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Topic- Affordable Sports Program
Retrieved: 11/02/2021
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley is committed to making recreational youth sports programs accessible and affordable for youth and teens. Recreational youth sports programs offer structured, safe, and positive opportunities for skill development, character-building, and a life-long appreciation for healthy living. It is helpful to have affordable sports for all ages to play. Also, affordable for there afterschool programs.

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Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley - Arizona

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Rookies: Youth Grades 3rd-5th

Cadets: Tween Grades 6th-8th

Registration opens: February 2022 - Exact Date TBD
Register Online or in Clubs
Registration: February TBD Practice begins: March TBD 7-Week Season (6 games and 1 tournament): TBD
Game & Practice Parameters

Practices are held one time per week for 1 hour

Games are held on Saturdays at a geographically central location (divisions)

Spectators are not allowed in the building

Clubs may transport teams or parents can drop youth off at the game site

A minimum 15-minute break between games to clear gym and sanitize

Fee Structure $50 - Current Member $100 - Non-Member

Does not pay monthly/weekly fees

Attends Club only during practice/game times

Fee Includes: Jr. Suns jersey, trophies, & referees

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Every Club offers the following leagues for our youth and teens to participate in. Transportation is provided for games held on weekdays. Families are invited to attend games. Pleases contact your local Club to learn about potential clinics offered. Arizona is committed to making recreational sports programs accessible and affordable for youth and teens.

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Topic-Poverty
Retrieved: 11/02/2021
No Kid Hungry is working to end child hunger in America today by ensuring that all children get the healthy food they need every day to thrive. working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. After 25 years of successfully investing in local nonprofits and helping find the best approaches to eradicating poverty and hunger, Share Our Strength launched No Kid Hungry in 2010. This is a great site for families to look into. They are located everywhere for families to look into if struggling with money.

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UPDATING THE MAP

We are always looking for more food assistance resources to share with families. If you see any issues with the data presented on the map, please email BestPractices@Strength.org to share updates.

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UPDATING THE MAP We are always looking for more food assistance resources to share with families. If you see any issues with the data presented on the map, please email BestPractices@Strength.org to share updates.

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Topic- Healthy Meals for Families
Retrieved- 11/02/2021
For as long as I can remember a large social issue that America has faced, has been a weight crisis. A part of that issue is the cost of healthy eating. Especially for larger families. It is helpful to have resources that provide meal ideas that are cost conscious while still being nutritious.

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These Cheap Healthy Meals For Large Families are perfect for pushing your grocery budget farther.

Not only are these meals all healthy options, they are seriously delicious.

Everyone in the family will enjoy them.

You won't feel guilty about feeding them to your kids, and you will be spending less on groceries.

Sounds like a perfect plan to me!

Cheap Healthy Meals For Large Families

1. Turkey Taco Skillet Recipe

FiveSpot Green Living always has delicious recipes to share, and we love this Turkey Taco Skillet Recipe.

Basic ingredients that satisfy our tastes buds at a fraction of the cost and lower fat. Rice added into this recipe makes it go farther on a budget, and the seasonings make it chock full of flavor you expect.

It is definitely a favorite for any large family!

2. Teriyaki Chicken and Spiralized Veggie Stir-Fry Recipe

This Teriyaki Chicken and Spiralized Veggie Stir-Fry Recipe is a great way to use up those boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs you got on sale. The sauce is organic, inexpensive and will leave you feeling better since you will know exactly what your kids are eating.

Add in some steamed rice and frozen stir fry veggies and you have a cheap healthy meal for large families that will end up on your menu plan regularly.

3. Spinach lasagna

This is a great delicious meal everyone will love. You can add ground meat or inexpensive ground turkey for the meat lovers. It is an easy to adapt recipe that is also easy to cook.

4. Spinach Herb Cauliflower Pilaf

This from Spinach Herb Cauliflower Pilaf from My Life Cookbook is a beautiful meal that is hearty and super healthy. Shred your cauliflower and cook with seasonings and vegetables to create a rice like texture with tons of nutrients.

This is an amazing way to get your kids to eat another vegetable, plus it is so cost effective! You can add in some chicken or shrimp if you wish, but it is perfect as a stand alone meal.

5. Spinach Meat Balls

These meat balls are so easy and have an added crunch with the spinach. You can replace the beef with turkey or even chicken. These are so easy to throw together, budget friendly and perfect to add to pasta, serve with barbecue sauce and veggies or use on sandwiches.

Make them in large batches when your favorite meat is on sale, then keep them on hand in the freezer! Just thaw and reheat when you need a little something extra to go with your pasta!

6. Lemon Chicken Greek Salad

This Lemon Chicken Greek Salad is an amazing meal from Posed Perfection. It includes great delicious flavors and tons of hearty vegetables that make it super healthy and easy to throw together. Use chicken breasts or chicken thighs to create your preferred chicken.
Related: Uttterly Delicious Chopped Tandoori Chicken Salad Recipe
7. Baked Mac and Cheese

Sometimes, you just need a little comfort food after a rough week, and this baked mac and cheese definitely fits the bill! I know what you're thinking: mac and cheese isn't exactly health food, right? Well, if you're making it with processed cheese, it's definitely not.

However, when you make your own from scratch, you choose the ingredients. Swap out regular macaroni for whole-grain, use low-fat skim-milk cheese, and so on. Originally made out of ingredients scrounged from a convenience store during a huge blizzard, it's easily adapted to include your favorite cheeses!

Serve it with homemade garlic bread! While it's pretty filling on its own, you can also heat up some precooked chicken breast strips and toss them in for added protein. Stewed tomatoes also make a great addition!

8. Healthy Pumpkin Soup

When it comes to healthy cheap meals, you can never go wrong with soup! I love our pumpkin soup with almond milk! It's made with just 6 ingredients (3 of which you probably already keep on hand)! The almond milk gives it a subtle nutty flavor and is perfect for family members who can't tolerate lactose.

Pumpkins are rich in antioxidants, beta carotene, and potassium, making them them not only the most delicious veggie, but one of the healthiest, too!

9. Vegetarian Taco Skillet Recipe

This vegetarian taco skillet recipe isn't just cheap at under $10 for the whole meal, it's healthier than regular tacos because it doesn't include red meat. Don't worry, even your meat lovers won't miss the ground beef!

The peppers are the most expensive ingredients, and you can usually find those on sale in your grocery store.

10. Cheap Cheese Pasta

When your budget is stretched as far as it will go and you need something quick & cheap to feed your large family, this cheese pasta recipe is a life-saver! We even make it for parties so we have an inexpensive yet crowd-pleasing vegetarian option! Bonus: it's a huge hit with picky eaters!

These cheap healthy meals for large families are sure to be a hit with everyone in your home. They are delicious, easy to prepare and just what your family enjoys.
Do you have any go-to cheap healthy meals for large families? Tell us about them in the comments!

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Cheap Healthy Meals For Large Families in Nov 2021 - OurFamilyWorld.com

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These Cheap Healthy Meals For Large Families are perfect for pushing your grocery budget farther. Not only are these meals all healthy options, they are seriously delicious. Everyone in the family will enjoy them. You won't feel guilty about feeding them to your kids, and you will be spending less...

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Topic- Swimming Lessons
Retrieved- 11/02/2021
Some may look at swimming lessons as just an activity to put their child in to help keep them busy . While this is a legitimate reason, swimming lessons do have many other benefits. The article above highlights some of those. Great resource for a parent trying to find a life long beneficial activity for their child.

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By: Mollie Shauger | Thursday, June 20, 2019 | Aquatics Swim lessons are a great way to prepare young swimmers to enjoy the water in a much safer way. Here at the YMCA, we offer a number of learn-to-swim classes for swimmers of all ages.

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Topic: Pool Safety
Retrieved: 11/02/2021
To Pool Safely means adopting critical water safety steps to ensure that a great afternoon at the pool doesn’t turn into a tragic one. Learn more about the campaign below. To improve pool and spa safety, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched Pool Safely: Simple Steps to Save Lives, a national public education campaign to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries and entrapments.

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About the Pool Safely Campaign

To improve pool and spa safety, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched Pool Safely: Simple Steps to Save Lives, a national public education campaign to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries and entrapments.

The campaign is a call-to-action for consumers and industry to adopt proven water safety steps and join a national conversation about pool and spa safety by sharing best practices and other life-saving information.

Pool Safely carries out the provisions of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act), federal legislation mandating new requirements for public pools and spas, including a public information campaign.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act) was enacted by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush on December 19, 2007. Designed to prevent the tragic and hidden hazard of drain entrapments and eviscerations in pools and spas, the law became effective on December 19, 2008. You can find a PDF of the act here.

Pool Safely Grant Program

The Pool Safely Grant Program aims to help prevent the drowning and drain entrapments of children in pools and spas. It provides state and local governments with assistance to implement enforcement and education programs. To learn more about the program, visit our Grants page.

About the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), created by Congress as an independent agency, began operation in 1973.

In the Consumer Product Safety Act, Congress directed CPSC to protect the public "against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products." In addition to pool and spa safety, the CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard.

The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products-such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals-contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

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To improve pool and spa safety, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched Pool Safely: Simple Steps to Save Lives, a national public education campaign to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries and entrapments.

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Mariah Shaheed-Ali: Health        Mayo Clinic Health Information | mayoclinic.com/health-information

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Mariah Shaheed-Ali: Health        Mayo Clinic Health Information | mayoclinic.com/health-information

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Topic: Resources for different types of diseases an medical conditions.
Retrieved 11/01/2021
Trusted source of medical information including guides on hundreds of diseases and conditions, possible causes for symptoms, information on drugs and supplements, tests and procedures, and healthy living.

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Topic- Car Seat Safety
Retrieved- 11/02/2021
The blog post linked above could be a very helpful resource for a new parent or anyone in the market for a new car seat. With so many options out there it can be very overwhelming. That is why a blog post from someone who has been in that position is helpful. The post breaks down each stage of a car seat from rear- facing to just a belt. It also lists things to look for when purchasing a seat .

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Car Seats Series #1 : Selection

Did you know that 3 out of 4 car seats have some sort of mistake according to Safe Kids Worldwide? Car crashes are the leading cause of preventable death for children ages 1 to 13. There is a lot that can be done to further prevent these deaths

Selecting the right car seat is the first step in car seat safety.

But which car seat is the right car seat?

There is no one answer because it depends. So generally speaking, the right car seat is the car seat that fits your car, fits your child and you can install correctly every time.

You might be thinking more expensive equals better. Rest assured, that may not necessarily be the case - more on that later.

And what may work for your situation may not work for your friend's. To select the right seat for you first you need to know which stage your child is in.

The 4 (+) Stages of Car Seats

There are 4 stages of child restraint usage: rear facing , forward facing, belt positioning and seat belts. The type of seat you need will depend on your child's age and size.

Stage 0 (or the + stage): Prenatal

Others may not, but we include the prenatal stage as the child in the womb needs special attention and protection while in the car as well. There are a surprisingly high number of pregnancies lost every year in car crashes. Studies reveal an average of 3,000 pregnancies lost every year from car crashes. And a 2015 study showed that unborn babies are at least at five times the risk in a car crash compared to newborns in rear-facing car seats.

Not only should pregnant women wear their seat belt, they should wear it properly and use a crash tested pregnancy seat belt positioner. There's one called the Tummy Shield which redirects the seat belt away from the pregnancy.

Stage 1: Rear Facing

Birth to max limits of rear facing seat; AT LEAST until 2 years old; ideally until age 3 to 4 when they no longer fit their seat in a rear-facing position.

"All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat (CSS) as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the seat's manufacturer." - The American Academy of Pediatrics

Why should a child remain rear facing? While a child is rear facing the child's head, neck and back are all supported and protected by the car seat, reducing the stress to the child's fragile neck and spinal cord.

When they are turned forward facing the body is being restrained by the harness strap and the neck and head are unrestrained. The child's body is dependent on the strength of his spine to handle the stress of a crash. An average nine month old child's head makes up 25% of his body weight; while an adult's head only makes up 6% of its body weight. This difference in proportion only adds to the need to protect the spinal column.

A toddler's bones have not fully ossified, and cartilage is connecting a toddler's vertebrae rather than ossified bone. The longer a child is kept rear facing, the better the chance the spinal column will have strengthened over time.

Types of seats to use:

Infant seat: A portable seat with base designed for newborns and small babies. These seats can only be used in a rear facing position.

Convertible seat in rear-facing position: This is a full size car seat that can transfer from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat and will allow a child to remain rear facing longer. As some fit a newborn this could be the first seat.

All-in-one seat in rear-facing position: This type of seat can go from rear facing to forward facing to belt positioning as the child grows.

Stage 2: Forward Facing

From the time they outgrow their rear-facing car seat (at the very least age 2, preferably age 3 or 4) to when they outgrow their forward-facing car seat (depends on the child and seat but typically about 5 or 6).

The purpose of having a 5-point harness is to contact more of the strongest points of the body to distribute the crash forces and help the child better "ride down" a crash.

It's recommended to always use the tether with a forward-facing car seat as it limits the child's forward head movement (called head excursion). Also make sure the harness straps are snug enough on the child that you cannot pinch the strap material at the shoulders.

Use this seat until your child's:

1. Height or weight exceeds the car seat's limits,

2. Shoulders are above the car seat's top harness slots (the harness strap should be at or above the shoulder for forward facing children),

3. Ears reach the top of the car seat (the child's head no longer has proper "head rest").

Types of seats to use:

Convertible seat in forward facing position: This is a full size car seat that can transfer from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat.

All-in-one seat in forward facing position with the harness: This type of seat can go from rear facing to forward facing to belt positioning as the child grows.

Combination seat with the harness: This seat goes from forward facing to a belt positioning booster when the child has reach the harness limits. (Some companies call this a "harness booster" but really it's used either as a harness seat or as a booster seat.)

RideSafer travel vest: A vest worn by the child with seat belt guides to properly position the seat belt, at this age particularly useful as a travel car seat or secondary seat for other cars.

Download our report: Common Car Seat Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Stage 3: Belt Positioning

(Many say belt positioning booster but there are other appropriate belt-positioning products, like the RideSafer.)

From when the child outgrows their forward-facing car seat (approximately 5 or 6) to when the child passes the 5-step seat belt fit test (approximately somewhere between 8 to 12 years of age).

Types of seats to use:

Booster seat: Either a high-back booster or no-back booster which lifts the child up.

RideSafer travel vest: A vest worn by the child with seat belt guides to properly position the seat belt.

All-in-one seat in forward facing position without the harness: This type of seat can go from rear facing to forward facing to belt positioning as the child grows.

Combination seat without the harness: This seat goes from forward facing to a belt positioning booster when the child has reach the harness limits.

Stage 4: Seat belt only

When the child can pass the 5-step test (below); typically when a child is 4'9″ (57″) tall which doesn't usually happen until a child is 9 to 12 years old.

The child must pass all of the 5 steps below to be able to use just the seat belt. Many state laws go up to age 8 but most children do not fit properly at that age. Proper fit can vary by car - even by sitting position - so check each position and car your child rides in.

Can your child?

1. Sit with his lower back against the seat and feet on the floor,

2. Keep his knees naturally bent at the edge of the seat,

3. Have the lap belt on his thighs,

4. Have the shoulder belt cross midshoulder/midchest,

5. Sit like this for the entire ride.

Remember, children under 13 should always ride in the back seat.
What to look for when buying a car seat

As you may recall, the right car seat is the car seat that fits your car, fits your child and you can install correctly every time. And for many parents it also has to fit their budget.

