Back to School Immunizations

It’s back to school time… are you and your family ready? August is typically the time of year that many families get their children ready for school, and are busy checking the school supply list to ensure their children have the proper school supplies for a successful start to the school year.  There is no denying that this is an important part of school readiness. Often overlooked, but equally important are immunizations.

Schools, child care facilities, and preschool programs are prone to outbreaks of infectious diseases.  Children enrolled in these settings can easily spread illness to one another due to poor or improper hand washing techniques, interacting in crowded environments, and not covering coughs or sneezes.

Vaccines provide a safe and powerful tool to protect children from serious infectious diseases, such as measles, mumps, and chicken pox to name a few. 

When children are not immunized they are at an increased risk of contracting infectious diseases.  They can easily spread the disease to others in their classrooms, playgroups, to family members with weakened immunity due to age or health conditions, and the community they live in.

To help families navigate the requirements for immunizations and how to obtain a copy of a child’s immunization, or to answer questions about the safety of immunizations, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have the following links that can provide valuable and current information regarding immunizations and vaccinations.

• Department of Health Immunization   
• CDC Vaccine Safety website 
• CDC parents’guide on vaccines   
• Common Immunization Questions 
• Provider resources for vaccine conversations with parents 

Together let’s keep all children in Washington healthy and ready to learn.

 

Physical Activity in Washington Child Care

In a recent article by Medical Daily, the importance of physical activity in child care was emphasized by pediatricians and professionals. 

The article stated,

"Pediatricians recommend that young children get at least an hour a day of physical activity to help build motor skills, coordination and strong muscles and bones, as well as to reduce the potential for obesity later in life. Playground time is also key for developing social skills, like taking turns and conflict resolution."

The study that informed the article was published nationally. 

In a state where rain and chilly temperatures are the norm during winter months, this can be a challenge for child care providers--but Washington partners in Governor Jay Inslee's health-centric initiative, the Healthiest Next Generation, have created technical assistance documents to promote activity in early learning environments that do not rely on outdoor time per-say.

This release comes after the results of a 2013 child care survey that showcased low physical activity practices throughout child care in Washington state.

The Department of Health (Health), The University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition and Department of Early Learning (DEL) developed Physical Activity in Child Care Technical Assistance Handouts with essential tips for providers and families who regularly utilize child care centers and family homes.

Tips for family home child care programs include: 

• Add activity breaks into daily routines, like circle time.
• Get kids active between lessons. Even a five to ten minute burst of activity can help.
• Avoid having kids stay seated for a long time. 
• Include teacher-guided activities. Introduce simple movement games and songs like “Simon Says,” “Follow the Leader” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.” 

Center tips are similar, and include ideas for how to combat barriers like cold weather:

• Ask parents to dress children in appropriate clothing and shoes for active, outdoor play.
• Stock spare clothes, boots, hats and gloves.
• Take a nature walk or neighborhood tour when the grass or playground equipment is wet or covered in snow. 
• Indoor play idea: set up an obstacle course using unlikely objects. Kids can push chairs across the room, crawl under tables or jump over blocks.

To see the finished, printable handout for family homes, click here: Physical Activity in Family Homes.

To see the finished, printable handout for centers, click here: Physical Activity in Centers.

Breastfeeding Friendly Washington Hospitals Supports the Healthiest Next Generation

In partnership with the Washington State Hospital Association, the Washington State Department of Health launched Breastfeeding Friendly Washington Hospitals on August 3. This voluntary program recognizes birthing hospitals that support breastfeeding and is part of Governor Jay Inslee’s Healthiest Next Generation Initiative.

Recognizing that Washington's future depends on the health of our children, Gov. Inslee launched the Healthiest Next Generation Initiative to help our next generation be the healthiest ever. Supporting breastfeeding is one of the initiative’s three areas of focus.

This program is based on the World Health Organization’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. The steps were adapted for birthing hospitals in Washington, using three tiers of recognition (bronze, silver and gold). Successful applicants will receive window decals, a letter and certificate of achievement from Secretary of Health John Wiesman, and a CD with logo files and a sample press release. Hospitals that qualify for the Gold Recognition Level will also receive a plaque. 

This program is not only about recognition for hospitals, but it is also a vehicle for families to learn about how hospitals are supporting breastfeeding. The promotional package hospitals receive will help with this awareness. Prospective parents can also search our website for a Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital nearby.

