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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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EARLY CHILDCARE & EDUCATION
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FIRST 5 CALIFORNIA APPROVES $4 MILLION FOR
EMERGENCY CHILDCARE SUPPORT
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The First 5 California Commission held an emergency meeting to approve up to $4 million to support the acquisition and distribution of county-identified essential supplies for babies and young children, in addition to much-needed sanitation items.
First 5 California’s efforts were led by Executive Director Camille Maben, who worked with representatives from the Governor's Office and the Administration, local First 5 county commissions, the First 5 Association, and child care advocates to identify the most-needed supplies, along with strategies to obtain them.
Through partnerships with all 58 First 5 county commissions, the Commission’s action will provide 60 days of mission‑critical supplies to childcare centers that care for the children of essential workers and their most vulnerable populations. (Yahoo! Finance)
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HERE IS THE LATEST RESEARCH ON KIDS AND COVID-19
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Since the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, it has been clear that children are less likely to experience coronavirus symptoms — or any symptoms at all — compared to adults.
CDC data suggests that children represent just 2% of cases in the US, and an analysis of
4,700 confirmed cases in Spain
came to the same conclusion. But children's cases are also tougher to detect — let alone isolate — since many pediatric patients never know they're ill. That means kids could play a key role in fueling the virus' spread. (Business Insider)
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MILLIONS OF KIDS AT RISK FOR MEASLES AS CORONAVIRUS HALTS VACCINATIONS
More than 100 million children could be at risk for measles because countries around the world are suspending national immunization programs in order to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection, international public health leaders warned on Monday.
So far, 24 low- and middle-income countries, including Mexico, Nigeria and Cambodia, have paused or postponed such programs, according to the Measles and Rubella Initiative. (NY Times)
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ANTIHISTAMINES COULD CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS IN CHILDREN
Allergy season is upon us so many families will be getting over-the-counter products to help ease symptoms of runny noses and watery eyes. However, some of these products can cause serious side effects in children, and experts warn of unintentional overdose.
“Too much medication can be given if a child receives a dose of multi-symptom cold medication along with his or her allergy medicine... parents and caregivers should carefully read package labels in order to make sure that ingredients aren’t duplicated.” (KFOR)
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EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES BY SCREEN
CAN ONLY GO SO FAR
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Parents nationwide are worried their children with delays or disabilities will regress without the constant, mostly in person support of highly trained teachers and therapists. Experts say losing these services during the critical early years is especially concerning considering how important early interventions are to address delays early.
Across the country, some counties have fully halted early intervention services aimed at infants and toddlers. Meanwhile, many schools, therapists and families are now increasingly turning to online and digital sources for these early therapies. But how do you get a toddler or preschooler to pay attention to someone on a screen and have parents support or even replicate the intricate work of a therapist? (Hechinger Report)
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CALIFORNIA COMMITS $42 MILLION FOR FOSTER YOUTH DURING PANDEMIC
California will steer $42 million toward helping tens of thousands of foster youth as stay-at-home orders have drastically reduced contact and services for some of the state’s “most vulnerable” children, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in his daily update.
Most of the extra $42 million for foster care will cover the cost of $200 monthly payments to the thousands of families with children “at-risk” of becoming foster youth. (CalMatters)
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ECONOMISTS FIND CARBON FOOTPRINT GROWS WITH PARENTHOOD
Increased time constraints and the need for convenience in raising children appear to offset parents’ concerns about the future when it comes to their carbon footprints, according to new research by University of Wyoming economists and a colleague in Sweden.
The study found that two-adult households with children emit over 25% more carbon dioxide than two-adult households without children. (University of Wyoming)
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NEARLY ALL PREGNANT WOMEN WITH CORONAVIRUS IN STUDY WERE ASYMPTOMATIC
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A
new study
that tested more than 200 pregnant women admitted for delivery in two New York City hospitals for coronavirus, whether they showed symptoms or not. Thirty-three women tested positive, but 29 of them showed no symptoms, according to the results published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.
CBS News correspondent Nikki Battiste, who is 37 weeks pregnant, said she was told she'll have to wear a mask when she goes in to deliver, and she'll be tested as soon as she arrives at the hospital. If she tests positive, she'll be isolated as staff take special precautions. (CBS News)
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PAMPERS IS LAUNCHING VIRTUAL CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASSES
Because many women don't have full access to their ob-gyns right now, Pampers has stepped up to help by creating a free
nine-part series of virtual childbirth education videos
meant to give families the information they need.
What can soon-to-be parents expect from the series? Videos led by two clinical childbirth experts — which include five real-life expecting parents — that touch on topics from prenatal health and nutrition to
breastfeeding
and postpartum care. (Popsugar)
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C-SECTION BABIES MAY HAVE HIGHER RISK FOR HEALTH PROBLEMS
Being born by c-section may have long-term health consequences, increasing your risk for obesity and type 2
diabetes
as an adult, a study of more than 30,000 US women suggests.
The
research
, published Monday in the journal JAMA Network Open, found that those women born by cesarean delivery were 11% more likely to be obese as adults and had a 46% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than women born by vaginal delivery. (CNN)
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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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