Car seats come in a wide range of prices. More expensive seats may not necessarily perform better; sometimes they just have more bells and whistles.

Remember, all legal car seats have to pass the same crash tests and safety standards. (Watch out for knockoff car seats which are infiltrating online marketplaces like Amazon. These seats are illegal and not safe. Learn what to look for to verify if it is a legitimate car seat.)

When selecting the right car seat, first read the labeling - required on all car seats - to decide which car seat your child will fit in based on stage, weight and height. Your child needs to be within all the limits for the seat to be a proper fit.

Check it before you buy it

Unfortunately not all car seats fit well in every vehicle. (If only it would be that easy!) Most in-store retailers will allow you to test out a car seat in your car. Some request you either have an employee present or leave an ID in exchange.

You want to test the car seat in your car not only to make sure it will fit in the car but also to make sure you can easily and properly install it.

Even if you feel like you did a great job with the install, we suggest having a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician check it just to make sure or to get extra little tips for a better install.

To Buy or Not to Buy Used

Car seat experts do not recommend buying a used car seat from a stranger or a consignment shop. You don't know if it has ever been in a crash or if the seat was maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Whether you choosing to save money or save the environment, remember when you buy a used seat, you are trusting the previous user's answers with your child's life. If you still choose to, first:

Make sure the seat still has the manufacturer's label.

Check for any recalls.

Make sure it's not passed it's expiration date.

Check for cracks and ask about crash history of the seat as crash damage may not always be visible. If the store or owner doesn't know the full history of the seat, pass on the purchase.

Make sure all parts are included.

If funds are tight, there are programs in many towns that offer free or low-cost seats. You may need to qualify.

Next up: Car Seats Series #2: Direction - Rear-Facing versus Forward-Facing

By Amie Durocher, Creative Director at Safe Ride 4 Kids and certified CPS Tech since 2004

Copyright 2021 Safe Ride 4 Kids. All rights reserved. You may not publish, broadcast, rewrite or redistribute this material without permission. You are welcome to link to Safe Ride 4 Kids or share on social media.

We originally published this post in January 2017. We updated the article for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Did you know that 3 out of 4 car seats have some sort of mistake according to Safe Kids Worldwide? Car crashes are the leading cause of preventable death for children ages 1 to 13. There is a lot that can be done to further prevent these deaths Selecting the right car seat is the first step in car seat safety.

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Topic- Children's Mental Health
Retrieved- 11/02/2021
The website listed above features a list of local as well as national hotlines, organizations, and places to receive counseling. All of these things are extremely helpful resources for a child and a parent to have access to in order to stay mentally healthy. The sooner a child's mental health is looked at like a priority the better .

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Local organizations

Devereaux Arizona
480-998-2920 in Phoenix or 520-296-5551 in Tucson
A non-profit behavioral health organization that provides training and counseling programs to help children and families with mental health problems including suicide prevention.

Empact-Suicide Prevention Center
480-784-1500 in Maricopa County or 866-205-5229 in other Arizona counties
Located at La Frontera in Tempe. Suicide/crisis hotline, mobile crisis team, suicide awareness/prevention training, crisis debriefing, suicide survivor support groups, counseling, trauma healing services and more.

Good Fit Counseling Center
2850 N 24th St, Phoenix * 602-200-0434
Arizona's only mental health center for young children. Psychologists and therapists work exclusively with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families to provide support with challenges in a wide range of areas, including parent-child relationships, trauma and loss, social-emotional difficulties and serious behavior problems. Services are provided in your home or at the center. The center is part of Southwest Human Development, a nonprofit with 30 years experience working with young children.

National Alliance on Mental Health - Arizona
5025 E Washington St # 112, Phoenix, AZ 85034 * 602-244-816
Fosters public education about mental illnesses and advocating for quality institutional and non-institutional care and individualized treatment for persons with mental illnesses.

PSA Behavioral Health Agency
2255 W. Northern Ave Ste B100, Phoenix, AZ 85021 * 602-995-1767
A private, nonprofit behavioral health agency dedicated to the treatment and recovery of individuals with psychiatric illnesses who may also suffer from substance abuse, trauma and/or other behavioral issues. Learn about the agency's Art Awakenings program, which offers instruction in visual art, poetry, music, movement and drama to promote empowerment and recovery through creativity.

Teen Lifeline
602-248-TEEN (8336) in Maricopa County or 800-248-TEEN (8336) in other Arizona counties
Phoenix-based nonprofit that operates a suicide/crisis hotline for teens, run by teens who have undergone extensive training in handling difficult calls and knowing how to identify/support someone at risk. Prevention education for parents, schools, youth groups and professionals who work with youth. Education and debriefing support following suicides or other traumatic events (mostly at schools).

National organizations

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-TALK (8255)
Directs callers from all states to local suicide prevention resources.
RAISING ARIZONA KIDS magazine provides resource directories as a community service and a starting place for your research. We do not independently evaluate nor do we imply endorsement by including particular organizations. If you know of additional resources we should list, please contact us.

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Mental health resources - Raising Arizona Kids Magazine

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Devereaux Arizona 480-998-2920 in Phoenix or 520-296-5551 in Tucson A non-profit behavioral health organization that provides training and counseling programs to help children and families with mental health problems including suicide prevention. Empact-Suicide Prevention Center 480-784-1500 in Maricopa County or 866-205-5229 in other Arizona counties Located at La Frontera in Tempe.

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Topic: Food Banks
Source: The blog of the Urban Institute
Retrieved: 11/01/2021
Food Banks are very resourceful because people do not qualify for food stamps or assistance. This establishment is also free. Often times they are seen as making to money when in reality they do not people still have bills and children to take care of so they are rejected food stamps. Food banks do not require income or usually have little no disqualifications. The article above informed on how and where to find your local food banks so you do not go to bed hungry.

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Food banks face the monumental task of serving millions of pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, and shelf-stable food to families in need each month.

But people experiencing food insecurity often face other hardships, such as housing instability and financial insecurity. Many food banks provide programs that offer additional wraparound services to support broader stability in people's lives, but developing these new services can come with new challenges.

Urban's new report explores how food banks and other organizations that serve families with low incomes can use lessons from housing, financial security, workforce development, and case management interventions to increase the impact of their services.

To complement this work, we talked with four Feeding America network member food banks about their perspectives on using research to help them better serve families in need. We learned that as food banks start offering more wraparound services, they may face challenges in connecting with hard-to-reach people, collecting data, and building sustained partnerships.

1. People with greater needs may face barriers to engaging in programs

Food banks provide support to people who may need many services to help put them on a path toward stability. But engaging people in need in new programs can be difficult if they move frequently or if they're focused on other challenges, such as a sick family member or a job loss.

In these cases, they don't have as much time to focus on program requirements, like regular coaching sessions or job training. If the families originally targeted for programs face significant barriers to participation, food banks might struggle to reach them and may see higher attrition rates. As a result, they may have difficulty determining a program's effectiveness.

2. Data collection can be a challenge

Families who move frequently or are otherwise less stable can be more difficult to track and collect follow-up data from, making it challenging to determine a program's impact. Without postprogram data on participants, it can be difficult for food banks to communicate impacts to funders, community stakeholders, and other potential participants.

Kurt Reiber, CEO and president of the Freestore Foodbank, told us how his organization has creatively leveraged social media to keep in touch with program participants who move frequently, which allows program administrators to reach participants and hear about how things are going after their workforce programs, Cincinnati COOKS! and LIFT the TriState, end. This, among other strategies, can be an innovative way to collect postprogram data and better understand program impacts.

3. Partnerships are critical but complex

Programs that offer wraparound services may be built in partnership with other agencies and organizations, requiring food banks to build a framework for working with partners on data-sharing agreements and privacy.

Data-sharing and privacy agreements are just one part of building sustained partnerships. These partnerships can include those who have made investments in shared programming, those who share data on participants, and those who have come together to be thought partners in program development.

Nicole Lander, chief impact officer at the Houston Food Bank, said that as food bank leaders developed the Food for Change program, they continually modified how they review grant applications for partnerships to improve partner engagement. This thoughtful work around defining and supporting partnership development was described as challenging by the food banks we spoke with.

Reiber added that collaborative partnerships are critical when an organization launches a program that goes beyond its core mission. An organization must determine what programs it has the core competencies to "own or lead" versus what it should "participate in or support," to avoid the potential for "mission creep."

Engaging partners is critical to offering wraparound services people need to build stability, but some challenges can emerge at the organizational level. Boards or other leadership may be slow to adopt perspectives that facilitate broader stability work because they are unsure of the appropriate role of food banks. Food banks have been working to navigate this space, identifying a path forward and ways to engage that fit with their organizational visions and capacity.

Leveraging evidence to build new programs

Despite these potential roadblocks, the food banks we spoke with had clear plans for moving forward in developing broader stability programs. They aim to continue iterating programs and exploring new ways of delivering services to clients. Once the right programs are identified, they plan to partner with funders to establish sustainable funding and start tracking program outcomes with new, potentially standardized metrics to capture program impact.

Although food banks have experienced challenges in making evidence-based programs a reality in their communities, they have a clear commitment to meaningfully innovate and support greater stability among the families they serve.

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Three Challenges Facing Food Banks as They Build New Programs to Improve People's Well-Being

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Food banks face the monumental task of serving millions of pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, and shelf-stable food to families in need each month. But people experiencing food insecurity often face other hardships, such as housing instability and financial insecurity.

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This website provides a lot of information on healthy eating, food recipes and how to encourage children to eat healthy. The website provides different information, tools and articles to help parents shop and eat healthy. This article is a great entry way to laning meals, shopping healthy and creating foods that are healthy. It also provides different activities that will get children involved in growing and making their own food in order to encourage healthy eating habits.

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Mealtime Tips

Enjoying a meal together is a great way to connect with your family. Here are some mealtime tips to try:

Remove distractions by turning off the TV and making a phone "parking spot" away from the table.

Have everyone share what they did during the day. What made you laugh or what you did for fun?

Try new foods at home. Kids need many opportunities to taste a new food to "get used to it."

Have adults and older kids talk about the color, feel, or flavor of foods. It'll make them sound more appealing to younger kids that may be picky.

On nice days, opt for a change of scenery. For example, go to a nearby park for a dinner picnic.

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Enjoying a meal together is a great way to connect with your family. Here are some mealtime tips to try: Remove distractions by turning off the TV and making a phone "parking spot" away from the table. Have everyone share what they did during the day.

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Topic: Free Sport Programs
Source: info@freestudy.com
Retrieved: 11/01/2021
Free sports programs are very good for the community, often times children lack the experience to play sports because they cannot afford them. With recourses like the one I provided children are exposed to much more then the tv. Sports are very important because it helps development physically and socially.

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Sport is an exciting hobby for many but if it is really one's passion, if you want this to be your passion, it can be very exciting for your life, you will be very interested in this course and this course will take your life a long way.

Sports help you to make your body physically fit and keep your mind good. If you choose sports as a career, it also gives lots of fame and money. You can make a career in any sports field depending on what sports you take up as your expertise.

Click the link to see the details of our courses, and check out the list to learn about the ten best free online sports courses programs. Wish you all the best!!

The Wageningen University & Research is providing you a free online course entitled as " Nutrition, Exercise, and Sports" free online course for outstanding candidates. In this course you will learn and understand the nutritional aspects of exercise and sport, so you can make your own informed decisions and critically evaluate nutritional advice and claims.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University is declaring Sustainability & Major Sports Events: Principles free online course for high achieving candidates. This course will introduce you to the concept of a sustainable major sport event by using the five pillars of sustainability as the foundation.

Applicants are invited to be a part of "Sustainability & Major Sports Events: Implementation" free online course designed by the Hamad Bin Khalifa University. The first course in the Sustainability & Major Sports Events Professional Certificate program teaches the five pillars of sustainability and looks at how these pillars should be implemented during the planning and hosting phase.

Provider: Hamad Bin Khalifa University
Subject: Environmental Studies
Duration: 8 weeks
Start Date: Starts on October 8, 2019
Apply Now

Build your skills by enrolling in this free online course "Ethics of Sports: Do Sports Morally Matter?" offered by the Hamilton College. This course will explore some of the fundamental ethical issues raised by sport, ranging from the investigation of the nature of sports to see what values if any, sports do and should promote and the educational significance of sports especially in higher education in the U.S,

The University of Notre Dame is pleased to announce Math in Sports free online course for high achieving candidates. In this course, you will learn to use some mathematical tools that can help predict and analyze sporting performances and outcomes. This course will help coaches, players, and enthusiasts to make educated decisions about strategy, training, and execution.

Applicants are invited to be a part of "The Science of Training Young Athletes" free online course designed by the University of Florida. This course is packed full of practical sports science information that provides youth coaches and parents with the practical pediatric sports science insights to successfully retain young athletes and develop their sport potential while avoiding injury and overtraining.

Applicants are invited to be a part of this "Sports and Society" free online course designed by the Duke University free online courses. This course will focus on both popular sports like soccer (or "football," as anyone outside America calls it), basketball, and baseball, and also lesser-known ones like mountain-climbing and fishing. You will never watch or think about sports in the same way again.

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona is happy to announce Sports Sponsorship. Let them Play free online course. The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Johan Cruyff Institute jointly offer this introductory course in sports sponsorship for all those interested in knowing how to create a sponsorship plan for a sports event.

The Eindhoven University of Technology is happy to announce a Sports and Building Aerodynamics free online course. This course will be intended for anyone with a strong interest in these topics. Key fields addressed are urban physics, wind engineering, and sports aerodynamics.

Provider: Eindhoven University of Technology
Subject: Physical Science and Engineering
Duration: 4 Weeks
Start Date: Open
Apply Now

Applicants are invited to be a part of this "Becoming a Sports Agent" free online course designed by the Case Western Reserve University free online courses. This course will provide each student with the skills necessary to guide an athlete through the difficult decisions that can make or lose the athlete millions of dollars, as well as affect their public image and career

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Best Free Online Sports Courses - FreeEducator.com

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Sport is an exciting hobby for many but if it is really one's passion, if you want this to be your passion, it can be very exciting for your life, you will be very interested in this course and this course will take your life a long way.

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The YMCA is a great resource for parents and children. They provide a lot of childcare programs and after school programs. They provide educational resources and different sport programs for children. There are a lot of locations that provide these services for the community. It is a great source to find programs that will keep children engaged and active.

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Our Youth Development Programs

From camp to child care to afterschool activities to sports and more, the Y offers holistic programming that enhances, protects and nurtures the unique development journey of every child and teen.

As part of the Y's commitment to strengthen community by addressing critical gaps in health and education, Healthy Kids Day encourages kids and parents to commit to keeping the body and mind active this summer.

Join your local Y for a day full of fun activities that celebrate kids being kids!

Youth Development in Action

Check out how our youth development programs have positively impacted the lives of these inspiring young people.

The Y believes that young people deserve every opportunity possible to learn, grow and thrive. By connecting kids to their potential, purpose and each other, the Y empowers kids and teens to shape the communities of tomorrow, today.

Search for the Y closest to you and visit their website to learn how to get involved today.

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The YMCA offers holistic youth development programs that enhance, protect and nurture development. From camp to child care to afterschool and more.

