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 inform, and they do not necessarily reflect First 5 Kern's areas of support or efforts towards these issues.

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Now for the headlines........
STARTING BLOCKS: KQED's SERIES OF REPORTS ON CHILDHOOD ISSUES IN CALIFORNIA

KQED Radio in Northern California launched a series of stories this week analyzing the needs of California's children, and specifically, why the y are being left unfulfilled. Each feature is 3-7 minutes in length, and delves into issues of poverty, health care and education.

The series starts off with a story on how California , despite its high taxes and powerful economy and wealth, also has the highest percentage of children living in poverty in the entire United States.
CANNABIS AND YOUR BABY

As use - and admitted use - of marijuana is on the rise in areas of the country navigating the decriminalization process, so are questions about its affects. A recent study analyzed whether using cannabis during pregnancy increase your child's psychosis risk .

RELATED :
A group of doctors in Colorado recently called over 400 dispensaries in their state pretending to be a pregnant woman, and found that 70% of them recommend marijuana products to treat morning sickness, and most of them did so without suggesting they consult their doctor first.

This interesting recent study investigates the potential that cannabis has to affect developing male and female brains differently.
SURGEON GENERAL EMBARKS ON A 'LISTENING TOUR'

The long term effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences - or, ACEs - are gaining public awareness , bolstered by the appointment of Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris to the state's new surgeon general position. A pioneer in ACEs research, she is embarking on a statewide "listening tour," and this article from the Sacramento Bee dives into her mission, as does this feature from Capitol Public Radio.

Meanwhile, locally, efforts to make Kern County "Trauma-Informed" are underway, and the second annual Trauma-Informed Kern County cohort kicked off in March. The four-part training session is bringing together representatives from the medical industry, community-based organizations, insurance providers and more, and ACEs are at the front of the discussion.
EXTENDED TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL MAY PUT UNBORN CHILDREN AT RISK

Lehigh University, which is located outside Philadelphia, conducted a recent study that appears to link lengthy daily commutes by pregnant women to low birth weight.

The study focused on the mileage of the commute, however, not necessarily the duration of the commute, which impacts people differently in different areas of the country. But Californians are certainly no strangers to lengthy commutes, measured either in time or in distance.
WHAT COULD ANOTHER UNDERCOUNT OF KIDS MEAN TO CALIFORNIA?

It is estimated that over a million children under the age of 5 went uncounted in the last U.S. Census , and California had one of the highest undercounts of kids. The reasons are varied: from families living in shelters to multiple families under one roof or a lack of an accurate count in rental properties, among others. An article in the LA Times this week outlined what could be at risk, should there be another dramatic undercount of children in the Golden State this time around.

This local story on KGET talked about the efforts of the Kern Complete Count Committee, a group of local community organizations that have come together to help ensure Kern County is properly counted in 2020 - kids and the grown-ups, alike. Visit KernCounts.org for more info about local efforts to provide an accurate Census.
ADDITIONAL READING

It was a busy week for stories on children's issues. Here are some other great reads:

The Bakersfield Californian is following a developing story about the Department of Corrections coming under fire for a failing to provide proper pregnancy accommodations . A Tehachapi correctional officer now has six others joining her in suing the department, after she claims to have lost her unborn child during an incident at her prison.

A school in Indiana wanted to find a use for all of the food that is prepared but unused from school lunches.Their solution: send it home with the kids whose families need it .

This story from KCRA out of Sacramento addresses a new proposed law that would allow state workers to bring their baby to work .

A San Francisco woman who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that took over her pregnancy is now sharing her story and working with a non-profit to help others.

Have a news story you would like to share? Send it our way!
...about First 5 Kern
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.
Special thanks to Vecteezy for assistance on graphics