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.
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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FY2020 FUNDING BILL INCLUDES OVER $1B INCREASE FOR EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE
Earlier this week, bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate
appropriations committees released the details of FY2020 spending bills to fund the government through the remainder of the fiscal year. Included in the legislation is
over $1 billion in increased
funding for federal early learning and care programs, including a $550 million increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program and a $550 million increase for Head Start & Early Head Start.
And for a great Federal Early Learning 101, click here.
(FFYF.org)
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CALIFORNIA LABELS THC A RISK FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND FETUSES
A California panel voted last week to declare marijuana smoke and THC
a risk to pregnant women and their developing fetuses
and require warning labels
. Surveys have indicated that a rising number of mothers-to-be have turned to marijuana products for relief from morning sickness and headaches, though it’s effectiveness has not been backed by science. (Time)
RELATED: T
he UNLV School of Medicine came out with a study earlier this month that looked at the impact of marijuana use while pregnant
. The study included nearly 450 pregnant women and found that
daily marijuana use is associated
with delayed fetal growth, "which can put a baby at risk of certain health problems during pregnancy, delivery, and even after birth,” say UNLV researchers. (KSNV-TV Las Vegas)
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IMPORTANCE OF BREASTFEEDING IN PREVENTING DIABETES REAFFIRMED IN STUDY
New research published last week in the Journal of Physiology shows that breastfeeding
is crucial in preventing diabetes. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for infants until six months of age, as this
helps reduce child morbidity and mortality
. In contrast, early weaning is associated with both the development of obesity and Type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Researchers at Rio de Janeiro State University, led by Patricia Lisboa, showed that weaning rat pups early increased insulin secretion in adolescent male pups and in both genders as adults. (Science Daily)
RELATED: Moms traveling through LaGuardia Airport in New York have recently taken to the use
of
sticky notes in a breastfeeding pod
for encouragement to fellow mothers.
The messages included: "You got this," "What you are doing is beyond amazing," and "You are literally sustaining life with your incredible milk! Super-hero type stuff."
(USA Today)
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CAN THESE APPS HELP PARENTS CONNECT WITH CHILD CARE?
In recent years, the number of licensed in-home child care providers
has declined about 20%. According to the Center for American Progress, half the U.S. population lives in areas lacking enough providers, with low-income families and communities of color disproportionately affected. But
a new wave of startups aims to help
parents and providers to connect. (PBS News Hour)
RELATED:
Texting programs aimed at parents of young children have proliferated over the last several years
as smart phones have become ubiquitous and health and education groups look for
new ways to get kids on track early
. The messages give “you these little ideas on ways to engage with your child and things to look for,” said one parent. “What I really, really like about it is it’s not a huge commitment.” (Chalkbeat.org)
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SENATORS MITT ROMNEY AND MICHAEL BENNET UNVEIL BASIC INCOME PLAN FOR KIDS
On Sunday, Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) announced a bipartisan plan to do something pretty extraordinary: establish a basic income for children in the United States.
The plan is relatively modest
, with a scale depending on the child's age, and family income,
as occurs under the Child Tax Credit already in the federal tax code.
As the Child Tax Credit is currently designed, the poorest Americans — like disabled parents, or parents who don’t have any cash income — are cut off from the benefit, and parents working for low wages or low hours don’t get the full benefit. (Vox)
RELATED: For more on the Child Tax Credit, which was greatly enhanced in 2017,
a new study found that children
with the greatest economic needs are least likely to benefit. Researchers at Columbia University found that
35% of children fail to receive
the full $2,000 because their parents earn too little, a quarter receive too little, and 10% receive nothing. (NY Times)
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IN OTHER NEWS....
AIR POLLUTION TIED TO HYPERTENSION IN PREGNANT WOMEN
Women who live near major roadways appear more likely to develop high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can lead to serious and fatal complications if left unchecked,
new federal research suggests
. Hypertension is among the most common health issues women develop during pregnancy and, in its most severe forms, a leading cause of maternal death in the week after childbirth. (U.S. News & World Report)
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON "BABY-FRIENDLY" HOSPITALS
Expectant mothers have likely heard the term "baby-friendly" when it comes researching hospital delivering options near you. Baby-Friendly certified hospitals go
through rigorous testing
that translates to top-notch care for parents and babies. The list includes several in Bakersfield. (YAHOO!)
DULUTH OFFERING LOANS FOR CHILD CARE GROWTH
The city of Duluth, Minnesota, is offering $500,000 in loans and grants next year to help day care providers start or expand their businesses. Applications for the loans, which top out at
$50,000 per applicant
, will give preference to those creating infant care positions or offering longer hours. “Very clearly there’s a need for this. The economic value ... is overwhelming,” said a city representative. (Star Tribune)
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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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