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Topic: Car Seat Safety
Source: Northside Pediatrics Blog
Retrieved: 11/01/2021
When looking for a car seat for your child it is very important that you have the right one for your child. Age height and weight are good factors to consider when purchasing car seats. This Article was very educational when looking for the right car seat for your child. Even provided information regarding installations rules and regulations.

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Car Seat Safety - Northside Pediatrics, PC

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Car Seats: Information for Families One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when riding in a vehicle. Each year, thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes. Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe. But with so many differen…

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This article has a lot of helpful facts and tips on car seat safety. It goes over installation, how to choose the right car seat and when to get a new one. This article is a great way to learn the basics of car seat safety. This website provides different checklist and safety guidelines and information to help car seat safety. It provides videos on how to instal, this is a great resource for first time parents as it provides all the necessary information on car seat safety.

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Keep your kids safe by using the right car seat in the right way. We’ll show you how.

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Topic: Mental Health
Source: Mental Health, Neurology
Retrieved: 11/01/2021
Mental health is very important but is also one of the most common illness that is over looked and not taken serious. This illness as no age limit or gender to it. The article provides a lot of information such as why is mental health so important. Who and what you can do to deal with this type of issue. Resources are also linked to the article provided.

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Blog - Family and primary care physicians | NYC

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Mental health is a psychological state of well being that includes our emotional, psychological and social fitness status. It affects the way one thinks, feels and acts. It determines our ability to handle stress, relationships, and decision making. Our behaviors are driven by the status of our mental health. It includes managing any of the following conditions:

Depression

Anxiety

Memory loss

Alzheimer's disease

Mood swing disorders

Bipolar disorders

Personality disorders and many others.

Early warning signs

Experiencing a multitude of following conditions can be indicative of mental health problems. Early warning signs include:

Overeating, anorexia, or not eating at all

Excessive or too little sleep

Pulling yourself away from social activities

Feeling low or depressed all the time

Experiencing unexplained aches and pains

Feeling hopeless about the events of your life

Blaming yourself all the time for all the negative events in life

Experiencing severe mood swings leading to problems in relationships

Having a pre-occupied mind, always thinking about some event of life

Being unable to focus or concentrate on daily activities

Low work or school performance

Inability to improve yourself

Hearing strange voices or believing things that are not real

Always thinking about the past and future and not focusing on present events

Talking to yourself

Social isolation

Importance of mental health

Positive and sound mental health allows individuals to realize their full potential and to handle the stress of life optimistically. It allows them to gain excellence in work and make meaningful contributions to society.

How to maintain sound mental health?

Seek the help of a neurologist or a psychiatrist if needed

Try to connect with your friends and family and do not stay alone all the time

Express yourself and talk about your problems to a friend or family member

Stay positive and always look at the brighter perspective

Try to help others

Get enough sleep daily

Develop the ability to manage stress and life problems

Here are some of the common myths and facts about mental health

Myth: It is a common myth that children do not experience mental health issues.

Fact: Mental health can affect individuals of any age group whether children, adults or the elderly. Mental health problems are clinically diagnosable and occur as a result of various biological, psychological, social and political factors.

Unfortunately, only 20% of children and adolescents with mental health problems receive the required treatment.

Myth: People with a mental health problem are violent and their behaviors are unpredictable.

Fact: Many people with mental illness are no more likely to be violent than other individuals of society.

Recovery is always possible

Most people with mental health problems seek treatment and live a normal life. Recovery and rehabilitation is an ongoing process that happens over time. The first step is to seek help and reach out to a health care professional or a neurologist in your area.

Depression affects 16 million American adults each year and the number is rising day by day. A person with depression can present various symptoms depending upon the individual and its environment.

It can be caused by a variety of factors including genetic background or history, medication, use of drugs or alcohol, grief or extreme stress and mental and behavioral disorders. The best way is to reach out to a neurologist and discuss all your health-related concerns. Often, people living with depression or any other mental illness let themselves go untreated due to the associated social stigma, the lack of available treatment options or access to affordable care.

Four dimensions of recovery

There are 4 major dimensions that could help lead to recovery:

1. Health

Make informed health choices that will lead to good physical, mental and emotional well being.

2. Family

Develop a strong and healthy relationship with your family and speak out about your problems. Express yourself and seek their advice.

3. Purpose

Engage yourself in useful activities that you find interesting such as playing a sport, volunteering, being creative, cooking, starting a job or a new degree, or any activity you find interesting.

4. Community

Build relationships and supportive networks of positive thinking.

Develop a recovery plan

If you are struggling with a mental health problem, make a recovery plan.

It will enable you to identify your goal

Specify the steps you can take to execute those goals

Plan new activities for yourself

Work out a schedule to incorporate all your daily tasks

Track any changes in your mental health status

Identify the triggers or any other stressful event that makes you disturbed and lookout for ways to manage that.

Get information about the good neurologists or psychologists in your area and reach out to them for consultation.

The social stigma associated with mental health

The social stigma and taboos associated with mental health create a barrier for patients to seek help and get treatment. Mental and behavioral health treatments are considered beyond the realm of traditional medical practices. It further alienates the patients of depression, anxiety or other mental disorders.

Treatment of clinical depression

Patients of chronic diseases are at a higher risk of developing depression or other mental disorders. The patients should consult an experienced psychiatrist or health care professional. Treatment aims to rehabilitate the patient to a normal life, where he can live with positivity and focus on his work and personal life. A therapist may prescribe medication, provide brief therapeutic interventions and support ongoing treatment needs, and connect the patient to the outside environment.

Depression harms the life of the individual and their associated family, friends, and colleagues. It is difficult to make a decision, speak about it and seek professional help. However, remember that you are not alone and depression can be treated and managed effectively. Every individual has the right to attain their health goals and to feel good about themselves.

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Importance of Mental Health | Chelsea Manhattan, New York - MMA BLOG

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Mental health is a psychological state of well being that includes our emotional, psychological and social fitness status. It affects the way one thinks, feels and acts. It determines our ability to handle stress, relationships, and decision making. Our behaviors are driven by the status of our mental health.

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This article provides a lot of information on early childhood development and mental health. It explains how mental health problems develop and what course of action to take to help mental health. This article introduces mental health, how to intervene and how mental health is essential since early childhood. This article provides a great overview to why mental health is important.

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Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

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As early experiences shape the architecture of the developing brain, they also lay the foundations of sound early childhood mental health.

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This link shows details on what children need as they develop and grow. Nutrition is something that should be taught to children, and reaffirmed to the parents to make sure that they know how to best take care of themselves. It also helps with other aspects, such as obesity rates in children.

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Nutrition and Health in Children and the Role of the Healthcare Worker

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Childhood is a critical time in the growth and development of a person, and is a key stage in the establishment of their physical and mental abilities. There is therefore considerable scientific interest in determining a child's optimal dietary requirements that will enhance and assist this growth and development.

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Children need to begin habits of healthy living, as it will help them later in life. This link talks about facts of childhood obesity and the leading causes. It's just like any other disorder and disease; the earlier you catch it, the better chance you have of overcoming it.

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PHA was created to eliminate the nation's childhood obesity crisis that is preventing many of our children from having a healthy future. While we have seen progress among preschool age children, we continue to face an enormous challenge: Approximately 17 percent of U.S. youth have obesity, and nearly one in three children and adolescents are either overweight or have obesity.

No one is immune to the risk of growing up at an unhealthy weight. Childhood obesity cuts across all communities and all categories of race, ethnicity, and family income. Alarmingly, the obesity problem strikes at an early age, with researchers estimating a staggering 9.4 percent of children ages 2 to 5 already have obesity. The obesity rate for children ages 6 to 11 has also more than quadrupled during the past 40 years - from 4.2 to 17.4 percent - as well as tripled for adolescents ages 12 to 19, climbing from 4.6 to 20.6 percent, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Not only do childhood health costs exacerbate the problem, it's worth noting that many weight-related health issues can turn into chronic conditions (such as diabetes and heart disease) as children grow older and dramatically cut short their life expectancy.

In fact, this crisis marks the first time in our history that a generation of American children may face a shorter expected lifespan than their parents. Recent research finds those most affected are lower-income individuals, African-American, Latinos, American Indians and those living in the southern part of the United States. Many live in communities with half as many supermarkets as wealthier neighborhoods. Communities with high levels of poverty are also significantly less likely to have safe places for children to play.
Key Facts:

In 2011-2014, 24.4 percent of African-American adolescent girls were obese.

Black and Latino youths have substantially higher rates of overweight and obesity than do their White peers. In 2011 and 2012, 22 percent of Latino children and 20 percent of black children had obesity compared to 14 percent of white children.

An overweight adolescent has a 70 percent chance of becoming an overweight or obese adult.

6- to 8-year-olds with obesity are approximately 10 times more likely to become obese adults than those with a lower body mass index.

A third of the children born in 2000 in this country will develop diabetes during their lifetime.

Since 1980, the obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.

More than one in four 17- to 24-year-olds in the United States are now too heavy to serve in the military, a development that retired military leaders say endangers national security.

Children with obesity are already demonstrating cardiovascular risk factors typically not seen until adulthood.

Children and adolescents with obesity have a greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and poor self-esteem, which can continue into adulthood.

Children with weight issues are more likely to miss school and repeat a grade than children who are at a healthy weight.

Children with obesity have three times more healthcare expenditures than children at healthy weights, costing an estimated $14 billion every year.

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Childhood obesity rates in America - though slightly improved for America's youngest children - remain at unacceptable levels for all ages. PHA's original mission involved fighting childhood obesity by focusing on nutrition in early childhood and throughout maturation, promoting fruits and vegetables, encouraging the consumption of water instead of sugary beverages, and working with the private sector to promote healthier choices for all Americans.

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I volunteer at the children's hospital, and one of the programs they do is a car seat program. It is so important for parents to know proper safety in cars, since in AZ, there are usually over a thousand traffic fatalities a year. They'll give you a free car seat too, because child safety is super important.

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Road Safety Programs | Phoenix Children’s Hospital

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Our Center for Family Health & Safety offers a variety of different Road Safety programs.

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This link showing the guidelines from the CDC for children and adolescents in classrooms and school settings is something that's super relevant during these times. It's important for parents and staff to check regularly to make sure we're keeping the children safe and following what the recommended procedures are.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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See ongoing mitigation guidance and prevention and support for administrators, teachers, staff, and parents in schools and child care programs.

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Arizona food bank network is an amazing organization. Their mission is finding a solution to end hunger. They're partnered with many organizations trying to fight hunger. This site also helps families find food banks near them. All in all, this is a great site :)

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about us We are the Arizona Food Bank Network The Arizona Food Bank Network (AzFBN) is a coalition of 5 regional food banks and almost 1,000 food pantries and agencies, working to address hunger in Arizona. Together, our network feeds...

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This site is very useful. It has a wide selection of sports for children ages three and up. Children of all skills and levels are welcomed to play. This helps children build confidence in themselves and their own abilities.

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In our kids sports leagues, no child will ever be excluded by a try-out, ride the bench for an entire game, or be cut from a team. Yes we keep score, but we have created a fun way to help kids develop athletic ability, a love of team sports, and an understanding that how you play the game is as important as the score. We don't just help kids become better athletes, we help them become better people.

Age-appropriate instruction with a focus on fun and healthy competition.

Sportsmanship values like respect and teamwork taught and recognized weekly

One day per week - practice is conveniently scheduled prior to the game.

All skill levels welcome - No tryouts. No drafts.

Everyone plays - every game.

No fundraisers.

Trained officials at every game.

"When in Doubt Sit Out" Concussion Safety Policy and education for parents and coaches nationwide.

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i9 Sports, the nation's first and largest youth sports league franchise business in the United States, has re-engineered youth sports for kids ages 3 and up. With over 2.5 million registrations in communities from New York to Hawaii, we have replaced a high pressure, adult centered model with a child centered model that puts fun first.

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Living in Arizona sun safety is especially important. We have to teach them young! This website is very informative. It helps parents choose a sunscreen and even teaches them how to apply it. I highly recommend this site.

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​Warm, sunny days are wonderful. It's good for children to spend time playing and exercising outdoors, and it's important they enjoy it safely. Here are some tips on how to help keep your family safe from too much exposure to the sun's harmful rays.

Simple rules to protect your family from sunburns

Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, an umbrella, or the stroller canopy.

When possible, dress yourself and your children in cool, comfortable clothing that covers the body, such as lightweight cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats.

Select clothes made with a tight weave; they protect better than clothes with a looser weave. If you're not sure how tight a fabric's weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines through. The less light, the better. Or you can look for protective clothing labeled with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF).

Wear a hat with an all-around 3-inch brim to shield the face, ears, and back of the neck.

Limit your sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when UV rays are strongest.

Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection. Look for youth-sized sunglasses with UV protection for your child.

Use sunscreen.

Make sure everyone in your family knows how to protect his or her skin and eyes. Remember to set a good example by practicing sun safety yourself.

Sunscreen can help protect the skin from sunburn and some skin cancers but only if used correctly. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be used for sun protection, not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

How to choose a sunscreen

Use a sunscreen that says "broad-spectrum" on the label; that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 (up to SPF 50). An SPF of 15 or 30 should be fine for most people. More research studies are needed to test if sunscreen with more than SPF 50 offers any extra protection.

If possible, avoid the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone because of concerns about mild hormonal properties. Remember, though, that it's important to take steps to prevent sunburn, so using any sunscreen is better than not using sunscreen at all.

For sensitive areas of the body, such as the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears, and shoulders, choose a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These products may stay visible on the skin even after you rub them in, and some come in fun colors that children enjoy.

How to apply sunscreen

Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet, hands, and even backs of the knees. Rub it in well.

Put sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. It needs time to absorb into the skin.

Use sunscreen any time you or your child spend time outdoors. Remember that you can get sunburn even on cloudy days because up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can get through the clouds. Also, UV rays can bounce back from water, sand, snow, and concrete, so make sure you're protected.

Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or drying off with a towel. Because most people use too little sunscreen, make sure to apply a generous amount.

Sunscreen for babies

For babies younger than 6 months: Use sunscreen on small areas of the body, such as the face, if protective clothing and shade are not available.

For babies older than 6 months: Apply to all areas of the body, but be careful around the eyes. If your baby rubs sunscreen into their eyes, wipe their eyes and hands clean with a damp cloth. If the sunscreen irritates their skin, try a different brand or sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If a rash develops, talk with your child's doctor.

Sunburns

When to call the doctor

If your baby is younger than 1 year and gets sunburn, call your baby's doctor right away. For older children, call your child's doctor if there is blistering, pain, or fever.

How to soothe sunburn

Here are 5 ways to relieve discomfort from mild sunburn:

Give your child water or 100% fruit juice to replace lost fluids.

Use cool water to help your child's skin feel better.

Give your child pain medicine to relieve painful sunburns. (For a baby 6 months or younger, give acetaminophen. For a child older than 6 months, give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen.)

Only use medicated lotions if your child's doctor says it is OK.

Keep your child out of the sun until the sunburn is fully healed.

Remember

The sun gives energy to all living things on earth, but it can also harm us. Its ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage skin and eyes and cause skin cancer. One-quarter of our lifetime sun exposure happens during childhood and adolescence. Since children spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in the summer, it's important to protect them from the sun. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions about sun protection for your child.

