Peter’s Community Calendar via email every month http://www.saintpetershcs.com/eNewsletter/

This calendar is for information only. Do not rely on it to make healthcare decisions on your own; instead, talk with your healthcare provider for advice and treatment. Do not ignore medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. We do not suggest or endorse that you have any tests, use products, or use other information in this document without advice from your healthcare provider.