"The Governor declared the Healthiest Next Generation initiative, and breastfeeding was one of the key areas he wanted to focus on," said Michele Lord, Department of Health Breastfeeding Coordinator. "Through research, we have noted that Washington has a good breastfeeding initiation rate among moms. However this number declines, and by six months we have a low number of moms that are still breastfeeding. Putting the pieces together, we realized that there is something happening from the moment the mom leaves the hospital that can shape her success in continuing to breastfeed. So we decided to begin with hospitals to promote breastfeeding across the state, to get new moms off to a great start."

Ten Steps to the Breastfeeding Friendly Washington program:

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.
2. Train all healthcare staff in the skills necessary to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Place babies skin-to-skin with their mothers for 60 minutes immediately after birth and help mothers recognize and respond to feeding cues.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they are separated from their infants.
6. Give infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming-in to allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand. Teach mothers cue-based feeding regardless of feeding method.
9. Give no artificial nipples or pacifiers to breastfeeding infants.
10. Establish a system for referring mothers to out-patient and community support. 

The Benefits of Breastfeeding:

Breastfeeding helps protect and maintain the health of both mothers and babies. Breastfeeding protects babies from infections and illnesses such as diarrhea, ear infections and pneumonia and breastfed babies are less likely to develop asthma. Research also shows that breastfeeding a baby for nine months reduces a baby’s risk of becoming overweight by more than 30 percent. Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, Type 2 diabetes and post-partum depression.

Supporting breastfeeding is also good for business– big and small. Businesses that support breastfeeding employees are better at retaining valued employees. When employees breastfeed, businesses see less sick time taken by both moms and dads for doctor visits and hospitalizations. Because breastfeeding protects the health of both moms and babies, businesses experience lower health care and insurance costs.

To learn more about the program, contact Michele Lord, Department of Health Breastfeeding Coordinator at michele.lord@doh.wa.gov or (360) 236-3625. To share how you are creating the healthiest next generation, use the hashtag: #HealthiestNextGen on social media!

Planning for the Future of Early Learning in WA: ELAC's Latest Meeting

Yesterday, DEL's Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) met in Lacey to discuss the future of early learning programs in Washington state. To learn more about ELAC, refer to June's blog post about their last meeting.

Agenda items included but were not limited to:

• The Parent Advisory Group (PAG)
• DEL is currently in the review process after receiving 87 applications following the July 15 deadline. More information will be released in the coming weeks regarding the final members of this group. For more information about PAG, click here: Parent Advisory Group.

• The Child Care Development Fund (CCDF)
• The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is a federal grant that supports low-income working families by providing access to affordable, high-quality early care and after-school programs. 
• As CCDF is a federal grant, the federal government updates and issues new requirements to it's recipients. Some of the requirements that DEL is currently working on with advisement from ELAC are:
• support family engagement in child care settings to promote healthy child development
• social/emotional development and preschool expulsion policies
• child care subsidy policies (e.g. allowing homeless families to receive subsidy before submitting required documentation such as immunization records).

• Advancing Racial Equity
• As stated in June's blog post, ELAC will advise DEL on early learning policies and incorporate the Racial Equity Theory of Change (link courtesy of Thrive Washington) into the Council's feedback when considering early learning programs.With that in mind, ELAC members discussed doing the following moving forward:
• develop an annual reflection on progress made in racial equity
• DEL collects data regarding the successes and barriers that people face in their communities
• promote specific training and/or presentations regarding racial equity around the state
• construct a Racial Equity Toolkit with data as a main component
• data includes indicators like "number of Washington children participating in home visiting and preschool dis-aggregated by race and ethnicity" or "number of early learning professionals that take training on culturally or linguistically responsive services."

• The Early Start Act



DEL staff presents about the Early Start Act at yesterday's ELAC meeting.

• DEL staff presented on their hope for implementation of the Early Start Act as it was signed into law on July 6. To read more about the Early Start Act, check out last week's post about the Early Start Act Q&A panel at Starting Strong.
• Early Start Act topics at this ELAC meeting included Early Achievers and standards alignment. For up-to-date information on the Act's requirements and supports, go here: DEL's Early Start Act pages. 