More information

Fun in the Sun: Keep Your Family Safe (Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Pediatrics)

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Sun Safety: Information for Parents About Sunburn & Sunscreen

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​Warm, sunny days are wonderful. It's good for children to spend time playing and exercising outdoors, and it's important they enjoy it safely. Here are some tips on how to help keep your family safe from too much exposure to the sun's harmful rays. Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight.

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Mental health is so important, not just for adults, but for children as well. I feel like most of the time a child's mental health is overlooked. This organization is dedicated to helping children struggling with their mental health. This is something so important to me because children deserve so much better.

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The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Our teams work every day to deliver the highest standards of care, advance the science of the developing brain and empower parents, professionals and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most.

Of the 74.5 million children in the United States, an estimated 17.1 million have or have had a mental health disorder - more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Half of all mental illness occurs before the age of 14, and 75 percent by the age of 24.

In spite of the magnitude of the problem, lack of awareness and entrenched stigma keep the majority of these young people from getting help. Children and adolescents struggling with these disorders are at risk for academic failure, substance abuse and a clash with the juvenile justice system - all of which come at a tremendous cost to them, their families and the community.
We are driven to create a brighter future for our children, and we make three commitments:

1. Give children and adolescents access to the best, most effective clinical care when and where they need it most.

2. Advance the science of the developing brain to improve diagnosis and treatment.

3. Provide useful, accurate information that empowers families and communities to get help.

Together with our supporters, we're helping children reach their full potential in school and in life. We share all of our resources freely and do not accept any funding from the pharmaceutical industry.

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Online Privacy Statement, which describes our use of cookies. By using this site without adjusting your settings, you agree to our use of cookies. Read More

Receive practical tips and strategies to better assist your students.

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Of the 74.5 million children in the United States, an estimated 17.1 million have or have had a mental health disorder - more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Half of all mental illness occurs before the age of 14, and 75 percent by the age of 24.

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Find Your Local Food Bank.  Accessed November 1st, 2021

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This site is wonderful and makes it very easy to find food banks close to you. It includes volunteer opportunities at these banks. It includes facts about hunger in America. This is a quick and easy way to find a bank close to you and have easy access to its site and resources.

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Looking for free food in your community? You can easily find a food bank near you by entering your zip code or state. We will provide you with a list of Feeding America partner food banks and their contact information. Connecting with your local food bank is the first step towards getting free food and grocery items.

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Find the Feeding America member food bank nearest you. Over 200 member food banks can connect you with free food, food pantries, soup kitchens, and mobile pantries in your community.

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This is a wonderful resource that should be distributed through every outlet. This site gives information for a program that proves produce for the community at such an affordable cost. Every person deserves affordable and healthy food and this program enables and allows the community to do just that.

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Juan L.

Thank you! We've been to (*- deleted) and were disappointed with the quality and the grouchy people. MOM is so much nicer! Veggies were so crisp and can't wait until your next MOM! Thank you!

Anonymous |

I want to thank you all for doing this! My kids eat better, my budget now has fresh produce, and love the recipes! The MOM alert is very clever and now, all I do is open my MOM alert on Fridays! I love the drive-thru; less cooties and very efficient. The Tucson warehouse even has treats for my dog! He runs to the volunteers for his "mom" treat. Thank you!

My Christmas & Birthday wish this year is to help get as many computers as possible in Tucson. May this just be a start in helping your program in Tucson. Please us this donation for the 11 kids on your waitlist list so they may get their computers. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Anonymous | $200

My kids and grandkids have everything they need. Please allow my husband and I to pay it forward for some military families so they have food on their table for the holidays. Merry Christmas to all

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Juan L. Thank you! We've been to (*- deleted) and were disappointed with the quality and the grouchy people. MOM is so much nicer! Veggies were so crisp and can't wait until your next MOM! Thank you! Anonymous | I want to thank you all for doing this!

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Phoenix Youth Sports Programs.  Accessed November 1st, 2021

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This site is awesome! It has a huge selection of sports for ages 3 and up. This gets children started in athletics very early. There are no tryouts, previous skills required, and every child gets to play in every game. It is easily accessible and helps increase a child's confidence in their athletic abilities.

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The nation's largest multi-sport provider focused solely on high-quality, community-based youth sports leagues, is a popular choice for all ages and skill levels throughout the Phoenix area. We focus on making things fun for kids, providing age-appropriate instruction for all players, and ensuring our programs are convenient for busy families.

Our Phoenix youth sports leagues include flag football, soccer, baseball, basketball, ZIP lacrosse™ and volleyball for kids ages 3 and up. Plus, we have locations throughout the area including Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe and Scottsdale! In all of our kids sports programs, parents, coaches and players can expect:

Age-appropriate instruction emphasizing sportsmanship and healthy competition.

All skill levels welcome - No tryouts. No drafts.

Everyone plays - every game.

No fundraising.

One day per week - practice is conveniently scheduled prior to the game.

Trained officials at every game.

"When in Doubt Sit Out" Concussion Safety Policy and education for parents and coaches.

Every week, we focus on a new skill to help players become successful both on and off the field. A weekly sportsmanship award is given to a deserving player on each team for skills such as respect, determination and teamwork. Whether your child dreams of taking the field for the Arizona Cardinals or the Phoenix Suns, you can get them started in one of our i9 Sports Phoenix youth sports leagues. Find a league near you today!

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The nation's largest multi-sport provider focused solely on high-quality, community-based youth sports leagues, is a popular choice for all ages and skill levels throughout the Phoenix area. We focus on making things fun for kids, providing age-appropriate instruction for all players, and ensuring our programs are convenient for busy families.

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sunsafety v0908.  Accessed November 1st, 2021

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This PDF by the CDC is a wonderful resource on sun safety. It shows diagrams and includes something that replicates a check-sheet for each aspect of sun safety. It is vey easy to read, follow, and gives many examples ad tips for things I would've not normally thought of.

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Comprehensive School-Based Mental and Behavioral Health Services and School Psychologists. Accessed November 1st, 2021

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This site is a wonderful outlet to get more information on students mental health. It gives different ideas to adjust to your students needs. It talks about to importance of counselors, social workers, nurses, and phycologists in a school setting. This talks about not only mental illness and what it can look like but also mental heath and how important it is.

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National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

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Mentally healthy children are more successful in school and life. Good mental health is critical to children's success in school and life. Research demonstrates that students who receive social-emotional and mental and behavioral health support achieve better academically. School climate, classroom behavior, engagement in learning, and students' sense of connectedness and well-being all improve as well. Mental health is not simply the absence of mental illness but also encompasses wellness promotion; social, emotional, and behavioral health; and the ability to cope with life's challenges. Left unmet, mental health problems are linked to costly negative outcomes such as academic and behavior problems, dropping out, and delinquency. Mental and behavioral health problems not only affect students' short-term classroom engagement, but also interfere with long-term development of positive relationships and work-related skills.

There is a growing and unmet need for mental and behavioral health services for children and youth. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in five children and adolescents experience a mental health problem during their school years. Examples include stress, anxiety, bullying, family problems, depression, learning disability, and alcohol and substance abuse. Serious mental health problems, such as self-injurious behaviors and suicide, are on the rise, particularly among youth. Unfortunately, many children and youth do not receive the help they need, and disparities in access to care exist among low-income communities and minoritized youth. Among the 3.8 million adolescents ages 12-17 who reported a major depressive episode in the past year, nearly 60% did not receive any treatment, according to a 2019 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Of the adolescents who do get help, nearly two thirds do so only in school.

Schools are an ideal place to provide mental and behavioral health services to children and youth. Schools provide an ideal context for prevention, intervention, positive development, and regular communication between school and families. Schools also offer caring relationships and regular, consistent connections between students and staff both in person and virtually. School-employed mental health professionals (i.e., school psychologists, school counselors, school social workers, and school nurses) know the students, parents, and other staff, which contributes to accessibility of services. Research shows that students are more likely to seek counseling when services are available in schools. In some cases, such as rural areas, schools provide the only mental health services in the community. Comprehensive, culturally responsive school mental health services can help address inequities in access and help reduce the stigma associated with receiving mental health services by making it part of the fabric of the school system.

Comprehensive school mental and behavioral health services support the mission and purpose of schools: learning. All services provided in schools should be appropriate to the learning environment; those that are not risk being ineffective or even counterproductive. Just as children are not simply small adults, schools are not merely private clinics with white boards. Being trained to work within the school culture is essential to being effective (and cost-effective). School psychologists have specialized training in child development, mental health, learning, diversity, culturally responsive services, and school systems and law. Their unique expertise lies in how these elements interact to shape children's behavior, learning, and overall adjustment.

Comprehensive school mental health services are essential to creating and sustaining safe schools. Increased access to mental health services in schools is vital to improving the physical and psychological safety of our students and schools, as well as academic performance and problem-solving skills. Culturally responsive school mental health supports that encompass social-emotional learning, mental wellness, behavioral health, resilience, and positive connections between students and adults are essential to creating a school culture in which students feel safe and empowered to report safety concerns, which is proven to be among the most effective school safety strategies. Additionally, in the aftermath of a crisis, school-employed mental health professionals provide supports that facilitate a return to normalcy, are sustainable, and can help to identify and work with students with more intense or ongoing needs.

Providing a continuum of school mental and behavioral health services is critical to effectively addressing the breadth of students' needs. Comprehensive mental health services are most effective when provided through a multitiered system of supports (MTSS). MTSS encompasses the continuum of need, enabling schools to promote mental wellness for all students, identify and address problems before they escalate or become chronic, and provide increasingly intensive, data-driven services for individual students as needed. Access to adequate staffing of school-employed mental health professionals, like school psychologists, is essential to the quality and effectiveness of these services.

School psychologists provide a continuum of services that connect mental health, behavior and learning, school and home, and school and community services. Meeting the full continuum of student needs requires collaboration and coordination. Typically, community providers offer supplementary or intensive services that go beyond school capacities. An MTSS approach facilitates collaboration while ensuring that services provided in school are appropriate to the learning context and those that are provided after school hours are appropriately linked to and supported in the school setting. Partnerships are most effective when they are coordinated by school-employed mental health professionals, are defined by clear memoranda of understanding, and reinforce an appreciation for the unique contribution each group makes to creating more seamless and comprehensive service delivery. This not only reduces gaps, redundancy, and conflict, it also reduces stress on families and supports their roles as primary caregivers and decision makers regarding their child's development.

School psychologists are part of a team of school-employed mental health professionals who provide these services. Improving staffing ratios for these professionals is critical to adequately supporting students' mental and behavioral health. For more information on school-based mental health services and the role of school psychologists, visit www.nasponline.org.

Please cite this document as:

National Association of School Psychologists. (2021). Comprehensive School-Based Mental and Behavioral Health Services and School Psychologists [handout]. Author.

© 2021, National Association of School Psychologists, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-657-0270, www.nasponline.org

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Comprehensive School-Based Mental and Behavioral Health Services and School Psychologists

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Mentally healthy children are more successful in school and life. Good mental health is critical to children's success in school and life. Research demonstrates that students who receive social-emotional and mental and behavioral health support achieve better academically. School climate, classroom behavior, engagement in learning, and students' sense of connectedness and well-being all improve as well.

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This site is a fantastic resource that gives parents plenty of opportunity to get their children free swim lessons through the YMCA. This free service is offered in different counties and cities. It is so important that children are educated on the dangers of playing near water if they are able to swim, so this is a perfect resource to better prepare children.

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Valley of the Sun YMCA will provide 1,000 free swim lessons the week of May 17-21. Registration opened today on a first-come, first-served basis. You must register in-person at a local YMCA branch.

The free swim lessons, offered in partnership with Salt River Project, are part of the Y's Safety Around Water program, which is designed to teach non-swimmers survival skills and engage and educate parents about the importance of water safety skills. May is National Water Safety Month.

Lessons are open to non-swimmers ages 6 months to adult.

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children 0 to 4 years old and is the second leading cause of accidental death for children from 5 to 14 years old. Over the last three years in Maricopa and Pinal counties alone, 36 children under the age of 5 were involved in a fatal water-related incident. Research shows that participation in formal water safety and swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among children by as much as 88 percent.

In addition to offering free swim lessons, the YMCA will be distributing 13,000 Water Watcher tags (in English and Spanish) at local schools, partner organizations and YMCA branches to increase water safety awareness .

"It's up to each and every one of us to educate our families and friends on how to prevent drownings, before anyone even gets in the pool or around any body of water," said Regina Lane Haycock, SRP senior Community Engagement strategist, in a statement. "It is our hope that responsible, designated adults will commit to maintain direct, visual contact with children or adults around water and make it a habit to use SRP's free Water Watcher tags."

Valley of the Sun YMCA is one of the largest human service nonprofit organizations in Arizona. It offers more than 250 programs and 26 social services at communities in Maricopa County, Yuma, Flagstaff and Prescott. To find a YMCA branch near you, visit valleyymca.org.

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Valley of the Sun YMCA to provide 1,000 free swim lessons

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Valley of the Sun YMCA will provide 1,000 free swim lessons the week of May 17-21. Registration opened today on a first-come, first-served basis. You must register in-person at a local YMCA branch.

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It is so vital that we do what we need to do to protect our bodies. It is likely that we forget about the dangers of sun exposure and the dire consequences that can be expected when not taken care of properly. This website is a helpful resource that provides great insight on how the sun affects your skin and even offers tips to help reduce sun exposure dangers. The site also touches on sunscreen use, tanning effects and sin exams. This is something worth looking into and being intentional about.

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As summer quickly approaches, it's a good time to think about your sun safety routine. It doesn't matter what your summer plans are; protection from the sun should always be a part of them. These same strategies apply all year round.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds not only can lead to painful and ugly sunburns that can ruin summer fun, but UV is also the major cause of skin cancer and skin aging. Skin damage from every sunburn you get increases your risk of skin cancer ¹. Although this may sound frightening, it's never too late to pick up some good habits.

With clear consequences of excessive sun exposure, using protection from UV rays should be a no-brainer. Here are some tips and information to keep in mind when thinking about sun safety:

Although people of all skin colors need to use sun protection, those with lighter skin are more likely to burn. Common medications can also make your skin sun-sensitive, including antihistamines, antibiotics, NSAIDs, as well as oral contraceptives and estrogens. There are several others, so check with your doctor or pharmacist about your current medications. Additionally, UV rays can penetrate clouds and reflect off of surfaces such as sand, water, and pavement. You can get burned on a cool or cloudy day, so don't let the weather fool you! Look for the UV index on your weather app or weather broadcast, and protect yourself accordingly.

1. Protect yourself with clothing

Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) labeled clothing, darker colors, and tightly woven fabrics are great ways to protect your skin from the sun.

Don't forget your eyes too! Sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection will help keep your eyes protected, and wide-brimmed hats are a great way to protect those sensitive areas on your head and neck.

2. Spend some time in the shade

Seek shade between 10-4 pm when the sun is at its peak. Consider bringing an umbrella or portable tent with you to events to create your own shady spot.

A helpful rule: if your shadow is short, seek shade.

1. How to choose the right sunscreen

It is then important to find the right sunscreen to help. Broad spectrum, Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or higher sunscreens are the best options. Find one that is water-resistant so that the time in the water won't take it off right away. However, it is important to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.

Also look for sunscreens made from minerals like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or chemical sunscreens with avobenzone, oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate. While both types are FDA approved, mineral sunscreens do not absorb into the skin and are safer for sea life ³.

