Honoring a tireless advocate
TRENTON -- In nine years at the Trenton-based Anchor House agency, Edna Talbert has become well known in the city as a tireless advocate for poor children and families in need. Edna's philosophy is "everyone needs someone to lean on until they're able to support themselves, then it is their responsibility to teach another." One program for which Edna receives high praise is titled Angel's Wings. Located at Anchor House, with a satellite location at St. Francis Medical Center, Angel's Wings provides support and stabilization services for children who are at risk of being placed in the foster care system.
Recently Edna has joined Children's Futures through its partner agency -- St. Francis Medical Center -- to offer Angel's Wings to additional families, and to help families deal with other serious problems such as autism, behavioral disorders, grief and loss, and abuse and neglect. The results have been astounding. Hundreds of additional Trenton families are now getting the kind of support that is often unavailable, particularly when children and families most need them.
In recognition of Edna's hard work, Children's Futures is honoring Edna Talbert for the month of April with the Children's Futures' HERO Award.
"We are thrilled that Edna is being recognized for her outstanding commitment to Trenton families," said Jerry Jablonowski president and CEO of St. Francis Medical Center. "Through her work, Edna has significantly improved the lives of Trenton families," Jablonowski continued.
The Hero Award program is presented by Children's Futures, a nonprofit agency founded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2001 to improve child health and development outcomes through public and private agency collaboration.
"We rely heavily on our community partners and people like Edna are vital to ensure that families are receiving the proper care and can be directed to the best professionals to provide those services," said Floyd K. Morris Jr., Children's Futures' president.