ELAC meetings are generally held six times per year and host a variety of early learning advocates (regional coalitions like Child Strive of Pierce County, the Inland Northwest Early Learning Alliance, Investing in Children: Coalition Central, North Central, Northwest, Olympic-Kitsap Peninsulas coalitions, SOAR of King County, Southeast and Southwest coalitions, and Visions for Early Learning of West Central Washington). ELAC also welcomes government agency representatives from the Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Health, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Thrive Washington. Legislators also attend regularly. For  more information about ELAC, check out DEL's page dedicated to this group.

Preventing Years of Damage: Sun Safety at the Height of Summer

While the Pacific Northwest is often known for clouds and rain, this summer has been one of the hottest and sunniest to date. While you are out and about, taking advantage of these fair-weather days, think about safety--especially if you are responsible for children during outings. 

In a press release last summer, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) stated, 

"Puget Sound, if it were a state by itself, would rank fourth in the nation for skin cancer rates. That’s because of a misconception that cloudy weather means people don’t have to protect themselves from the sun."

It is important to note that there doesn't necessarily have to be direct sunlight to cause damage to skin. DOH advises that protecting you and your family from skin cancer is something that must be done all year, regardless of whether it’s sunny or cloudy. According to DOH, Ultra Violet (UV) light exposure (the most preventable cause of skin cancer) occurs even on cloudy days.

Even though it is not common for children to be diagnosed with skin cancers, sun damage that occurs while children are young can have lasting effects, commonly, melanoma later in life.

One terrifying event recently made national news headlines. Two young boys were on an outdoor field trip while attending child care ended up in serious condition after being exposed to sun without sunscreen or protective clothing. To read more about that story, go here.

You can help prevent skin cancer by:

• using sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher; 
• staying in the shade, especially during midday hours; 
• covering skin with clothing that covers your arms and legs or a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears and neck.

Most importantly, plan ahead for you and your family. If your children are in licensed child care, work with your provider to ensure your kids have proper clothing and sunscreen. 

You can learn more important facts about skin cancer and how to prevent it on the Washington Cares about Cancer partnership page and on the Department of Health website about comprehensive cancer control. 

DOH also published a fact sheet for quick and easy tips to stay safe in warm weather. For tips on how to stay safe in warm weather for all of your family members, even pets, visit DOH's page dedicated to hot weather safety.

If you have a sun burn or someone in your family does, refer to the Skin Cancer Foundation's "Five Tips to Treat Sunburn" article. The article mentions that most sunburns are treatable at home, but 

"...If a blistering burn covers 20% or more of the body (a child's whole back), seek medical attention..." 

Anyone who has had a bad sun burn knows the time and pain it takes to heal. Do yourself and your kids a great service and prevent those harmful UV rays from causing damage now and in the future!

Get Involved: A Resource List for Children with Special Needs

Washington State offers various resources to support infants and toddlers with disabilities and their needs. Some of the following organizations or groups advocate for the rights and services of the developmentally disabled.

WEE CARE (Washington Early Education Coordinate All Resources Early)

WEE CARE is a broad coalition of families and individuals whose mission is to advocate for access to quality services for infants and toddlers birth to three with special needs, developmental delays, disabilities or children at risk for learning delays.

WEE CARE believes families with infants and toddlers with delays, disabilities, or children at risk for learning delays need a fair start in Washington State and have a right to:

• Equal access to resources and information
• Improved family support services
• Consistent statewide public policy
• Seamless transitions to care
• Adequate funding

WEE CARE believes equal access to birth to three services is essential for infants and toddlers with disabilities in all communities in our state. If you need help or want to get more involved, visit them online.

The Arc of Washington

The Arc of Washington State's mission is to advocate for the rights and full participation of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Along with our network of members and chapters, we support and empower individuals and families; connect and inform individuals and families; improve support and service systems; influence public policy; increase public awareness; and inspire inclusive communities. Find your local chapter.
www.arcwa.org

Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC)

It is the mission of the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council to work collaboratively with people with developmental disabilities, families and guardians, service providers, advocates and policy makers to:

• assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have access to culturally competent, consumer/family-centered supports and other assistance that promote independence, productivity, integration and inclusion into the community of their choice; and to
• promote this vision in the public policy and planning arena through system change, community capacity building and advocacy at the local, state and national level.

www.ddc.wa.gov

Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT)

Early intervention services during the first three years can make a big difference in a child's life. The Department of Early Learning's (DEL) Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program provides services to children birth to age 3 who have disabilities or developmental delays. Eligible infants and toddlers and their families are entitled to individualized, quality early intervention services in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C.
http://www.del.wa.gov/development/esit/Default.aspx