2. Protect your kids

If you start the habit of sun protection early, your children will incorporate it into their daily routine just like brushing their teeth. Infants under 6 months should stay in the shade rather than wearing sunscreen because of their thinner sensitive skin. All children are vulnerable to the risks of excessive sun exposure and need sun protection of some kind whenever they are outside.

Don't use vitamin D as an excuse to skimp on sun protection; most people can receive their daily requirement of vitamin D through diet (e.g., fish, eggs, dairy, etc.). Sunscreen allows adequate vitamin D production.

If there are restrictions on the use of sunscreen or sun protective clothing at your educational, childcare, and recreational setting, ask your child's doctor to give you a note to allow use.

3. Avoid Indoor tanning all year round

Tanned skin is not healthy skin. A tanning bed tan is not a safer way to tan. Indoor tanning beds/lamp use drastically increases risk of developing melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer ⁴.

Multiple states have passed laws to protect children from the widely-recognized risks of tanning beds. Find out about the laws in your state here.

4. Skin exams are important for people at higher risk of skin cancer⁵:

A skin self-exam can be performed once a month to help find skin cancer and other problems early. For information on how to perform a skin self-exam, click here.

Healthcare providers such as a dermatologists can do full-body exams or look at spots that concern you.

5. Be an advocate for sun safety

For schools, educators, and group leaders (scout leaders, camp counselors, etc.): Children should be encouraged to use sun protection during peak hours of sun exposure.

Learn about state and federal approaches to increasing the use of sun protection in schools in this SBM Position Statement.

Push for funding of shade structures at your educational, child care, and recreational setting (for information, visit the American Academy of Dermatology).

For legislators: Initiate and support policies and funding that allow youth and caregivers to engage in sun-safe behaviors in educational, childcare, and recreational settings.

Learn about successful policy efforts and strategies here.

References

1. The Skin & Cancer Foundation Inc. Treating Sunburn. https://www.skincancer.asn.au/page/2215/sunburn. Accessed May 15, 2019.

2. The Skin Cancer Foundation. Sunscreens Explained. May 22, 2012; https://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/sunscreens-explained. Accessed May 15, 2019.

3. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Sunscreen FAQs. https://www.aad.org/media/stats/prevention-and-care/sunscreen-faqs. Accessed May 15, 2019.

4. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Indoor Tanning. https://www.aad.org/media/stats/prevention-and-care. Accessed May15, 2019.

5. Examining a Web-Based Behavioral Intervention to Promote Sun Protection and Skin Self-Exams in Melanoma Patients [press release]. March 2019.

More Articles

" Back to Healthy Living

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Sun Safety: How to Protect your Skin from the Sun this Summer and All Year Round | SBM - Society of Behavioral Medicine

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As summer quickly approaches, it's a good time to think about your sun safety routine. It doesn't matter what your summer plans are; protection from the sun should always be a part of them. These same strategies apply all year round.

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This is a helpful resource for parents/guardian's on school safety. Students should not only feel safe at home but also at school. Within this article, you will find information on how here in Arizona schools must have safe plans in place. Resources and links to programs that are for safety on campus and for parents to have access to those programs.

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Office of Education | Office of the Arizona Governor

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"Arizona can lead the nation in tackling the issue of school safety and the Safe Arizona Schools Plan is an aggressive approach that puts the safety of our schools and communities first. This plan has been shaped by the lessons we've learned from past tragedies and by meaningful solutions we've heard from Arizonans across the state. School safety is a top priority for the entire state and we are committed to taking swift and decisive action to increase the safety of our communities." -
Governor Ducey, March 2018

Arizona students have the right to feel safe in their classrooms and parents deserve peace of mind that their children are protected at school and in their communities. Learning from past tragedies and looking at the cracks in the system, areas have been identified where resources can be provided to protect against severe threats and close loopholes to better protect Arizonans while still guarding the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens.

When developing these Arizona based solutions, Governor Ducey met with stakeholders from across the state including: students, parents, teachers, school administrators, behavioral and mental health professionals, law enforcement officers, county prosecutors, Democratic and Republican legislators, the Arizona Attorney General and the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction.

To address the shared concerns and priorities of these diverse groups, the Safe Arizona Schools Plan was developed.

Calls for action in the plan include:

Investing in mental and behavioral health resources at schools

Creating a central tip line for reporting school safety concerns

Restricting firearms access for dangerous individuals through a Severe Threat Order of Protection (STOP)

Enhancing background checks by improving the completeness and accuracy of the criminal history database

Increasing school resource officers and law enforcement resources for schools

Eliminating background check gaps

To view the complete details of the plan click HERE.

Support for the Safe Arizona Schools Safety Plan

Arizona Charter Schools Association Statement on Safe Arizona Schools Plan
Arizona Rural Schools Association Statement On Safe Arizona Schools Plan
ASBA Supports Governor Ducey's Safe Arizona Schools Action Plan
A for Arizona Statement on Safe Arizona Schools Plan

Associated Press: Ducey's School Safety Plan Includes $11M for Campus Police
Governor Ducey On Channel 3's Good Morning Arizona
Tucson News Now: Gov. Ducey Announces Safe AZ Schools Plan
KTAR: Ducey Introduces Comprehensive Plan to Address School Safety
KVOA: Governor Ducey's School Safety Plan
Phoenix New Times: Here's What's in Governor Ducey's Gun Safety Plan for Schools
Arizona Capitol Times: Ducey School-Shooter Proposal Adds Cops, Mental- health Services to Campuses
AZ Family: Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Rolls Out School Safety Package
AZ Central: Roberts: Gov. Doug Ducey's Gun Proposal is a Good Start

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"Arizona can lead the nation in tackling the issue of school safety and the Safe Arizona Schools Plan is an aggressive approach that puts the safety of our schools and communities first. This plan has been shaped by the lessons we've learned from past tragedies and by meaningful solutions we've heard from Arizonans across the state.

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This website provides great insight on how mental health affects children and the type of risk these children face because of it. This resource also educates parents, teachers and other caregivers to recognize signs of mentally unhealthy children. Children deserve to be healthy and functioning little humans, and this site really helps the readers understand how they can be advocates for such things.

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Children's Mental Health Matters

Just as you can help prevent a child from catching a cold or breaking a bone, you can help prevent a child from having mental health problems. We know what it takes to keep a child physically healthy-nutritious food, exercise, immunizations - but the basics for good mental health aren't always as clear. The first "basic" is to know that children's mental health matters. We need to treat a child's mental health just like we do their physical health, by giving it thought and attention and, when needed, professional help.
Download the Children's Mental Health Matters Factsheet (PDF)
Consequences of Mental Illness May Be Prevented

Although there can be a genetic or biological component to mental illness, and many children live in unsafe environments that put them "at-risk" of developing mental health problems, the consequences of mental illness may often be prevented through early intervention. At the very least, it is possible to delay mental illness and/or lessen symptoms. The best way to promote children's mental health is to build up their strengths, help to "protect" them from risks and give them tools to succeed in life.

Mental Health Promotion

Promoting a child's mental health means helping a child feel secure, relate well with others and foster their growth at home and at school. We do this by helping to build a child's confidence and competence - the foundation of strong self-esteem. This can be achieved by providing a child with a safe and secure home; warmth and love; respect; caring and trusting relationships with family, friends, and adults in the community; opportunities to talk about experiences and feelings; time to play, learn, and succeed; encouragement and praise; and consistent and fair expectations with clear consequences for misbehavior.

Know the signs

If there is concern that a child may be experiencing a mental health problem, it is important for adults to seek help from a doctor or mental health professional. Just like with physical illness, treating mental health problems early may help to prevent a more serious illness from developing in the future. Consider consulting a professional if a child you know:

Feels very sad, hopeless or irritable

Feels overly anxious or worried

Is scared and fearful; has frequent nightmares

Is excessively angry

Uses alcohol or drugs

Avoids people; wants to be alone all of the time

Hears voices or sees things that aren't there

Can't concentrate, sit still, or focus attention

Needs to wash, clean things, or perform certain rituals many times a day

Talks about suicide or death

Hurts other people or animals; or damages property

Has major changes in eating or sleeping habits

Loses interest in friends or things usually enjoyed

Falls behind in school or earns lower grades

Unsure? Try a mental health screen.

Taking a mental health screening at www.MHAscreening.org is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.

The Parent Test is for parents of young people to determine if their child's emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.

The Youth Test is for young people (age 11-17) who are concerned that their emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.

What Parents Can Do

Care for your children's mental health just as you do for their physical health.

Pay attention to warning signs, and if you're concerned there might be a problem seek professional help.

Let your children know that everyone experiences pain, fear, sadness, worry, and anger and that these emotions are a normal part of life; encourage them to talk about their concerns and to express their emotions.

Be a role model-talk about your own feelings, apologize, don't express anger with violence, and use active problem-solving skills.

Encourage your children's talents and skills, while also accepting their limitations. Celebrate your children's accomplishments.

Give your children opportunities to learn and grow, including being involved in their school and community and with other caring adults and friends.

Think of "discipline" as a form of teaching, rather than as physical punishment; set clear expectations and be consistent and fair with consequences for misbehavior; make sure to acknowledge both positive and negative behaviors.

What Teachers Can Do

Think about mental health as an important component of a child being "ready to learn;" if a child is experiencing mental health problems, he or she will likely have trouble focusing in school.

Know the warning signs of mental illness and take note of these in your students and seek consultation from the school mental health professional when you have concerns; psychological and/or educational testing may be necessary.

Use the mental health professional(s) at your school as resources for: preventive interventions with students, including social skills training; education for teachers and students on mental health, crisis counseling for teachers and students following a traumatic event, and classroom management skills training for teachers.

Allow your students to discuss troubling events at school or in the community; encourage students to verbally describe their emotions.

What Doctors Can Do

Recognize that mental health is part of a child's overall health.

Be informed about mental health issues in children and know the warning signs of mental illness.

Become familiar with mental health screening tools. Use these when a "red flag" is raised or routinely screen for illness, asking both children and parents about a child's emotions and behaviors-especially substance use, depression symptoms, school performance, and talk of suicide.

Be familiar with the most effective pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options.

Make referrals for mental health care when appropriate and follow-up with parents after a referral is made.

Learn more about specific mental health conditions and children

Further reading on youth mental health

Free Back to School Toolkit

MHA's Back to School Toolkit - developed each year and released in mid-August in anticipation of the start of the new school year - provides free resources, tools, tips, and information on early identification themes and Before Stage 4 messaging.
Learn more about MHA's Back to School Toolkit
Help is Available

Mental disorders in children are treatable. Early identification, diagnosis and treatment help children reach their full potential and improve the family dynamic. Children's mental health matters! To learn more, talk to a doctor, mental health professional or visit one of the websites below.

Take the parent screen to determine if your child's emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.

Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Just as you can help prevent a child from catching a cold or breaking a bone, you can help prevent a child from having mental health problems. We know what it takes to keep a child physically healthy-nutritious food, exercise, immunizations - but the basics for good mental health aren't always as clear.

# data[].attributes.body
This website provides great insight on how mental health effects children and the type of risk these children face because of it. This resource also educates parents, teachers and other caregivers to recognize signs of mentally unhealthy children. Children deserve to be healthy and functioning little humans, and this site really helps the readers understand how they can be advocates for such things.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Children's Mental Health Matters

Just as you can help prevent a child from catching a cold or breaking a bone, you can help prevent a child from having mental health problems. We know what it takes to keep a child physically healthy-nutritious food, exercise, immunizations - but the basics for good mental health aren't always as clear. The first "basic" is to know that children's mental health matters. We need to treat a child's mental health just like we do their physical health, by giving it thought and attention and, when needed, professional help.
Download the Children's Mental Health Matters Factsheet (PDF)
Consequences of Mental Illness May Be Prevented

Although there can be a genetic or biological component to mental illness, and many children live in unsafe environments that put them "at-risk" of developing mental health problems, the consequences of mental illness may often be prevented through early intervention. At the very least, it is possible to delay mental illness and/or lessen symptoms. The best way to promote children's mental health is to build up their strengths, help to "protect" them from risks and give them tools to succeed in life.

Mental Health Promotion

Promoting a child's mental health means helping a child feel secure, relate well with others and foster their growth at home and at school. We do this by helping to build a child's confidence and competence - the foundation of strong self-esteem. This can be achieved by providing a child with a safe and secure home; warmth and love; respect; caring and trusting relationships with family, friends, and adults in the community; opportunities to talk about experiences and feelings; time to play, learn, and succeed; encouragement and praise; and consistent and fair expectations with clear consequences for misbehavior.

Know the signs

If there is concern that a child may be experiencing a mental health problem, it is important for adults to seek help from a doctor or mental health professional. Just like with physical illness, treating mental health problems early may help to prevent a more serious illness from developing in the future. Consider consulting a professional if a child you know:

Feels very sad, hopeless or irritable

Feels overly anxious or worried

Is scared and fearful; has frequent nightmares

Is excessively angry

Uses alcohol or drugs

Avoids people; wants to be alone all of the time

Hears voices or sees things that aren't there

Can't concentrate, sit still, or focus attention

Needs to wash, clean things, or perform certain rituals many times a day

Talks about suicide or death

Hurts other people or animals; or damages property

Has major changes in eating or sleeping habits

Loses interest in friends or things usually enjoyed

Falls behind in school or earns lower grades

Unsure? Try a mental health screen.

Taking a mental health screening at www.MHAscreening.org is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.

The Parent Test is for parents of young people to determine if their child's emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.

The Youth Test is for young people (age 11-17) who are concerned that their emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.

What Parents Can Do

Care for your children's mental health just as you do for their physical health.

Pay attention to warning signs, and if you're concerned there might be a problem seek professional help.

Let your children know that everyone experiences pain, fear, sadness, worry, and anger and that these emotions are a normal part of life; encourage them to talk about their concerns and to express their emotions.

Be a role model-talk about your own feelings, apologize, don't express anger with violence, and use active problem-solving skills.

Encourage your children's talents and skills, while also accepting their limitations. Celebrate your children's accomplishments.

Give your children opportunities to learn and grow, including being involved in their school and community and with other caring adults and friends.

Think of "discipline" as a form of teaching, rather than as physical punishment; set clear expectations and be consistent and fair with consequences for misbehavior; make sure to acknowledge both positive and negative behaviors.

What Teachers Can Do

Think about mental health as an important component of a child being "ready to learn;" if a child is experiencing mental health problems, he or she will likely have trouble focusing in school.

Know the warning signs of mental illness and take note of these in your students and seek consultation from the school mental health professional when you have concerns; psychological and/or educational testing may be necessary.

Use the mental health professional(s) at your school as resources for: preventive interventions with students, including social skills training; education for teachers and students on mental health, crisis counseling for teachers and students following a traumatic event, and classroom management skills training for teachers.

Allow your students to discuss troubling events at school or in the community; encourage students to verbally describe their emotions.

What Doctors Can Do

Recognize that mental health is part of a child's overall health.

Be informed about mental health issues in children and know the warning signs of mental illness.

Become familiar with mental health screening tools. Use these when a "red flag" is raised or routinely screen for illness, asking both children and parents about a child's emotions and behaviors-especially substance use, depression symptoms, school performance, and talk of suicide.

Be familiar with the most effective pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options.

Make referrals for mental health care when appropriate and follow-up with parents after a referral is made.

