THIS WEEK'S
HEADLINES
NEWS IMPACTING CHILDREN 0-5 AND THEIR FAMILIES
Sept. 11, 2020
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........

CHILDREN'S HEALTH
Pediatrician warns too much screen time can impact children's health
With the onset of distance learning adding to TV and video game screen time, some doctors are raising concerns about the health risks of staring at a screen all day.

Some of the concerns included obesity, relationship development and lack of concentration, which can lead to ADHD, depression or even aggression, and it could also impact sleep.

“We know especially in teenagers when they’re on screens before bed, a lot of times it’s looking through social media that then causes some increased anxiety or stress. That then gets in the way of going to bed on time," one doctor said. (WWMT)
How screen time and green time affect youth psychological outcomes

Less screen time and more green time are associated with better psychological outcomes among children and adolescents, according to a recent study.

The study's authors say preliminary evidence suggests that green time could potentially buffer the consequences of high screen time, meaning nature may be an under-utilized public health resource to promote youth psychological well-being in a high-tech era. (Medical Xpress)
Secondhand smoke may send more kids to the hospital

Children who are exposed to tobacco have higher rates of hospital admissions after visiting emergency departments or urgent care facilities, according to a new study by University of Cincinnati researchers.

Children exposed to tobacco smoke were 24 times more likely to be admitted to the hospital than unexposed children, which emphasizes that possible tobacco smoke exposure may contribute to related illness severity. (EurekAlert)

PARENTING & FAMILIES
Millions of Californians would be eligible for job-protected leave under plan approved by lawmakers
California’s paid family leave program allows workers to take time off to bond with a new child or care for a sick family member while receiving 60% to 70% of their weekly salary for eight weeks.

Employees automatically pay into the program through the state’s disability tax, but not all workers say they feel they can use the benefit. Many employees, particularly low-wage workers, said they fear that if they take time off they would not have a job to return to.

Currently, companies with 50 or more employees are required to provide 12 weeks of leave to care for a new child or family member. The threshold for parental leave is lower, allowing 12 weeks of job-protected time off for workers at companies with 20 or more employees. Under SB 1383, companies with five or more workers would have to provide 12 weeks of job-protected leave to employees. (LA Times)
American Academy of Pediatrics urges children receive flu vaccines

As researchers race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, there is already a safe, effective way to protect children from another common and unpredictable infection – influenza -- which can cause severe illness and death. This fall, pediatricians recommend that it is more important than ever for everyone over 6 months old to be vaccinated.

The American Academy of Pediatrics released a policy statement touting the option of a flu shot or nasal spray flu vaccine this season. (AAP)
The pandemic is a mental health crisis for parents

As we slouch into Month 7 of the pandemic, the mental health impact on parents remains significant and shows no signs of abating.

Though the pandemic has certainly affected the mental health of all demographics, research showed that in April and May, parents with children at home under 18 were markedly more stressed than non-parents. (NY Times)

EARLY CHILDCARE & EDUCATION
The new kindergarten experience: enrollment is down but
spirits are high
Neither kindergarten nor transitional kindergarten is a requirement in California, and many parents in Kern County this year have opted out. But educators and parents who have opted into distance learning for the youngest students say that so far they’re surprisingly optimistic about how the experience has gone.

Teachers who have been in session for a few weeks say that young students know how to log in without help, and they’re often eager to. Teachers and administrators said that for those students who do enroll, attendance is great, often nearing 100%. (Bakersfield Californian)
What makes a good preschool education

In 1975, Rebecca Palacios became the first in her family to graduate from college, eventually earning a Ph.D. in education in 1996 from the University of Texas at Austin. She began teaching in 1976 in Corpus Christi, at the country’s first district to integrate Latino and white children. And she continued to teach preschool for 34 years until she retired in 2010, becoming one of the most distinguished bilingual early-childhood educators.

In 2014, Palacios became the first Latina to receive the National Teachers Hall of Fame award. (The Atlantic)
Child care has always been essential to our economy - let's start treating it that way

The economic benefits of child care are well documented. We know that our kids, parents, and economy rely on access to child care and it will be central to our economic rebound.

Also clear are the economic losses from its inaccessibility. A recent study found that in one state alone, a lack of child care is estimated to cost employers as much as $2.88 billion annually in lost productivity, absences, and turnover rate—and that was before COVID-19 lockdowns or distance learning. (The Hill)

PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH
Black mothers and babies are dying every year. What's being done to save them in Fresno?
Black infants in the United States are more than twice as likely to die as white infants before their first birthday, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This racial gap adds up to more than 4,000 dead Black babies each year.

According to the Fresno County Department of Public Health, in 2017, the infant mortality rate in Fresno was 20.3 per 1,000 black babies and 5.1 per 1,000 white babies. Although Blacks accounted for only 5.1% of Fresno County’s total births in 2017, they represented 15.6% of total infant deaths. This is a wider disparity than in the state or the nation. (Fresno Bee)
This company is helping women balance work with health and motherhood

“My pregnancy became the pink elephant in the room and there was no support,” Deb Yadegari recalled.

She faced discrimination in the workplace from the start and was instantly forced to choose between the health of her baby and her job back in 2005. She joined the 20% of women who quit their jobs after giving birth.

Yadegari launched Villyge in 2013 to address the “gaping hole that needed to be fixed” by enabling women to continue working while also providing for the well-being of their newborns. (Forbes)
Hypertension during pregnancy linked to severe menopause symptoms

Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, are also likely to have bothersome menopause symptoms, according to study data.

“There are some female-specific factors that are associated with increased risk for future heart disease, and these include vasomotor symptoms — hot flashes/night sweats — and high blood pressure during pregnancy,” said Stephanie S. Faubion, MD, MBA, director of Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health. (Healio)
...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