Marti Emerald

Children's 1OMobile

Marti Emerald is one gutsy lady. When she became the Troubleshooter for KGTV/San Diego's 10 in 1987, she dug right in ... fighting to resolve local problems and issues that affect the heart, health and pocketbooks of many San Diegans. She's a dedicated consumer advocate on a mission to educate and defend those in trouble. Marti and KGTV pursue news stories that affect our community, our quality of life ... and our children. For many years, KGTV's Children's Line 10 allowed children with absent, working parents to call in with questions, problems, or just to talk. Following the guidelines and rules of each individual household, Children's Line 10 offered help and guidance for kids whose parents were at work ... making everyday problems a little easier for the child.

Another of the many valuable programs which KGTV has developed to help children is the Children's 10mobile. A community service partnership of SDG&E, KGTV and Children's Hospital, Children's 10mobile has directly reached more than 313,000 children and families since it was founded in 1994. Thousands more have benefited from health messages aired daily on KGTV - in 10News segments, in 1ONews "Staying Healthy' reports, and through a series of public service announcements, print ads and press releases.

Children's 10mobile was created to meet the health needs of minority and under-served communities who frequently go without vital health services. It travels to different neighborhoods each week to provide these important services and safety tips, emphasizing prevention strategies which have been demonstrated to reduce preventable injuries and illnesses and improve the health status of San Diego's children. During 1998, children's 10mobile targeted six of the leading pediatric healthcare issues: childhood injury prevention and bicycle safety, asthma management, immunizations, vision care, dental health care, and physical fitness.

The program has become widely recognized for its responsiveness and credibility in addressing families' needs for health and safety services and information. It has effectively continued to provide quality health screenings, services, education, and health referrals to underserved families in neighborhoods throughout San Diego County.

In 1999, Children's 10mobile will continue to provide these invaluable services to the community. In addition, the program has outlined five specific goals for the year. Children's 10mobile will strive to: (1) Become a resource for parents throughout San Diego County, teaching them to be the best first teachers that they can possibly be; (2) Provide parent-friendly screening tools for the early detection of speech, hearing and vision limitations, and link them to appropriate resources; (3) Promote age-appropriate literacy training for parents and children and link parents to health, education and parenting resources; (4) Collaborate with schools, businesses, and health agencies in San Diego County to provide resources for parents, teachers, and administrators to increase their effectiveness in helping children achieve their highest potential; and (5) Provide access to health insurance and thereby promote early and regular support and services.

Women's International Center proudly presents the 1999 Living Legacy Award to Children's Mobile/Children's Line 1 0 and to Marti Emerald of KGTV/San Diego's IO. Keep up the great work!