Learn more about specific mental health conditions and children

Further reading on youth mental health

Free Back to School Toolkit

MHA's Back to School Toolkit - developed each year and released in mid-August in anticipation of the start of the new school year - provides free resources, tools, tips, and information on early identification themes and Before Stage 4 messaging.
Learn more about MHA's Back to School Toolkit
Help is Available

Mental disorders in children are treatable. Early identification, diagnosis and treatment help children reach their full potential and improve the family dynamic. Children's mental health matters! To learn more, talk to a doctor, mental health professional or visit one of the websites below.

Take the parent screen to determine if your child's emotions, attention, or behaviors might be signs of a problem.

Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Just as you can help prevent a child from catching a cold or breaking a bone, you can help prevent a child from having mental health problems. We know what it takes to keep a child physically healthy-nutritious food, exercise, immunizations - but the basics for good mental health aren't always as clear.

# data[].attributes.body
This website provides school based programs and resources for: teachers, parents, and guardians on how to give their students the best health/fitness life. Within this PDF, you'll find different encouraging and helpful information on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle while giving tips on how to participate in school programs. Parents can take from this PDF encouraging notes that schools provide programs to assist students in exercise and maintain a healthy physical lifestyle.

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No one should have to wonder when their next meal is going to be. This website helps you understand what SNAP is and who is eligible for it. It gives you a break down of how it is funded, how long you can be on it, and all of that. Everyone needs proper nutrition to survive and this program can help with that if you need some help.

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Starting physical activities at a young age is important and finding an activity at a young age will be useful and help carry the physical lifestyle into adulthood. This websites give you different activities you can do with your child. It gives you tip and tricks on how to motivate yourself and how to find an activity you guys can do as a family. It also gives information on how exercising is good for your oral health, emotional wellness, and nuturtion.

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There's no scarcity of activities that you can make available to your child, and all kids can find some form of exercise that they enjoy. If you can get your child interested in an activity like this when he's young, exercise and fitness are more likely to become a habit that lasts for many decades.

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Car seat safety is important, and this article will teach you all about it. From, purchasing the right car seat, to the right size, and when to change them out. It gives you all sorts of facts and tip to help you make the right decision on a car seat.

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Keep your kids safe by using the right car seat in the right way. We’ll show you how.

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From this website you will be able to see their efforts to help feed starving children in America. It outlines food banks as well as their part in the journey to feed America. This particular article outlines ways in which this organization is making a difference through the use of food banks in helping feed the American children. Programs are mentioned, as well as events, after school time, and making children feel welcomed and informed on their options. This website has lots of tabs that can help a child or family find benefits for them or resources to get food, and not to worry because their are options for them and this website wants to help.

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As the COVID-19 delta variant surges, schools and families are continuing to face difficult decisions about how best to keep kids safe in the upcoming school year. School districts are choosing between in-person instruction, remote learning or a combination of both and are weighing whether or not to establish mask mandates. With the timeline of vaccine rollout for those under 12 and future variants unknown, this school year is bound to bring more uncertainty for parents and children. But, food banks are making sure parents facing hunger won't have to worry about where their children's next meal will come from.

With an estimated 13 million kids facing hunger in 2021, food banks are leveraging learnings from last year's food program adjustments to provide kids with the food they need throughout this next school year, no matter what lies ahead.

Four ways food banks are helping kids and their families get food this school year
1. BackPack Programs are providing kids with food to take home on weekends and during school breaks
Many food banks across the country run BackPack programs, which provide shelf-stable food for kids to take home on the weekend. When schools go virtual, families are able to pick up this food at convenient locations in their communities. Food banks are continuing to meet the ongoing demand and preparing for the unexpected challenges this next school year may bring.

For example, Northern Illinois Food Bank is providing students with sturdier bags to make picking up or bringing the food home from school even easier. Additionally, they are delivering food to schools a week ahead of the scheduled distribution to allow hybrid learning schools to hand off the food whichever days of the week the children are in the classroom.
2. Drive-thru and food pickup at local schools
Food banks are partnering with schools-even if they aren't seeing kids in the classrooms-to give food to families of students using contact free pickups. Schools and food banks often give out fresh produce, meat, and pantry staples like pasta, peanut butter, canned fruit. At some pickups, families are not required to attend the school hosting the pickup.

Some schools partnering with the HACAP Food Reservoir are leveraging a shopping list system, where families submit a list of items they would like to receive, and staff prepacks the items for a drive-thru or hand-off delivery. This allows for families to still have a choice in what they receive while reducing the need for an in-person shopping experience.
3. Bringing food directly to kids and families at their homes or community centers
Food banks and their partners are working hard to make sure kids and families have food this school year and even when that means bringing food directly to homes or creating pop-up food pantries in neighborhoods like community centers and places of worship.

For example, Long Island Cares is delivering food to kids with a mobile breakfast program. Called the Aspara'Gus' Food Truck, the truck stops at a number of community sites on Saturdays and Sundays, distributing free to-go cold breakfasts to kids.
4. After school meals are filling the gap in the evening
Even when schools are closed, some after-school meal programs stay open to help feed children who don't have consistent access to food at home. Because many after-school programs before the pandemic included hot meals in a group setting, food banks are having to adapt to make sure kids still have a meal option without needing to eat with a group. Food banks like Capital Area Food Bank are keeping open their after-school sites and are offering cold to-go meals for kids to take home and eat.

How can I help?

Volunteer at your local food bank. Volunteers are an important part of packing shelf-stable meals for kids or families when school is in session. Find your local food bank and follow them on social media to learn what they need most as the school year starts.

Encourage parents who need a little extra help to reach out to their local school to learn what the qualifications are for meal programs. More families may be eligible for school breakfast and lunch programs then in years past.

Raise awareness about free meal programs for kids. Meals for kids are available, but often parents don't know where to find them. Check with your local food bank and your school district about how you can spread the word.

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4 ways food banks are feeding kids right now

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As the COVID-19 delta variant surges, schools and families are continuing to face difficult decisions about how best to keep kids safe in the upcoming school year. School districts are choosing between in-person instruction, remote learning or a combination of both and are weighing whether or not to establish mask mandates.

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On this website you will find resources to help with the mental health of a child and their families. This group is one of the leading independent nonprofits in childrens mental health. 1 in 5 children struggle somehow with mental illness. This organization wants better for our children, and is trying do to what it takes. You can learn so many things from this website to better understand how mental health can affect a child.

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The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Our teams work every day to deliver the highest standards of care, advance the science of the developing brain and empower parents, professionals and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most.

Of the 74.5 million children in the United States, an estimated 17.1 million have or have had a mental health disorder - more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Half of all mental illness occurs before the age of 14, and 75 percent by the age of 24.

In spite of the magnitude of the problem, lack of awareness and entrenched stigma keep the majority of these young people from getting help. Children and adolescents struggling with these disorders are at risk for academic failure, substance abuse and a clash with the juvenile justice system - all of which come at a tremendous cost to them, their families and the community.
We are driven to create a brighter future for our children, and we make three commitments:

1. Give children and adolescents access to the best, most effective clinical care when and where they need it most.

2. Advance the science of the developing brain to improve diagnosis and treatment.

3. Provide useful, accurate information that empowers families and communities to get help.

Together with our supporters, we're helping children reach their full potential in school and in life. We share all of our resources freely and do not accept any funding from the pharmaceutical industry.

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Online Privacy Statement, which describes our use of cookies. By using this site without adjusting your settings, you agree to our use of cookies. Read More

Receive practical tips and strategies to better assist your students.

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Of the 74.5 million children in the United States, an estimated 17.1 million have or have had a mental health disorder - more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Half of all mental illness occurs before the age of 14, and 75 percent by the age of 24.

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This article posted by the American Red Cross explains what swimming classes are, the benefits, as well as where to start. It goes in depth about how to find swimming classes that fit your lifestyle as well as age group. The benefits are outlined, as well as how it can increase safe water practices.

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The Red Cross has developed swimming lessons for kids and adults that allow everyone the opportunity to learn in a safe environment, at their own pace. Available across the country, Learn-to-Swim classes are taught by certified, knowledgeable and caring instructors who can help swimmers at every level feel comfortable in the water and progress to the next level.

What to Expect

At the Red Cross, our swimming classes for kids are tailored to the needs of each child, so that he or she can progress at a comfortable pace. And although some children may advance more quickly or slowly, our instructors ensure that everyone receives the instruction they need.

In the Learn-to-Swim program, parents or guardians of children up to 5 years of age will actively participate in their kids' swim lessons. This not only helps increase the child's comfort level in the water, but can help parents understand the process and practice skills with their children between classes.

What They'll Learn

The Learn-to-Swim program focuses on building skills one step at a time. By giving them the opportunity to master one element before moving on to the next, our kids' swim classes make it easy to build confidence in the water.

During their swim lessons, children will spend time on the following six levels:

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills: Students will learn how to feel comfortable in the water and safely enjoy it.

Level 2: Fundamentals of Aquatic Skills: Children will learn basic swimming skills.

Level 3: Stroke Development: Additional guided practice will help students improve their skills.

Level 4: Stroke Improvement: Kids will gain confidence during swim lessons, improve their stroke and gain additional aquatic skills.

Level 5: Stroke Refinement: Guidance allows kids to refine their strokes and become more efficient swimmers.

Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency: Students will learn to swim with ease and efficiency, and gain the ability to swim smoothly over greater distances. Swimmers will also have the option to participate in more advanced courses.

Sign Up for Swim Lessons

The Red Cross offers swimming lessons for kids throughout the country, making it easy to find one that suits your needs and your schedule. Visit our Learn-to-Swim page to find a facility near you or contact your local pool and ask for Red Cross swim lessons.

Additional Courses

Parents enrolling their kids in swim lessons may also wish to take a CPR and First Aid class. This way, you can deliver care to your family and others during medical emergencies. With online, in-person and our blended Simulation Learning courses, you can choose the class that suits your schedule and learning style best.

Why Train With the Red Cross

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Swimming Lessons for Kids | Learn to Swim | Red Cross

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The Red Cross has developed swimming lessons for kids and adults that allow everyone the opportunity to learn in a safe environment, at their own pace. Available across the country, Learn-to-Swim classes are taught by certified, knowledgeable and caring instructors who can help swimmers at every level feel comfortable in the water and progress to the next level.

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In this article it explains the importance of sun safety and the everlasting effects and importance of early precautions. The UCSF Benioff Children’s hospital dives into what is commonly seen from children who do not practice safe sun care/sun safety. As well as what can come from it both in youth and adolescents, as well as how it carries over into later years. It also explains how to properly take action and precautions to the beaming rays of the sun.

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Melanoma is among the most common forms of cancer for young adults 15-29. Some experts blame the inappropriate use of sunscreen, saying that people do not apply enough lotion (a golf ball-size dollop) or do not reapply it as frequently as required. Products can no longer claim to be waterproof, only water-resistant, and labels must note a time limit of either 40 or 80 minutes before the sunscreen is ineffective.

Sunscreen is just one of the defenses against the harmful effect of UV radiation. Strategies such as seeking shade and dressing children in sun-protective clothing are just as important. A bad sunburn in childhood or adolescence doubles the risk of melanoma later in life, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Rates of skin cancer-including melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer-continue to rise, even in young people. Parents need to be extra vigilant about sun protection all the time. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life. Young skin is delicate, thinner, and produces less melanin, a skin protecting pigment. Ultra violet (UV) rays reach the skin's pigment producing melanin cells, called melanocytes, and cause DNA damage to the skin.

Infants
0-6 months:

Infants under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight.

Avoid using sunscreen. Baby's young skin doesn't have the ability to metabolize and excrete chemicals often found in sunscreens.

Dress baby in lightweight sun-protective clothing that breathes and covers the arms and legs.

Always protect your baby's head, face, ears, and neck with a wide-brimmed hat. A baby who wears a hat during the first few months will get used to having it on.

Use stroller shades and umbrellas.

Use removable mesh window shields to keep direct sunlight from coming in through the windows of your car or invest in UV window film, which can screen almost 100 % of ultraviolet radiation without reducing visibility.

Use sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection. Eyes are affected by exposure to the rays of UV radiation. Overexposure to UV light contributes to the development of cataracts, retinal damage and other eye problems. Experts report that as much as 80% of UV damage to our eyes is done before the age of 18, making it even more important all of us to start protecting our eyes at an early age.

Take walks early in the morning before 10 AM or after 4 PM and use a stroller with a sun-protective cover.

Babies
6-12 months:

It's now safe to use sunscreen on babies. Choose sunscreen designated for infant skin, and one that won't sting baby's eye.

All the protection methods explained above still apply, however now sunscreen use should be incorporated.

Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30, with UVA/UVB protection particularly to areas left uncovered such as baby's hands. Some children experience allergic reactions to various sunscreen ingredients. Test a product first by applying a small amount to a limited area of skin. Choose a product that is hypoallergenic and fragrance-free.

Most importantly, sunscreen must be applied 30 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating. Products can no longer claim to be waterproof, only water-resistant, and labels must note a time limit of either 40 or 80 minutes before the sunscreen is ineffective.

Toddlers/Pre-School Age

Protecting toddlers from the sun requires a little more thought and effort. It is important to educate your child and caregivers.

All the protection methods explained above still apply, including how sunscreen use should be incorporated

Make sure your child seeks the shade between 10 AM and 4 PM. Check the outdoor area where your child plays to make sure there is adequate shade.

Make sure toddlers are covered. Long-sleeved, unbleached cotton clothing is cool and comfortable, while also highly protective. Clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) listing on the label offers extra security. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends clothing with a UPF of 30 or higher.

Don't forget hats and sunglasses. Choose a wide-brimmed hat that protects face, neck, and ears.

Pigmentation

Whatever our skin color, we're all potentially susceptible to sunburn and other harmful effects of exposure to UV radiation. Although we all need to take precautions to protect our skin, people who need to be especially careful in the sun are those who have.

pale skin

blond, red, or light brown hair

been treated for skin cancer

a family member who's had skin cancer

Sunglasses

Children under age 10 are at a high risk for skin and eye damage from UVR. The skin on their eyelids and around their eyes is more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin. And until about age 10, the lens of a child's eye is clear, allowing greater solar penetration and thus greater UVR-induced ocular changes.

Retinal exposure to UVR is associated with cataracts and macular degeneration, both causes of vision impairment. UVR damage builds over time, so the sooner you start protecting your children's eyes from the sun, the lower their risk will be of ever developing future eye problems.

Fortunately, good sunglasses protect both the skin around the eye and the eye itself. While children under 6 months old should never be exposed to the sun, once they reach 6 months, they should wear sunglasses outside. If they require prescription glasses, they should also wear prescription sunglasses.
Keep these rules in mind when buying sunglasses for children:

Find glasses that block 99-100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Buy ones that indicate the percentage of UVR protection they provide. The more skin covered, the better, so look for large, wraparound styles.

Use playground-proof lenses. Kids run, trip, fall, and bounce off objects at alarming speed. Their sunglasses should match this active lifestyle. Find impact-resistant, scratch-proof lenses that don't pop out of the frames. Avoid glass lenses, unless recommended by a doctor; plastic is safer. Frames should be bendable but unbreakable. Make sure the glasses fit snugly, close to the face.

