1. Message from
the Chairperson Judy Romano, MD, FAAP:
Dear Members of the Section on Early Education and Child Care:
Welcome to the December issue of our section newsletter! The winter season is upon us, and this one brings unusual challenges in keeping children in out-of-home settings healthy due to the H1N1 epidemic. Read how children, parents and child care centers are being affected.
SOEECC members continue to make important contributions to the field:
The AAP presented at the 2009 National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference. “An Afternoon With the American Academy of Pediatrics” included SOEECC members Rachel Moon, MD, FAAP; CAPT Tim Shope, MD, MPH, FAAP; and Laura Jana, MD, FAAP. Attendees learned about SIDS, managing infectious diseases, and healthy behaviors. Click here for a copy of the presentations and handouts.
Kristen Copeland, MD, FAAP, has published research on physical activity in child care centers.
On September 16-18, 2009, the National Governors Association, Center for Best Practices hosted Building Brighter Futures for Our Children, a national children's summit that brought together 39 state teams to develop a coordinated policy agenda among state health, early education and human service systems to ensure better outcomes for our nation's children. Click here for a closer look at this meeting and how it relates to your work in early education and child care.
Lastly, please check out your state's endeavors around early childhood policy and Early Childhood Advisory Councils - we have an unprecedented opportunity to influence the health and well-being of young children and their families.
Sincerely,
Judy Romano , MD, FAAP, Chairperson
AAP
Section on Early Education and Child Care
2.
New Reports:
Flip Flops, Dress Clothes, and No Coat: Clothing Barriers to Children's Physical Activity in Child-Care Centers Identified From a Qualitative Study
Daily physical activity offers numerous health benefits, but activity levels vary widely across child care centers. SOEECC member Kristen Copeland, MD, FAAP, was one of the authors of this study, which was undertaken to explore reasons why physical activity levels may vary. This paper describes 2 major themes from findings that were unexpected based on review of the relevant literature: 1) child care providers cited children’s clothing as an important barrier to children’s physical activity, and 2) children’s clothing contributes to considerable conflict between parents and child care providers.
Preschool-Aged Children's Television Viewing in Child Care Settings
A survey of child care programs in 4 states has found that toddlers in home-based care watched 1.6 hours of television while there each day, and that children 3 to 5 years old watched 2.4 hours a day in home-based settings. That’s substantially more than children attending programs that are not home-based. This report encourages pediatricians to council parents to minimize screen time in child care settings.
Connected Kids at Head Start: Taking Office-Based Violence Prevention to the Community Pediatricians face a growing
set of recommended health screenings and directives.
This qualitative study was undertaken
to explore the possibility of moving violence
prevention, in the form of the
Connected Kids curriculum, out of the
pediatric office and into the community.
Specifically, opinions of families
(potential curriculum targets) and
family advocates (potential curriculum
users) were sought to determine
the acceptability and appropriateness
of Connected Kids in the Head Start
setting.
Indicators for Social-emotional Development in Early Childhood: A Guide for Local Stakeholders
Strong evidence links social-emotional health in early childhood to subsequent school success and health in the preteen and teen years, and to long-term health and well-being in adulthood. Effective programs that address social-emotional health early in life can promote resilience and actually prevent mental health problems later in life. This report gives local stakeholders the information and tools necessary to develop and use indicators for social-emotional development.
The Next Step in Systems-Building: Early Childhood Advisory Councils and Federal Efforts to Promote Policy Alignment in Early Childhood
The Head Start Reauthorization Act of 2007 mandates that governors designate an Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) to develop a coordinated system of early childhood education and care. Based on interviews with representatives involved in ECAC development in all 50 states, this report provides a snapshot of where states stand now. It also offers recommendations on how to ensure that the councils make a positive impact on the lives of young children and their families.
Observations on Increased Accidental Asphyxia Deaths in Infancy While Cosleeping in the State of Maryland
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has recorded a significant increase of accidental asphyxia deaths in infancy associated with cosleeping in the state of Maryland in 2003. This report focuses on the detailed scene investigation findings of infant victims who died of asphyxia while cosleeping. The shift of diagnosis in SIDS investigation is also addressed.
Arne Duncan's Remarks at the 2009 NAEYC Annual Conference
US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan spoke at the 2009 NAEYC Annual Conference about the Department of Education’s efforts to advance the Obama administration’s goals and initiatives for high-quality early childhood education, K-12 education reform, and lifelong learning.
Parents Can Help Their Children Grow to Love Vegetables
At the Primrose School of Legacy, owner and SOEECC member Laura Jana, MD, FAAP, uses the school’s garden to encourage children to eat their vegetables. Toddlers help tend a 60-foot table garden. They water, weed, and pick vegetables that they serve and eat together. Parents and child care providers are finding that children are more willing to try different foods if they’ve taken a part in growing and preparing it.
