Cedar

Child First, a program operated by Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), provides evidence-based early childhood mental health services through home visits to children ages 0-5 years and their families. The program focuses on serving those who have been impacted by trauma, abuse, poverty, and other challenges. As the first provider of Child First services in Pennsylvania, PHMC’s program has delivered care to families since November 2022.

Child First provides integrated psychotherapeutic interventions that are embedded in an early childhood system of care. Families who are either on the waitlist or have been newly admitted into the program are offered monthly virtual calls led by clinicians, caregivers currently involved in the program and family resource coordinators. Additionally, care coordination and case management support are provided. Child First aims to disrupt intergenerational trauma and cycles of generational poverty by improving child and parent mental health and resilience, promoting school readiness and decreasing child abuse and neglect.

To make a referral to Child First, please complete their referral form and email it to childfirst@phmc.org.

***Please note that the referral form is in the process of being updated, and a new version will be circulated in the near future.

Elaine Wells is a community activist and quality education advocate whose work focuses on West and Southwest Philadelphia. Her 37-year career as an employee of the federal government included serving as Chief of the Quality Assurance & Training Division at The Department of Veteran Affairs’ Insurance Service. Additionally, Elaine is a former executive director of Community Solutions CDC and a Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center Foundation consultant.

As an activist, she is the founder of Global Thinking Initiatives, Inc. Its mission is to provide under-supported communities through education, opportunity, and empowerment. The nonprofit organization's free to low-cost programming includes environmental justice projects, neighborhood cleaning and greening resources, household services, training, mentoring, and non-violence work.

Elaine has collaborated with the West Philadelphia Reading Captains, University of Pennsylvania’s Urban Health Lab’s Deeply Rooted collaborative, and Global Citizen. Additionally, she is the Executive Director of Tiny Trekkers PHK, which strives to foster a love and respect for nature in young children. Elaines is also a member of The International League of Muslim Women and serves on the Board of Directors for The Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter Schools and Neighborhood Advisory Subcommittee for Achieve-ability. She co-hosts the nationally broadcast parent advocacy podcast Three Woke Aunties.

The PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar has welcomed new members to its Community Advisory Board (CAB). Members were selected from an application process that was open to community leaders and residents who live and/or work in West and Southwest Philadelphia.

The PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar CAB is a volunteer group that advises the Cedar Campus partners (PHMC, Penn Medicine and CHOP) on how the Campus can meet the needs of the community. The CAB meets on a bi-monthly basis, provides input on programming and relationship development with stakeholders and the broader community, and supports community awareness of the Campus' services.

Below is the current list of CAB members for the 2024-2025 term.

Ajeenah Amir – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (serving 2^nd term)
Madeline Dawson – Community Member At-Large
Kelli Murray-Garant – Community Member At-Large
Minister Felicia Maxwell-Graham – Catalyst Church
Cheryl Jackson – The Concerned Block Captains of West and Southwest Philadelphia (serving 2^nd term)
John Owens – West Philadelphia YMCA
Ada B. Matthews – PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar Auxiliary
Falguni Patel – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (serving 2^nd term)
Sebastian Ramagnano – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania – Cedar Avenue (serving 2^nd term)
Lorraine Thomas – Southwest Community Development Corporation
Elaine Wells – Global Thinking Initiatives, Inc.
James Wright – Cobbs Creek Neighbors (serving 2^nd term)
Malcolm Yates – Public Health Management Corporation (serving 2^nd term)

PHMC Health Dental, Cedar provides general, pediatric and emergency dentistry at the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar. Care is provided by predoctoral students and dental residents under the supervision of licensed, experienced faculty dentists from The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month. Penn Dental Medicine’s Pediatric Dentistry Division addressed five questions to help parents stay on top of their children’s dental health and maintain their beautiful smiles.

When do baby teeth develop?

Baby teeth usually begin to appear at around six months of age. However, it’s not uncommon for some children’s primary teeth to erupt earlier and others later. There’s generally no need to worry unless your child has reached the age of 12-15 months without signs of primary teeth pushing through. Even at that stage, there may not be automatic cause for concern. It’s important to ask your own parents when you got your teeth since some parents who developed their baby teeth late may see the same phenomenon in their children.

When should you start brushing your child’s teeth?

You should start brushing as soon as the first tooth emerges. To help get your child accustomed to brushing even before baby teeth make an appearance, you can rub clean gauze or a washcloth along the gumline.

How much toothpaste should you use?

Pediatric dentists recommend a smear of fluoride toothpaste for children under the age of two years and a pea-size amount for those who are either over the age of two years or have all their baby teeth.

How often should you brush your child’s teeth?

Ideally, children should brush their teeth twice daily. Parents should help young children with brushing since they’re still developing their fine motor skills. Children don’t have the motor skills to move their hands and brush their teeth correctly on their own until they’re ages 7-8 years.

Is it necessary to floss baby teeth?

Parents should do so when the teeth begin to contact each other. If your child has tight teeth all around, you can start flossing right away. It’s best to floss once or twice a week to begin building that habit and gradually increase the frequency as more teeth start coming in. As children become more independent, they may also want to floss on their own. However, as with brushing, it’s important for you to assist them until they’re a little older.

To schedule a dental appointment for your child, call 855.887.9229 or request an appointment online.

Linda Harris-Ashton is the new Executive Director of the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar. A leader in the health care field with a passion for fostering organizational and community partnerships, she has more than 20 years of experience overseeing business development, team performance enhancement and customer satisfaction.

In her current role, Linda provides strategic leadership and collaborates closely with clinical and operational leaders from PHMC, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to ensure that Campus services align with community needs. Prior to joining PHMC, she held leadership roles at Crozer Health, Trinity Health Pace and InnovAge.

Linda earned her Master of Business Administration from Wilmington University and a Certificate in Organizational Leadership from the Executive Leadership Institute at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Additionally, she holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).