"Sun Protective" Clothing
Clothing is the single most effective form of sun protection. It is our first line of defense against the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

Clothing made with sun-protective fabrics differs from typical summer fabrics in several ways. They typically have a tighter weave or knit and are usually darker in color. Sun-protective clothes have a label listing the garment's Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value. The UPF label will help you identify sun-protective garments. The number on the label indicates what fraction of the sun's rays can penetrate the fabric. The higher the UPF, the higher the protection.

A fabric with the minimum recommended UPF rating of 20 allows 1/20th of the sun's UV radiation to pass through it. This means that this fabric will reduce your skin's UV radiation exposure by 20 times where it's protected by the fabric. The more intense the hue, the better the UV defense-dark or bright colors, like red or black, absorb more UVR than white.

What is SPF?

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is the amount of UV radiation required to cause sunburn on skin with the sunscreen on, relative to the amount required without the sunscreen. SPF protection doesn't increase proportionally. For example, SPF 2 absorbs 50% of UV radiation, SPF 15 absorbs 93%, and SPF 34 absorbs 97%.

What is UVA & UVB?

UVA and UVB refer to different kinds of ultraviolet radiation. Exposure to UVA and UVB can be harmful and cause cancer. Sunscreens protect from UVB rays, but not all sunscreen product screens out all UVA rays. Some may advertise UVA protection, but no criteria exist in the U.S. for measuring and labeling the amount of UVA defense a sunscreen provides yet.

What is Broad-spectrum protection?

"Broad-spectrum" indicates that a product shields against UVA and UVB. It does not guarantee protection against all UVA wavelengths, however. Most broad-spectrum sunscreens and sunblocks with an SPF of 30 or higher do a good job against UVB and short UVA rays. If they also contain avobenzone, zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide, they should be more effective against the entire UVA spectrum.
Tips on Applying Sunscreen

Water and perspiration reduce the SPF value of many sunscreens-even those that are water-resistant-so be sure to reapply the product often.

Sunscreen sprays may not work as well to prevent sunburn. The concern is twofold: that not enough sunscreen makes it onto the skin, and that the spray may be inhaled into the lungs.

If your baby is taking medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist if the medications increase your baby's skin sensitivity to the sun or aggravate sunburns or rashes. Certain antibiotics, diuretics, antihistamines, and antidepressants are among the commonly used drugs that can increase sensitivity to the sun's rays.

Experts estimate that about half of the recommended amount of sunscreen is applied on their children. Read the product's usage instructions to make sure you are using the proper amount.

Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before your child will be exposed to the sun.

Reapply sunscreen regularly and at least every 2 hours. Repeat application more often if your child is swimming or sweating.

Use sunscreen even if it is cloudy outside. Clouds don't absorb or block UV radiation.

Sun Exposure & Vitamin D

Some sunlight is good for you and is needed for bone health. It has been suggested by some vitamin D researchers that approximately 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure at least twice a week to the face, arms, legs, or back without sunscreen usually lead to sufficient vitamin D. Individuals with limited sun exposure need to include good sources of vitamin D in their diet or take a supplement to achieve recommended levels of intake.

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Melanoma is among the most common forms of cancer for young adults 15-29. Some experts blame the inappropriate use of sunscreen, saying that people do not apply enough lotion (a golf ball-size dollop) or do not reapply it as frequently as required.

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In this article it handles the importance of pediatric visits, wellness checks, and vaccinations. The CDC goes over the time frames in which wellness checks are recommended, as well as what to expect in those appointments. The vaccines are also laid out as well as why they are important for safety purposes. There’s also an outline of extra safety precautions that can be taken to keep your child even more safe. As well as schedules and tables from age to age on vaccines given as well as what will occur.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been doing their part by staying at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. An unfortunate result is that many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend every child continues to receive recommended vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These are challenging times, but you have the power to help keep your child healthy.
Making sure that your child sees their doctor for well-child visits and recommended vaccines is one of the best things you can do to protect your child and community from serious diseases that are easily spread.

Well-Child Visits and Recommended Vaccinations Are Essential

Well-child visits and recommended vaccinations are essential and help make sure children stay healthy. Children who are not protected by vaccines are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough. These diseases are extremely contagious and can be very serious, especially for babies and young children. In recent years, there have been outbreaks of these diseases, especially in communities with low vaccination rates.

Well-child visits are essential for many reasons, including:

Tracking growth and developmental milestones

Discussing any concerns about your child's health

Getting scheduled vaccinations to prevent illnesses like measles and whooping cough (pertussis) and other serious diseases

As children return to in-person learning and care, it's particularly important for parents to work with their child's doctor or nurse to make sure they get caught up on missed well-child visits and recommended vaccines.

Extra Steps Are Being Taken to See Children Safely

If your child is due for a well-child visit, call the doctor's office and ask about the special measures they have in place and ways they are safely offering well-child visits. Many medical offices and clinics are taking extra steps to see children safely during this time.

Vaccines: Power to Protect

This infographic highlights the importance of getting children caught up on well-child visits and routine childhood vaccinations. The infographic is available to download and print.

HTML | PDF pdf icon [1 page]

Routinely Recommended Vaccines for Children and Adolescents

Getting children and adolescents caught up with recommended vaccinations is the best way to protect them from a variety of vaccine-preventable diseases. The schedules below outline the vaccines recommended for each age group.

Need to Find Free Vaccines for Your Child?

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines to eligible children at no cost. This program provides free vaccines to children who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian/Alaska Native. Check out the program's requirements and talk to your child's doctor or nurse to see if they are a VFC provider. You can also find a VFC provider by calling your state or local health department or seeing if your state has a VFC website.

Page last reviewed:

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vaccination during the covid-19 outbreak

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Well-Child Visits and Recommended Vaccinations Are Essential

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been doing their part by staying at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. An unfortunate result is that many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend every child continues to receive recommended vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

# data[].attributes.body
In this article it handles the importance of pediatric visits, wellness checks, and vaccinations. The CDC goes over the time frames in which wellness checks are recommended, as well as what to expect in those appointments. The vaccines are also laid out as well as why they are important for safety purposes. There’s also an outline of extra safety precautions that can be taken to keep your child even more safe. As well as schedules and tables from age to age on vaccines given as well as what will occur.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been doing their part by staying at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. An unfortunate result is that many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend every child continues to receive recommended vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These are challenging times, but you have the power to help keep your child healthy.
Making sure that your child sees their doctor for well-child visits and recommended vaccines is one of the best things you can do to protect your child and community from serious diseases that are easily spread.

Well-Child Visits and Recommended Vaccinations Are Essential

Well-child visits and recommended vaccinations are essential and help make sure children stay healthy. Children who are not protected by vaccines are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough. These diseases are extremely contagious and can be very serious, especially for babies and young children. In recent years, there have been outbreaks of these diseases, especially in communities with low vaccination rates.

Well-child visits are essential for many reasons, including:

Tracking growth and developmental milestones

Discussing any concerns about your child's health

Getting scheduled vaccinations to prevent illnesses like measles and whooping cough (pertussis) and other serious diseases

As children return to in-person learning and care, it's particularly important for parents to work with their child's doctor or nurse to make sure they get caught up on missed well-child visits and recommended vaccines.

Extra Steps Are Being Taken to See Children Safely

If your child is due for a well-child visit, call the doctor's office and ask about the special measures they have in place and ways they are safely offering well-child visits. Many medical offices and clinics are taking extra steps to see children safely during this time.

Vaccines: Power to Protect

This infographic highlights the importance of getting children caught up on well-child visits and routine childhood vaccinations. The infographic is available to download and print.

HTML | PDF pdf icon [1 page]

Routinely Recommended Vaccines for Children and Adolescents

Getting children and adolescents caught up with recommended vaccinations is the best way to protect them from a variety of vaccine-preventable diseases. The schedules below outline the vaccines recommended for each age group.

Need to Find Free Vaccines for Your Child?

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines to eligible children at no cost. This program provides free vaccines to children who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian/Alaska Native. Check out the program's requirements and talk to your child's doctor or nurse to see if they are a VFC provider. You can also find a VFC provider by calling your state or local health department or seeing if your state has a VFC website.

Page last reviewed:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
vaccination during the covid-19 outbreak

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Well-Child Visits and Recommended Vaccinations Are Essential

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been doing their part by staying at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of COVID-19. An unfortunate result is that many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations. CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend every child continues to receive recommended vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Within this website you will find articles and resources on how to assist families who are in need of nutrition programs. This website provides a lot of government help and guidance on where to go to access food within your own community. Nutrition is important to a child's development and if a child is lacking that, then this is a helpful website for a guardian to be directed to.

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The CACFP helps institutions and facilities serve well-balanced, nutritious meals to the participants in their care and this handbook provides details for administering the CACFP.

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The CACFP helps institutions and facilities serve well-balanced, nutritious meals to the participants in their care and this handbook provides details for administering the CACFP.

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In this article, you will find important information on teeth care and the serious care outside of brushing your teeth. There are different areas outside of teeth brushing that go into tooth care and that are good to know how to prevent tooth decay. Within this article you will find helpful resources from birth to adult hood and why it is important to care for teeth at a young age.

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Healthy teeth are important to your child's overall health. They help your child eat and talk. Strong oral care helps set good dental habits as your child grows. Poor oral care can lead to infection, disease, or other teeth problems.

Cavities (tooth decay) are common in childhood. However, cavities are preventable with proper brushing, flossing, reduced sugar, and regular dental care. Start young to teach your child good dental health and hygiene with these fun tips:

Let children help choose their own toothbrush. They can pick one that has a favorite color or character.

Let children help choose toothpaste. They can pick their favorite flavor.

Read books or watch videos that talk about dental hygiene.

Use a timer to make sure kids brush their teeth for 2 minutes. Or play their favorite song to help keep track of time.

Reward children for good oral care. Do not give them food or sugary treats. Offer something healthy or simple instead, like apple slices or a gold star.

Plan a fun activity following your child's dentist visit.

Path to improved health

The role of fluoride

Fluoride is important to your child's dental health. It is known to reduce cavities in baby (primary) teeth and adult (permanent) teeth. It also helps make teeth strong by hardening the tooth enamel. Most children get fluoride in drinking water. Many cities are required to add fluoride to tap water. Water filters, such as Brita, do not remove fluoride and are okay to use. You should not use "reverse osmosis" water filters.

If your water does not contain fluoride, your child may need to take an oral fluoride supplement. Talk to your doctor to see if your child needs this. Once your child starts going to the dentist, they will get a fluoride varnish or cleaning on their teeth.

Too much fluoride can cause tooth stains and be harmful to your child's health. Be sure your child does not swallow fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash. Follow all instructions for fluoride supplements.

Brushing and flossing

Dental hygiene should begin when your child is a baby. Start using a soft child-size toothbrush around the age of 1 or 2. You should brush your child's teeth with water at least twice a day. You also can add a small dab of toothpaste that doesn't have fluoride in it. This type of toothpaste is safe for your child to swallow. Once your child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste, you can switch to one that has fluoride. Only use a small amount. Teach your child to spread it among their teeth, gums, and tongue. Have your doctor or dentist show you the right way to brush your child's teeth.

Your child likely will need help brushing their teeth until they are 7 or 8 years old. Around this time, they can start using a larger sized toothbrush. You should switch out toothbrushes every 3 to 6 months, when the bristles look worn, or if your child was sick. Children should brush their teeth for 2 minutes. Flossing is another key part of your child's oral care routine. Teach your child to floss at least once a day. You can buy floss that comes on a handle to make it easier.

You should also teach your child to brush their tongue. This helps reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth.

Be sure that your child knows to brush their teeth before bed, after all eating and drinking (except water) is done.

Cavities

Cavities are holes that form in your teeth. These can occur when bacteria (germs) build up in your mouth. Sugar in food and drinks turn into acid, which can eat away at your teeth. Cavities are common in children because their teeth can be harder to brush. Everyone in your family should take good care of their teeth. People who have cavities can pass the cavity-causing bacteria to unborn babies, infants, and children.

Your child may be at risk for cavities if they:

Have white spots or brown areas on their teeth

Have ongoing special health care needs

Do not go to the dentist often

Were born early (premature) or had a low birth weight

Diet

Kids who eat a lot of sugary foods and drinks also are at high risk for cavities. It is important to make healthy food choices. Avoid too much sugar. Do not let your child have a lot of soda, fruit juice, or sweetened drinks. Limit sweet snacks and drinks between meals. If your child does have sugar, make sure they brush their teeth afterward. Do not let your baby drink a bottle with juice at night or at naps, as the sugar coats their teeth and gums.

Chewing gum is safe for older kids. It can provide benefits, such as:

Strengthening the jaw

Helping produce saliva

Washing away bits of food

Balancing acid that can cause tooth decay

Freshening breath

However, gum that contains sugar can cause cavities. Limit the amount of sugar gum your child chews or only give them sugar-free gum.

Mouth safety

Safety is another big part of dental hygiene. If your child plays sports, they should wear a mouth guard. This is a soft, plastic retainer that covers the teeth and sometimes the lips. It helps protect your child's mouth from injuries. Talk to your dentist if you need a custom-fit mouth guard.

From baby teeth to adult teeth

In general, baby teeth start to appear between 4 and 7 months old. The first teeth to come in are usually the 2 bottom front teeth. Most kids have all 20 baby teeth by about 3 years of age.

Children can lose their baby teeth as early as 6 years old and as late as 12 years old. During this process, your child has a mix of teeth as baby ones fall out and adult ones break through. Around this time, your dentist may talk to you and your child about possible teeth problems. Some kids need orthodontia treatment, such as braces. A full set of adult teeth is 32 teeth. This includes wisdom teeth, which most people do not get until their late teens or early adulthood.

Things to consider

It's normal for babies to suck their thumbs, their fingers, or a pacifier. Most children give up this habit on their own by age 4. Prolonged use can cause problems with teeth alignment. Talk to your dentist if your child still has a sucking habit after age 4. They can watch for problems as your child's teeth develop. In most children, there is no reason to worry about a sucking habit until around age 6, when the permanent front teeth come in.

When to see a dentist

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children see a dentist around their first birthday. This gives the dentist a chance to look for early problems with your child's teeth. Pediatric dentists specialize in treating children's dental health. The dentist will talk to you about proper oral care.

Visiting the dentist from a young age will help your child be more comfortable. It also establishes the good habit of regular dental checkups. Everyone should see the dentist twice a year.

Contact your dentist right away if:

Your child has tooth pain or a tooth or mouth infection

Your child loses a permanent tooth. If you find the tooth, put it in milk and take it to the dentist with you. They may be able to reattach it.

Questions to ask your doctor

Does my child need to take oral fluoride supplements?

What is the best type of toothbrush for my child?

Can my child use mouthwash?

Is my child at high risk for cavities?

How often should my child visit the dentist?

Are dental X-rays safe for my child?

Is it okay for my child to chew gum?

Resources
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: Frequently Asked Questions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Children's Oral Health
Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians
This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

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Dental Hygiene: How to Care for Your Child's Teeth - familydoctor.org

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Good dental hygiene is important for children, as poor oral care can lead to infection, disease, or other teeth problems.

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This article provides information and resources for parents to use to incorporate healthy nutrition into s child's diet. This article breaks down each food category and explains why it is important to have these certain things put into the body. The article gives the basic nutrition guidelines for a proper healthy balance and shows types of food that would fit into each category. It also lists what types of things to limit within a child's intake such as high fructose corn syrup and added sugars. They offer resources such as what questions parents should be asking their child's pediatrician about nutrition, children nutrition assessments, and specialized guidelines for different age groups and genders.