Children Learn Their Part in Swine Flu Prevention
Doctors and child care specialists believe children, even the youngest ones, have a role to play in limiting the spread of the virus that surfaced earlier this year and is a threat to young people. Read about the strategies that some communities are using in this article.
Child-Care Centers and Parents Brace for Flu Season
Over the years, child care centers have become a security blanket for millions of working parents who need out-of-home child care during the day. But as an H1N1 epidemic draws closer, these centers look less like protective bastions and more like potential H1N1 incubators. Read this article to learn how some child care centers are responding to this epidemic.
New Publication: Managing Chronic Health Needs in Child Care and Schools
This new guide helps caregivers and teachers face the challenges of caring for children with chronic medical conditions and special health care needs. This manual is organized similarly to the popular Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide, providing more than 35 quick-access fact sheets on specific conditions like allergies, autism, and seizures.
Help Families Find Quality Child Care!
Do you talk with families about child care? Do families ask you what type of child care is best? These questions are great conversation starters to making sure that children are healthy and safe in out-of-home child care settings. Find information on how you as a pediatrician can provide guidance to families. Be prepared to answer their questions by using the resources on the Frequently Asked Questions Web page on the Healthy Child Care America Web site.
New Healthy Foster Care America Web site!
The Task Force on Foster Care recently launched the Healthy Foster Care America Web site to engage communities and their leaders in supporting children, teens, and their families with an effective, multidisciplinary, integrated, and comprehensive continuum of care. The Web site is a place where professionals and partner organizations can find the latest tools, resources, facts, and figures on the health and well-being of children and teens in foster care. The Tools and Resources for Health Care Professionals even includes a safe sleep form to ensure that all caregivers (including foster parents and birth parents) are educated about safe sleep for infants and pledge to follow the proper safe sleep practices.
The Science of Early Childhood Development
This video from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University features Center Director Jack P. Shonkoff, MD, FAAP, professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard School of Public Health, and Harvard Medical School addressing basic concepts of early childhood development, established over decades of neuroscience and behavioral research, which help illustrate why child development—particularly from birth to five years—is a foundation for a prosperous and sustainable society. For videos similar to this one, visit the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.
Are you looking to become more involved in early education and child care? If so, we have an opportunity for you! We are looking for an AAP Chapter Child Care Contact (CCCC) in the following states:
Alabama
Delaware
Florida
Maryland
Puerto Rico
Utah
West Virginia
If you or someone you know is interested in this position, please see the CCCC job description and/or E-mail Stephanie Nelson at snelson@aap.org. If you are not located in the above states yet are still interested in becoming more active, contact your CCCC for ideas.
NCE 2009 – CCCC Meeting
Thanks to all who attended the 2009 NCE CCCC Training/Discussion on the new Healthy Futures: Improving Health Outcomes for Young Children Medication Administration Curriculum! It was a huge success with 20 total participants that included CCCCs/mentors, partners, and guests.
Request for Proposal
The AAP Healthy Futures Project Advisory Group invites the CCCCs to seek funding for distribution of the medication administration curriculum within their state. The grants will be flexible and adaptable. The project will award grants in the amount of $7,500 for a 1-year period. Grant funds must be used for implementation of the medication administration curriculum between February 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011.
Applications must be E-mailed or postmarked no later than January 6, 2010. Preliminary notification of award recipients will be made no later than January 25, 2010. The primary contact will be notified of the award in writing.
If you are interested in submitting an RFP, please E-mail Stephanie Nelson at snelson@aap.org.
Connect With Your Early Childhood Advisory Councils!
Early Childhood Advisory Councils are state-level councils whose purpose is to support and advise state policymakers as they work to create a strong, aligned, and comprehensive system of services for young children birth to 5, and their families. The council membership includes, to the best extent possible, stakeholders that work with children and families. One representative of the council must represent a state agency responsible for health or mental health care. Several pediatricians have already become members of these state councils. We encourage CCCCs to connect with your state councils as they are forming. What a great opportunity to advocate for health and safety for young children!
The AAP is pleased to announce the request for applications for the Healthy Active Living Grant Program. There will be up to 5 chapters selected for grants of up to $20,000 each to develop innovative programs and approaches to support Healthy Active Living for families. The 2009 Healthy Active Living Grant Program is supported by MetLife Foundation.
The Nickelodeon’s Big Green grants program will provide up to $5,000 for resources to schools and community-based organizations to support environmentally-friendly projects that educate and inspire kids to (1) take care of the environment; (2) be active and live healthier; and/or (3) engage in community service. .