Informing Families Building Trust (IFBT)

Good information leads to good choices and decisions for people with developmental disabilities, yet survey data in Washington shows many families say they do not get enough information to effectively participate in planning services for their family members. This is of grave concern to many advocacy and support organizations that believe clear, concise information from trusted sources is critical to every family's ability to access resources and care for individuals with developmental disabilities. That's why the Developmental Disabilities Council and the Division of Developmental Disabilities have formed a partnership with other key state and local organizations to improve the communication families receive. The project's original goal was to share information about changes in the DD delivery service system before those changes occurred, in an easy to understand format. It quickly became apparent that families needed to get information about other issues as well. In 2009, the Informing Families project increased its scope to better provide access to more information for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

www.informingfamlies.org

IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA)

ITCA is your online link to the resources that are helping to improve the lives of infants and toddlers with special needs. Every successful early childhood intervention is the result of a cooperative spirit - the coordination and collaboration of many individuals who share a goal to help infants and toddlers with developmental challenges. This site is all about making the right connections, and here, you will find the core information to assist you. . . Our mission is carefully structured to support the Early Intervention System for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities of the IDEA Part C.
http://www.ideainfanttoddler.org/

Parent to Parent

Parent to Parent programs provide emotional support and information to families of children with special needs and or disabilities. Through implementation of the Parent to Parent model: utilizing trained veteran parents of children with disabilities, called Helping Parents, who provide one to one emotional and informational support to new or referred parents who have a child with a similar need.
www.arcwa.org(Parent to parent)

Washington Statewide Parent Coalition

There are currently 14 active parent coalitions in Washington State serving 19 counties. The Parent Coalition Coordinators have contact with thousands of families across the state and strive to identify the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families and work toward solutions to meet those needs. Parent Coalitions throughout Washington State help parents, family members, and guardians become effective advocates for their family members and others who have developmental disabilities.

www.washingtonparentcoalitions.org

For more information on developmental screening, read DEL's previous blog about "Help Me Grow."

Look Ahead, Be Prepared: Immunization Update

Summer isn't quite over yet, but consider thinking ahead to fall when it comes to immunizing your kids. 

According to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), now is the time to get kids in to see their health care providers for required immunizations, yearly well-child checks, and sports physicals. 

Families can cut down on back-to-school stress by getting the right immunizations for their students well before school starts. Students who aren’t in compliance with required vaccines may be kept out of school if a disease epidemic occurs. 

Parents can find the immunization requirements to start school and attend child care online. There are new changes to the requirements this year for the chicken pox vaccine. It’s also important that kids are current on their whooping cough shots. The disease is spreading in Washington and everyone can play a part in stopping it.

"Now is the time to make sure you and your kids are fully vaccinated," said State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy. "Immunizations are the best tool we have to protect students from serious diseases that can spread quickly through schools."

Due to the recent outbreak of whooping cough cases, State Communicable Disease Epidemiologist Dr. Scott Lindquist reiterated the importance of getting kids vaccinated against the preventable disease. 

"Whooping cough can be very dangerous for babies and young children. When school starts, whooping cough can spread easily from the classroom to the home. Making sure that all kids and pregnant moms are up to date with the right shots to prevent whooping cough can protect babies and families."

For more information about whooping cough in Washington, read DEL's previous blog post about it.

 

For a detailed update and sound advice on various kinds of vaccinations, check out the Department of Health's "Immunization and Child Profile Update". This is seasonal information about the flu, hepatitis, chicken pox requirement updates and more--including an informative Q & A with nurses.

Make educated choices about you and your family's health, consult your health care provider if you have questions. 

DOH notes on their vaccination page: 

"You research which car seat has the highest safety ratings, you read food labels, and you talk to your friends and family about how to find quality child care. Your choice to immunize is no different. Making an educated choice about immunization is critical to protecting you and your family’s health." 

No-cost vaccines are available for all kids up to age 19 through health care providers taking part in the state’s Childhood Vaccine Program. Participating providers may charge for the office visit and an administration fee to give the vaccine. People who can’t afford the administration fee can ask for it to be waived.

For help finding a health care provider or an immunization clinic, call your local health agency or the WithinReach Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.

For up-to-date information on vaccinations and more, visit the Department of Health's website: www.doh.wa.gov. For general information about children's health visit DEL's health and nutrition page.