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What nutrients does your child need now?

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See the current children's nutrition recommendations for protein, carbohydrates, more.

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This website is a fitness organization that partners with schools to provide proper daily fitness activities to students. The also provide video lessons as well to children. The founder of this organization prioritizes providing structured fitness activities to children that are underserved, and may attend a school that is unable to provide the proper fitness. She makes a point of importance of physical fitness because it not only effects physical health but social and emotional health as well. The organization trains school individuals on how to incorporate the fit kids activities into their daily PE classes.

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Fit Kids partners with schools and community organizations to deliver a proprietary curriculum of warm-ups, fitness moves, games, and yoga/mindfulness for in-person or distance learning.

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Our mission is to provide structured physical activity programs for underserved children to build the foundation for a healthy, active life. Free Workout Videos Why Fit Kids? 0 % of U.S. children fail to get the recommended hour of daily physical activity. 0 % are obese.

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This article is about keeping children safe when around pools at home. According to statistics between 2013 and 2015 58% of drownings among children 4 and under took place at home. Due to the dangers of children being around a pool, this article has provided multiple resources on how to increase safety in your own home. The writer not only gives information about pool safety and safety measures, there is also a parent testimonial. This story is told by this child's mother as her daughter was a victim of drowning at her friends house. This article contains multiple resources and suggestions on how to keep children safe around pools.

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Swimming pools can have a powerful pull on little children―even when it's not swimming time. Those glistening turquoise-blue ripples may look especially inviting to an active toddler or an overly confident preschooler.

Kids can slip away from the watchful eyes of adults in seconds. It happens every day. (See " Soraya's Story," below.)

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends several ways parents can help keep children safe around home swimming pools and hot tubs ―all year long―in your own backyard, your neighbor's, or on vacation.

Fact: Most drownings in kids 4 and under happen in home swimming pools.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) studied drownings among children age 4 and under in Arizona, California, and Florida, where pools are especially common. It found that nearly 70% of the children were not expected to be at or in the pool, yet they were found in the water. In fact, 46% of the children were last seen in the house.

Pool fences. Safety precautions not to ignore.

Pool fences are for above-ground pools that are portable as well as those that are permanent, inground pools, and hot tubs.

Between 2013 and 2015, most (58%) drownings among children age 4 and under took place in a pool or spa at their own home. Most children drowned when they wander out of the house and fell into a swimming pool that was not fenced off from the house. They slipped out a door, climbed out a window, or even crawled through a doggy door to access the pool.

But, a family swimming pool isn't the only one a child can get into unnoticed. More than a quarter (27%) of drownings among children age 4 and under took place at the home of a friend, relative or neighbor. Only some individual states and municipalities have laws requiring pool safety fences; there is no national pool fence law. Whenever your child will be in someone else's home, always check for ways your child could access pools and other potential hazards.

Fact: Fences are the most effective, proven way to prevent drowning of young children.

Pool fencing recommendations:

4 feet, 4 sides. The pool fence should be at least 4 feet high and completely surround the pool, separating it from the house and the rest of the yard.

Climb-proof. The fence shouldn't have any footholds, handholds, or objects such as lawn furniture or play equipment the child could use to climb over the fence. Chain-link fences are very easy to climb and are not recommended as pool fences. (If they are used, make sure openings are 1¾ inches or smaller in size).

Slat space. To ensure a small child can't squeeze through the fence, make sure vertical slats have no more than 4 inches of space between them. This will also help keep small pets safe, too.

Latch height. The fence should have a self-closing and self-latching gate that only opens out, away from the pool area. The latch should be out of a child's reach-at least 54 inches from the ground.

Gate locked, toy-free. When the pool is not in use, make sure the gate is locked. Keep toys out of the pool area when it is not in use.

Alarms. A child drowning is rarely heard.

Beyond a fence, additional layers of protection such as pool alarms, door and gate alarms, and pool covers can provide some added safety around a pool. Make sure alarms are in good shape with fresh batteries, and keep in mind none are substitutes for a properly installed pool fence.

Drowning is silent. Alarms break that silence.

Pool alarms. Children can drown within seconds, with barely a splash. Swimming pool alarms can detect waves on the water's surface and sound off to attract attention when someone has fallen into the pool.

Consider alarms on the pool fence gate and house doors. Door and gate alarms can be equipped with touchpads to let adults pass through without setting them off. House doors should be locked if a child could get to the pool through them.

Window guards. These can be especially helpful for windows on the house that face the pool.

What Else Can Parents Do?

Even with safety measures in place, parents should be prepared in case that their child gets into a swimming pool unseen.

Some precautions that may help:

Assign a water watcher. His or her job is to watch all children swimming or playing in or NEAR water―such as on a backyard swing set―even if they know how to swim. This person should:

not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol

put down his or her cell phone

avoid other activies

supervise even if there are lifeguards

switch off with another adult for breaks

Life jackets: Put your child in a properly fitted US Coast Guard approved life jacket when around or near water, such as when visiting a home with a pool.

Swim lessons. The AAP recommends swim lessons as a layer of protection against drowning that can begin for many children starting at age 1. Learn more here.

CPR training. Parents, caregivers, and pool owners should know CPR and how to get emergency help. Keep equipment approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, such as life preservers and life jackets at poolside.

Check the water first. If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first. This is especially important if your child is prone to wandering.

Spread the word. Share this article on social media and with family, friends, and neighbors.

Additional Information:

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Pool Dangers and Drowning Prevention―When It's Not Swimming Time

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​Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in children between ages 1 and 4. The AAP recommends several ways parents can help keep children safe around home swimming pools and hot tubs―all year long―in your own backyard, your neighbor's, or on vacation.

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This website provides the necessary information on why pediatric visits for children are crucial even when they are healthy. It also gives information on what parents could ask their child's pediatrician in case a parent may have concerns about their child. The website also provides the benefits of well - child visits which are prevention of illnesses by immunization, tracking growth and development, and possible concerns. All of the information regarding nutrition, growth / development, immunizations, and parental concerns are primary reasons that children who are healthy see a pediatrician. This website includes the ideal schedule to follow when seeing a pediatrician.

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Parents know who they should go to when their child is sick. But pediatrician visits are just as important for healthy children.

The Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) developed a set of comprehensive health guidelines for well-child care, known as the " periodicity schedule." It is a schedule of screenings and assessments recommended at each well-child visit from infancy through adolescence.

Schedule of well-child visits

The benefits of well-child visits

Prevention. Your child gets scheduled immunizations to prevent illness. You also can ask your pediatrician about nutrition and safety in the home and at school.

Tracking growth and development. See how much your child has grown in the time since your last visit, and talk with your doctor about your child's development. You can discuss your child's milestones, social behaviors and learning.

Raising concerns. Make a list of topics you want to talk about with your child's pediatrician such as development, behavior, sleep, eating or getting along with other family members. Bring your top three to five questions or concerns with you to talk with your pediatrician at the start of the visit.

Team approach. Regular visits create strong, trustworthy relationships among pediatrician, parent and child. The AAP recommends well-child visits as a way for pediatricians and parents to serve the needs of children. This team approach helps develop optimal physical, mental and social health of a child.

More information

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Parents know who they should go to when their child is sick. But pediatrician visits are just as important for healthy children. The Bright Futures /American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) developed a set of comprehensive health guidelines for well-child care, known as the " periodicity schedule."

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This website provides education on the Women Infant and Children Nutrition assistance program. It provides a tool to find a WIC clinic near you to apply in person or over the phone. It explains the eligibility requirements as well. The website also has a ton of information on nutrition during pregnancy and for babies and children. This includes information on breastfeeding.

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Do you want to do your WIC appointment from home instead of coming into a clinic? Please contact your WIC clinic for more information.

The Arizona WIC Program is increasing the fruit and vegetable benefits to $35 per month for a limited time only for women and children! For additional information, please see our Participant eFlyer (ENG/SPN) or contact your WIC clinic for more information.

The Arizona Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutrition education and breastfeeding support services, supplemental nutritious foods and referrals to health and social services. WIC serves pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women; infants; and children under the age of five.

More Info Apply Now

Motherhood is one big job. Choosing healthy foods while pregnant, learning how to breastfeed, finding the right doctors for yourself and your children, and getting those kids ready to learn in school really does take a lot. WIC staff will help you find important referrals to other community resources like places your child can receive immunizations. WIC helps provide healthy foods for your family.

All parents can apply for their infants and children too! This includes dads, grandparents, foster parents and other guardians.

We want to make it easy and safe for families to access WIC services, explore these options and more with WIC Your Way.

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Do you want to do your WIC appointment from home instead of coming into a clinic? Please contact your WIC clinic for more information. The Arizona WIC Program is increasing the fruit and vegetable benefits to $35 per month for a limited time only for women and children!

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This is the website for The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreations department. They offer a wide array of youth sports and other activities provided by the city. They also have other types of recreational activities that center around being active. They even have an after-school program provided at many public schools in Phoenix that is a great resource to keep kids in a safe and fun environment if their caregivers work past the time that schools let out. While the sports and recreation teams aren’t free, many are very inexpensive.

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City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department

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This website is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It speaks on the immense importance of car seat safety. This includes how to choose the best car seat for your child and the guidelines on installing and using them based on different cars It explains the appropriate time to move your child to the next stage up using your child’s height and weight rather than just age. In addition, they provide a tool that helps you find an inspection station near you so that you can be assured your seat is installed correctly. You can also use the webpage to register your seat to make sure you are notified of manufacture recalls and other safety notices.

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Get resources on how to find and install the right car seat for your child such as forward-facing and rear-facing car seats, along with booster seats.

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The child mind institute is a nonprofit organization that provides mental health services for youth and their families. They also provide educations resources for caregivers and training opportunities for educators in underserved communities. In addition, they have a team of mental health scientists for developing new treatments.

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Child Mind Institute | Transforming Children’s Lives.

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The Child Mind Institute is an independent nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children struggling with mental health and learning disorders.

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This website shows all the food banks that will be near you and can you help you pick out food banks that you want to volunteer at. This website is in track with nutrition and can nurture helping passing out food for the people who need it. This shows everything about the food banks and you can find the right one to volunteer at.

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Find a Food Bank Need an emergency food box or a hot meal? Click here to find help. Food Assistance…

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This website shows a program that is associated with the boys and girls club and has sports programs that can be displayed here for people to see and have there kids sign up and get there fitness on. This is a great website to know about fitness for kids and can help them get in a path of fitness and getting them into sports if they want to be in sports.

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Boys & Girls Club programs help develop physical fitness, reduce stress and promote a healthy lifestyle.

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In this website this shows the safety of wearing bike helmet's and that this has a great description to help people realize why it is important to wear a helmet when biking. This can have people wondering why there is a big safety in wearing a helmet and can save you from a bad accident.

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Handwashing is a important thing to do and this website shows the do's and don'ts when washing hands. In this website they tell you when you are supposed to wash your hands and them saying to wash hands before eating or preparing food is good because if you don't you might get sick.

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Hand-washing: Do's and don'ts

Hand-washing is an easy way to prevent infection. Understand when to wash your hands, how to properly use hand sanitizer and how to get your children into the habit.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Frequent hand-washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Find out when and how to wash your hands properly.

When to wash your hands

As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. You can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth, or spread them to others. Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands with soap and water frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Always wash your hands before and after:

Preparing and eating food

Treating wounds or caring for a sick person

Touching an item or surface that is frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, gas pumps or shopping carts

Entering or leaving a public place

Inserting or removing contact lenses

Always wash your hands after:

Using the toilet, changing a diaper or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

Touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste

Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing

Handling garbage

Handling pet food or pet treats

Also, wash your hands when they are visibly dirty.

How to wash your hands

It's generally best to wash your hands with soap and water. Over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap.

Follow these steps:

Wet your hands with clean, running water - either warm or cold.

Apply soap and lather well.

Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.

Rinse well.

Dry your hands with a clean towel or air-dry them.

How to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which don't require water, are an acceptable alternative when soap and water aren't available. If you use a hand sanitizer, make sure the product contains at least 60% alcohol. Follow these steps:

Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand. Check the label to find out the appropriate amount.

Rub your hands together.

Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

Kids need clean hands, too

Help children stay healthy by encouraging them to wash their hands frequently. Wash your hands with your child to show him or her how it's done. To prevent rushing, suggest washing hands for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. If your child can't reach the sink on his or her own, keep a step stool handy.

Be sure to supervise young children using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Swallowing alcohol-based sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning. Store the container safely away after use.

A simple way to stay healthy

Hand-washing offers great rewards in terms of preventing illness. Adopting this habit can play a major role in protecting your health.

Mayo Clinic Minute: How dirty are common surfaces?

Jason Howland: Most of us aren't aware we are doing it.

We touch our face between three to 30 times an hour.

The problem, says Dr. Gregory Poland, is what we touch beforehand is often riddled with germs.

Gregory Poland, M.D., Vaccine Research Group Mayo Clinic: Bathroom faucets, door handles, escalator rails, computer terminals, anything that is commonly touched by the public.

Jason Howland: But how germ-filled are common objects? Let's start with money.

Gregory Poland, M.D.: Bad but not highly transmissible.

Jason Howland: Touchscreens, devices, phones?

Gregory Poland, M.D.: Bad.

Jason Howland: Restaurant menus?

Gregory Poland, M.D.: Really bad.

Jason Howland: Doorknob handles?

Gregory Poland, M.D.: Really, really bad.

Jason Howland: What about our computer keyboards?

Gregory Poland, M.D.: Those have been shown over and over again to be really grossly contaminated.

Jason Howland: These common surfaces aren't just gross. They can be a vehicle to spread cold and flu viruses, and make you sick. Dr. Poland offers these suggestions.

Gregory Poland, M.D.: First, keep your hands out of your eyes, nose and mouth. Second is either wash your hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer.

Jason Howland: And make sure you get your annual flu vaccine.

For the Mayo Clinic News Network, I'm Jason Howland.

Mayo Clinic Minute: You're washing your hands all wrong

Ian Roth: Children often are taught at a young age to wash their hands - before eating and after using the restroom. It's an easy and effective way to stay healthy and avoid spreading disease.

But Dr. Gregory Poland, director of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group says adults could do much better at the sink.

Gregory Poland, M.D.: People go to the bathroom and they run their fingers under the water. Well, that does nothing. And, then they grab the dirty faucet, and they touch the dirty handle on the way out of the bathroom.

Ian Roth: Dr. Poland says that in public washrooms there are often more bacteria on those faucets than in the toilet water. So, next time you're at the sink...

Gregory Poland, M.D.: So you wash your hands while singing happy birthday to yourself, you get between the fingers, the fingertips, the thumb, you turn the water off with a paper towel, and you open the door to leave with a paper towel and dispose of the paper towel. That's how you wash your hands - ideally, with warm, soapy water.

Ian Roth: For the Mayo Clinic News Network, I'm Ian Roth.

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Show references

1. When and how to wash your hands. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html. Accessed Nov. 23, 2021.

2. Show me the science - Why wash your hands? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/why-handwashing.html. Accessed Nov. 23, 2021.

3. Antibacterial soap? You can skip it, use plain soap and water. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water. Accessed Nov. 23, 2021.

See more In-depth

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Done properly, hand-washing is a simple way to prevent the spread of germs and avoid getting sick.