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THIS WEEK'S
HEADLINES
NEWS IMPACTING CHILDREN 0-5 AND THEIR FAMILIES
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Here is a quick look at some headlines from this week impacting the lives of kids 0-5 and their families. The purpose of these stories is simply to share information, and do not necessarily reflect First 5 Kern's areas of support, opinions or efforts towards these issues.
Follow First 5 Kern on social media (@First5Kern) for more kids news, as well as information about our funded programs and initiatives.
Now for the headlines...
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EARLY CHILDCARE & EDUCATION
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Inside California's new master plan to reshape early education and child care |
California’s long-awaited roadmap to reshape early childhood care and education in the state took a critical first step on Tuesday with the release of a first-ever 10-year master plan.
The 107-page Master Plan for Early Learning and Care: California for All Kids is intended to serve as an overarching framework over the next decade to overhaul the state’s childhood education and child care systems, which have long lagged behind those of other states.
Among the key recommendations:
- Expand access to child care and preschool for all 4-year-olds and low-income 3-year-olds to promote school readiness.
- Increase access to paid family leave.
- Promote better quality child care and preschool and a more stable workforce.
- Enhance workforce training and development and create more equitable career paths for educators and caregivers. (EdSource)
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Future California may have universal preschool, but it
will take billions (for starters)
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The Master Plan for Early Learning and Care imagines a future California that would include universal preschool for all 4-year-olds, and all 3-year-olds from low-income families and children with disabilities.
But first, it’ll have to stabilize the child care providers that have remained open throughout the coronavirus pandemic. It will also need to find a solution for the thousands of slots that have been lost to permanent closures.
“Every child in California deserves a shot at opportunity,” Gov. Newsom said. (LAist)
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Fewer kindergarten students means issues for schools and kids
Kindergarten enrollment in American schools has plummeted during the pandemic, potentially setting back educational and social development for children at a critical age and impacting public school budgets for years to come.
Most states don’t require kindergarten attendance. As a result, the drop in enrollment at that age has been steeper than at other levels.
"I just really disagreed with just the mental well-being of what would happen with a 6-year-old sitting at a laptop all day,” said one parent. (New York Times)
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UChicago study explores how Latino families make child care decisions
Despite a cultural tradition of using family members, friends or neighbors for early childhood care, many Latino parents want to enroll their preschool-aged children in formal child care centers, but are stymied by shortages of child care centers in majority Latino communities, among other factors, a new study finds.
After interviewing Latino parents in two Latino-majority neighborhoods, the study by the University of Chicago recommends ways for community members, policymakers, child care providers and others to increase Latino families’ access to formal early childhood care. (PBS Chicago)
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It may be the most important test of a child's life.
Most aren't getting it.
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Alionka Hernandez had a nagging feeling something was wrong with her 1-year-old son, Diego.
Time and again, Diego’s doctor dismissed Hernandez’ concerns. But by the time Diego went in for his 20-month check-up, the Oakland woman was done hearing he was just fine. In tears after that appointment, she begged a nurse at the reception desk to see a different doctor. The sympathetic nurse handed her a bag with programs and pamphlets, including one for a developmental screening and referral program called “Help Me Grow.” (California Health Report)
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Restless Sleep Disorder recognized in children
Sleep is critical for children’s physical and mental health, but many kids just aren’t getting enough. Now, an international panel of sleep experts just added restless sleep disorder as a new pediatric sleep disorder.
“They are tossing and turning, they are repositioning all night. Daytime sleepiness, hyperactivity, some behavioral problems, could be the first signs that the parents see,” said one doctor on the panel. (CBS Miami)
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Preemie babies end up hospitalized more as kids
Children born prematurely have a higher risk of hospitalization later on than those born at full term, a new study says.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 1 million children.
During that time, the children had more than 1.3 million hospitalizations, including nearly 832,000 (63%) emergency admissions. (US News & World Report)
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ACEs & TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
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New evidence on association between ACEs and substance abuse
According to a new study, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), are associated with increased risk of substance use among urban female emergency department (ED) patients.
Men’s adverse childhood experiences were not associated with increased likelihood of substance use outcomes. Women’s, however, were associated.
For example, women with more than 1 adverse experience were more likely to use cannabis or illicit drugs, and women whose mothers were victims of domestic abuse had a greater risk of unhealthy drinking. (Psychiatric Times)
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Program to help struggling families parent young kids
Some of Brooklyn’s most vulnerable children and parents are about to get a helping hand with the opening of a new play-therapy program which helps caregivers build strong bonds with their children age zero to three years old.
At the sessions — which run for two hours and are offered on a “drop-in” basis — parents can expect to come into a space that resembles a playroom, where they will be introduced to others in the group who might be facing similar challenges.
Clinicians then get parents to join their child in playtime and reflect on their interaction. (BKReader)
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Mothers' stress may lead to preterm births, faster
aging in children
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Why do some people age faster than others? A new study indicates that a mother's stress prior to giving birth may accelerate her child's biological aging later in life.
A second study from the same research group found that women suffering from high stress during the months and even years before conception -- defined as feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope -- had shorter pregnancies than other women. (Science Daily)
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Number of times a woman gives birth may affect how they age
Having children doesn’t just make you feel like you’ve aged overnight — a new study led by Penn State researchers found that the number of times a person gives birth may also affect the body’s physical aging process.
The researchers examined several different measures that represent how a person’s body is aging and found that people who had few births — or many — seemed to have aged quicker than those who had given birth three or four times. (Penn State)
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Singapore studies
COVID-19 puzzle after baby born with antibodies
Doctors are studying the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women and their unborn babies in Singapore, where an infant delivered by an infected mother earlier this month had antibodies against the virus but did not carry the disease.
"It is still unknown whether the presence of these antibodies in a newborn baby confers a degree of protection against COVID-19 infection, much less the duration of protection." (US News & World Report)
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The heart health risks of being a single mom or dad
Hoping to shed new light on the toll single parenthood takes on heart health, a recent study analyzed a federal health survey of 2,180 parents, which included 462 single parents, a quarter of whom were single men.
Researchers looked at seven heart health indicators – such as blood pressure, obesity, diet and whether the person smoked – and rated the parents on a 14-point scale. The single-parent group scored about half a point lower than the partnered parents. And single mothers scored almost a full point lower than mothers with partners. (Austin American Stateman)
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The funny business of parenting: Take time out for a little tomfoolery
One of the worst things about being a parent is having to be a mature, responsible grownup all the time. Otherwise, anarchy will prevail and the young folk will stop bathing and doing their chores.
But every once in a while, going a little off the rails can be cathartic while teaching skills like being flexible, flying by the seat of one’s pants and thinking outside the box. It can also boost parent-child bonding. (Citizen Times)
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First 5 Kern was established in 1998 when California voters passed Proposition 10, which levied a 50-cent tax on tobacco products. Revenues generated from the tobacco tax are used to fund local programs in the areas of health and wellness, early childcare and education, and parent education and support services that promote early childhood development for children ages zero to five.
For more information on First 5 Kern and the agencies we support, please visit www.First5Kern.org and follow us on social media.
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Special thanks to Vecteezy for assistance on graphics
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