October, 2018

Are you a subscriber? Receive this free email publication each month when you click here to subscribe!

Stay safe this Halloween! Halloween can be a dangerous time of year for little pedestrians, but Safe Kids Worldwide is working to change that. The international nonprofit organization is working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries. It offers parents tips for safe trick-or-treating. Click for the downloadable tips. Click here for the Safe Kids Worldwide website with more safety information.

Swapping Traditions with Switch Witch Will candy-induced belly aches at Halloween soon be a thing of the past? Switch Witch, a product parents can use to have children trade their trick-or-treat candy for small gifts, may be a solution for parents looking to limit candy consumption. The product designers say Switch Witch is an alternative for children with food allergies or other conditions that prevent them from participating in the once-a-year candy gorge-fest. Just like the holiday mascot Elf on the Shelf has gained in popularity over the past few years, Switch Witch is becoming a movement for health-conscious parents. A Switch Witch character is featured in children's books to help tell the story. Learn more about it at this website.

SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, November 17 at 10 AM Early Intervention Connections Family Fun Day at Playdium in Downingtown The first 40 children registered will be admitted free, along with their parents. Siblings and other children will be admitted at a discounted price. Registration information to come soon!

The Chester County Health Department has free health clinics. Click for the information in English and Spanish .

Let's Talk Coatesville Why Family & Social Supports Matter Join this discussion with the Brandywine Health Foundation. Topics include family stress, access to healthcare, early childhood development, quality childcare, family and community supports. Wednesday, October 24 from 5 - 8 PM Scott Middle School, 800 Olive Street, Coatesville Dinner and childcare provided. Click for downloadable flier of the event.

How Can We Prevent ACEs? We know Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have a strong and lasting impact on a person's overall health and safety, but more research is now showing ways to prevent the trauma, build resilience and heal. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, along with VetoViolence , have developed the ACEs Snapshot online resource.

Competence and Confidence Partners in Policymaking Temple University's Institute on Disabilities is offering a free training for families of children who receive Infant-Toddler Early Intervention or Preschool Early Intervention Services. Learn to navigate the PA Early Intervention System, Identify best practice supports and connect with community resources. Click for downloadable flier.

Promoting a Vision Throughout our lives, we strive for more than basic health and safety. Our conversations need to reflect that. We need to talk about our vision for a good life. In Pennsylvania, the LifeCourse framework is how we make our values and vision of everyday lives a reality. Learn more about charting a LifeCourse. C ontact Darcy Elks, Chester County Family Adviser, PA Family Network, at delks@visionforequality.org . 1-844-PAFAMILY  • 484-459-0538 Click for downloadable flier .

Join Chester County Early Intervention Connections! This group of parents and professionals meets every other month with information and presentations on a variety of topics. The next meeting will feature a speaker on Trauma Informed Practices in Early Childhood.   The next meeting is Tuesday, November 27, 1 PM - 3PM at the West Whiteland Township Building, 101 Commerce Dr., Exton. Click for the brochure with more information. Like our Facebook Page!

Stay informed with these resources! Use the underlined links to learn more .  PA Promise for Children website has information to help parents understand developmental milestones, tips to help children learn, advice on how to find the right child care for your family, strategies to manage challenging behavior, and much more! The PA ASERT Collaborative is a partnership of medical centers, centers of autism research and services, universities, and other providers involved in the treatment and care of individuals of all ages with autism and their families. Learn more about the Early Learning GPS Milestone Tracker App from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chester County Early Intervention Connections has a Facebook page. Connect with us! Chester County Refer Web for social services in our area.

Chester County Department of Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities www.chesco.org/mhidd Chester County Commissioners Administrator - Linda Cox Director, Early Intervention Services - Lori Gallagher