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THIS WEEK'S
HEADLINES
NEWS IMPACTING CHILDREN 0-5 AND THEIR FAMILIES
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NOTE: THE FIRST 5 KERN OFFICES ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PLEASE REACH OUT TO US VIA EMAIL FOR QUESTIONS OR INFORMATION REGARDING OUR FUNDED PROGRAMS.
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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FIRST 5 KERN DELIVERING 23,000 DIAPERS TO FAMILY PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT KERN COUNTY
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First 5 Kern is distributing 250 cases of diapers and wipes to many of their funded programs over the next few days.
Each case includes 100 diapers and 200 wipes, and will go to families that have been particularly hard hit by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic locally.
Plans are being finalized for additional diaper orders in the coming weeks.
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EARLY CHILDCARE & EDUCATION
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ESSENTIAL WORKERS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILDCARE IN CALIFORNIA
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Nurses, doctors, grocery store workers, police and other essential workers now have access to subsidized child care in California, regardless of their income.
Gov. Newsom issued an
executive order
on April 4 that makes it easier for preschools, family child care homes, school districts, after-school programs and others to provide child care for these essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic. (EdSource)
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THE PANDEMIC IS CAUSING A MAJOR CRISIS IN THE DAY CARE INDUSTRY
Jo Kirchner, CEO of early education franchise Primrose Schools, discusses how the daycare industry will suffer amid the coronavirus outbreak without significant public investment and support. (CNBC)
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DESPITE SCHOOL SHUTDOWN, REMAINING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE IS IMPORTANT TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH
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Doctors have stressed the importance of children remaining physically active in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, hoping to prevent kids from tumbling down a dangerous, unhealthy path due to the absence of school and structure.
"The important thing that I would push is a schedule, a routine, trying to schedule a bit of exercise to your day," said Kevin Berger, a pediatrician at Phoenix Pediatrics said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends
that children ages 6 to 17 do "60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily."(Patch)
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HUGS MORE CALMING FOR BABY WHEN
GIVEN BY MOM OR DAD
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All hugs are not created equal -- and babies as young as 4 months are proof.
Heart rates in infants less than a year old slowed more during a hug than a hold. And the hug had a greater effect when it came from Mom or Dad rather than from a stranger, according to a study published April 7 in the journal
iScience
.
The findings offer some of the first proof that hugs help parents and infants bond, the researchers said. (US News & World Report)
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THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILD-FRIENDLY POLICIES IN THE U.S.
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In the Unit
ed States, the coronavirus outbreak has brought the urgent need for family-friendly policies into sharp focus.
While many caregivers have shifted to working from home, many others have either lost jobs or continue to work outside their homes despite the closure of schools and child care centers. This reality speaks to the conflict between care and career that occurs when policies cannot meaningfully provide caregivers with the resources and flexibility they need to support our country's youngest citizens. (Forbes)
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KID CORONAVIRUS QUESTIONS ANSWERED
You are staying home with your kids and limiting trips, but what about scheduled well checks and other doctors’ appointments? For most families, regular doctor check-ups are on the schedule months in advance. But what about now? And - should your child be wearing a mask? (Click2Houston)
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WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR CALIFORNIANS IN THE 2020 CENSUS
Distrust of government is among the leading reasons some Californians are skeptical about the
2020 U.S. Census
. But don’t let
fears
of government – or even of COVID-19 – keep you from participating. (CalMatters)
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UCLA, UCSF DOCTORS CREATE REGISTRY FOR PREGNANCY-CORONAVIRUS STUDY
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Specialists in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at UCLA Health and UC San Francisco have set up a national registry to determine COVID-19’s possible effects on pregnant women and newborns and are enrolling patients, it was announced today.
The novel coronavirus quickly gained a reputation for being particularly dangerous to the elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions, but little is known about its potential impact on the course of pregnancies. (Daily News)
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I'M TERRIFIED TO GIVE BIRTH DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
When my husband and I saw those two pink lines on the pregnancy test back in August, it was, literally, a dream come true.
Fast-forward eight months, and it’s less like a dream and more a waking nightmare. I am due to give birth the very same week California's hospital system is anticipated to be at an overwhelmed tipping point. (Good Housekeeping)
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W.H.O. ADDRESSES QUESTIONS ON PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH, AND NEWBORN BABIES
The novel coronavirus has spread across 184 countries and territories.
As the infection spreads across the world, questions have been raised about the safety of pregnant women and newborn babies. The World Health Organization has answered such questions. (Moneycontrol.com)
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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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