[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 3 (Thursday, January 20, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E47]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO OF CONNECTICUT HONORS ELIZABETH A. DEMIR FOR 
                HER OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 20, 2005

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to join family, friends, colleagues, and the Yale-New Haven Children's 
Hospital in recognizing an outstanding member of our community, 
Elizabeth A. Demir. After more than a decade of leadership, Ms. Demir 
will step down as chair of the Parenting Support Programs at the 
Children's Hospital.
  Too often, young pregnant women are alone and have very little 
support. Through the Friends of Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, Ms. 
Demir founded the ``Bright Beginnings'' program as a way to reach out 
to these young women to ensure that they stayed in school, held onto 
jobs, had a safe home environment, were protective of their health 
care, and developed good parenting skills. ``Bright Beginnings'' is a 
volunteer-based program which pairs young pregnant women with mentors 
who can help them share their concerns about parenthood. While its 
primary goal is to make sure that the women and babies receive regular 
medical care, it also includes education about how to detect and 
prevent health problems and childhood accidents as well as the 
importance of early intellectual stimulation of infants and toddlers. 
The program also teaches young mothers how to set personal goals and 
increase confidence. It has been an invaluable tool to many young women 
facing the often daunting challenges of becoming a parent.
  Building on the ``Bright Beginnings'' program, Ms. Demir is also 
responsible for its expansion into three additional parenting 
programs--Home Visiting, Nurturing Connections, and Parenting Group. 
Each of these programs is uniquely designed to meet the needs of young, 
under-served families--making a real difference in the lives of both 
mother and child. Ms. Demir has long been the driving force behind the 
success of theses programs. Her enthusiasm and energy is unparalleled. 
Program developer, chief photographer, truck driver or board chair, Ms. 
Demir has done anything and everything to ensure that each of these 
invaluable programs are available to those in need.
  From leading a board meeting to getting down on the floor with a room 
full of six-month old children dressed like pumpkins, her deep 
commitment to young mothers and their children has left an indelible 
mark on our community. In recognition of her tireless efforts, 
generosity, and compassion, I am proud to stand today and extend my 
sincere thanks and appreciation to Elizabeth A. Demir. Though her 
departure marks the end of her tenure as chair of the Parenting Support 
Programs, I have little doubt that Ms. Demir will continue to make a 
difference in our community.

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