The pediatric Create Your Weight program will kick off on Tuesday, January 9th at 6 p.m. with a free informational meeting in the Sadowsky conference room at Faulkner Hospital. A second introduction session will be held on Wednesday, January 17th at 6:00 p.m. in the same location. The group setting offers children and their parents an emotionally safe, supportive environment in which they can ask questions and discuss their weight management challenges with their peers and a licensed dietitian.

"We have found that children are more comfortable in a group setting because they feel less isolated," said Jennifer Freitas Carter, Nutrition Clinic Coordinator for Faulkner Hospital. "They have the chance to hear other kids' stories and it seems to really help motivate them to make lifestyle changes and get healthy-it's also more fun."

It is essential that parents also be involved in the pediatric classes. "Children rely on their parents to do the food shopping," Jennifer continued. "When kids get home from school, they want to eat-if there aren't any healthy options in sight, kids won't be able to make good choices." Food environment, family involvement, healthier choices, and exercise are discussed throughout the eleven-week program.

The adult program offers the same environment and supportive atmosphere as the pediatric program. Adults benefit from the expertise of a Registered Dietitian, who leads each of the ten weekly sessions, and who meets with participants individually to develop a personalized weight management plan. The program also includes guidelines for exercise, behavior modification, food shopping, understanding food labels, and dining out. The adult program information sessions will be held on Monday, January 8th and Tuesday, January 16th at 6:00 p.m. in the Sadowsky Conference Room at Faulkner Hospital.

The cost for each program is $175 per person, or $300 when two people register together, and includes participation in the program, an individualized or family appointment with a Registered Dietitian, and all program materials. Many health insurance providers offer reimbursement for weight management programs. Anyone interested in participating should contact their health insurance provider to determine if they offer any coverage for weight management programs.

To learn more about either program, or to register to attend an information session, please contact Jennifer Freitas Carter MS, RD, LDN, Faulkner Hospital Nutrition Clinic Coordinator at (617) 983-4455 or by email at jfcarter@partners.org.

Deanna Devaney, a Resource Specialist at Faulkner spearheaded the program. "I had heard about the program from a friend who was undergoing breast cancer treatment," says Deanna. "She always spoke about how good it made her feel, and what an important part of her treatment it was."

The cosmetics industry donates more than $10 million worth of cosmetics to Look Good…Feel Better participants in the U.S. each year. Since 1989, the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) Foundation, in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the National Cosmetology Association, has worked to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors in the U.S. by helping them approach their disease and treatment plan with greater confidence through Look Good…Feel Better programs worldwide.

The next session at Faulkner Hospital will be held on December 11th from 10AM to Noon, on the 5th floor at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Deanna Devaney at 617-983-4548 for more information and to register.

BOSTON, MA, December 13, 2006-The decision to volunteer strikes people in very different ways and at different times in their lives. Ana Amaya of Roslindale, for example, came to a crossroads this spring when she decided that her job in the financial industry was creating too much stress in her life. She left the job and while contemplating her next career step, she decided to volunteer at Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain.

"For me, it was finally the right time to volunteer," she explains. "I had been working in an office for so many years-I didn't realize how out of touch I was with everyday people." Ana now volunteers three days a week at Faulkner, in three different areas: the Information Desk, as a Rounder, and as a Eucharistic Minister. As she speaks about sharing her time and her gift as a Eucharistic minister for patients, Ana beams. "I walk in and see a patient who is sad and ask them if they want the Eucharist and I just see them light up-I know it's not just the sacrament, it's because I can be there with them," she says. "It's so rewarding for me to be able to give something back to people and also to receive so much from them. I listen to their stories and I remember how blessed we all are. I could stay here at the Faulkner Hospital doing what I do for the rest of my life. It's wonderful."

Jack McLaughlin began volunteering this past summer. A retired veteran, Jack was recently diagnosed and treated for cancer at the Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center at Faulkner Hospital. "I was treated for cancer here and was very impressed with the care that my family and I received," he says. "I was lucky that they caught the disease early and were able to treat me." Experiencing a life-threatening event made Jack reflect on his life and also on his future. "I wanted to do something meaningful with the extra years I have because of my treatment," said Jack. "That's when I decided that I wanted to volunteer here, to help people deal with their cancer and give something back to the place that helped me so much.