Washington Looks to Help Kids Grow

Washington has incorporated a new resource for families called "Help Me Grow." This is a national network that helps states implement state-wide planning and implementation of behavioral and developmental screenings. Twenty-three states are currently affiliates.

Between 12 and 16 percent of all American children experience developmental, behavioral and/or emotional delays or problems. In Washington, 1 in 6 children face a delay by age 18--50 percent of children with a delay are not identified before school.* Experts and the Washington State Department of Early Learning agree that early detection and connection to services lead to the best outcomes for children with such challenges.

"Help Me Grow" provides:

• Child health care provider outreach
• Community outreach
• Centralized telephone access points to connect families to services
• Data collection

What does Help Me Grow Washington offer families?

• Free developmental screening for all kids under 5 (no waiting lists or income requirements)
• Activities and games that support healthy growth and learning
• Community resources like parenting classes, medical clinics, and food banks
• Referrals for further evaluation and early intervention services

How Can Developmental Screening Help My Child?

Often, the signs are hard to see, even for a professional. Screening all kids regularly is the best way to catch delays early, when intervention is most effective. Even for families with kids developing on track, screening is a fast, flexible and fun way to learn about what’s coming next and what you can do to encourage healthy growth!

The Ages and Stages Questionnaire

To screen kids Help Me Grow Washington uses a survey tool called the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). This tool can be accessed easily online by clicking the link above. Developmental screening cannot give you a diagnosis; however it can show you if your child is developing more slowly than kids in the same age group.

The ASQ covers 5 areas of development:

• Communication – how kids use language
• Gross Motor – how kids move their bodies
• Fine Motor – how kids use their hands
• Problem Solving – how kids interact with their world
• Personal-Social – how kids calm themselves down

When using the ASQ:  Based on your child’s age, you will be asked about your child’s ability to complete certain activities, such as “Can your child stand on one foot?” When you’ve tried each of the items with your child, submit your answers online. The expert staff will score the ASQ and contact you with results within one week. They will also give you suggestions for games and activities to do with your child to practice emerging skills. They will send another screen every 3-6 months, so you can continue to learn about and support your child’s growth.

If you have questions or want to learn more about it first, please call the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.

*Citations for this article are courtesy of the Washington State Department of Health. For more information regarding developmental delay statistics, please click here: Screening Brief. Other data is courtesy of WithinReach's ParentHelp123.

For more information about DEL's role in developmental screening, check out the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers page at del.wa.gov. 

Whooping Cough in Washington: Protect Yourself and Your Kids

According to a recent King 5 News story, whooping cough is on the rise in Washington. Unfortunately, there have been more than 700 cases in 2015. This is a massive increase as one year ago, there were around 130 cases.

According to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), whooping cough (Pertussis) spreads easily by coughing and sneezing. In a recent letter from DOH, parents and caregivers are urged to consider vaccination--especially those who care for young children and babies.

The letter states, 

"as a parent, there is nothing more important than safeguarding your child’s health. That’s why you should know the facts about whooping cough (pertussis) and the vaccine that protects against it. Make sure you and your family get the right dose at the right time." 

The dangers of whooping cough.

Whooping cough is most dangerous for babies. They can get it from adults or other children who have whooping cough. Babies can have severe coughing spells that make it hard to breathe. Whooping cough can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death.

Call your doctor if prolonged coughing spells cause you or your child to:

• Vomit
• Turn red or blue
• Seem to be struggling to breathe or have noticeable pauses in breathing
• Inhale with a whooping sound

How can I protect my child from whooping cough? 

The best tool for protection is the whooping cough vaccine. In addition to the vaccine, make sure that you and your child: 

• wash your hands, 
• cover your cough, and 
• stay home and away from others when you are sick. 

It is especially important to protect babies and pregnant moms. If you suspect that you or your child have whooping cough, seek immediate medical care. 

Who should get the vaccine and when should they get it? 

• Babies* get a dose of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis)) at 
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 15-18 months
• At 4-6 years of age, they should receive a 5th DTaP dose. 
• When kids are 11 or 12 years old, they get a dose of Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis). 

*Newborn babies can’t get a whooping cough vaccine until they are 6 weeks old. 

The best way to protect babies is for pregnant women to get vaccinated in their third trimester, between 27 to 36 weeks. Adults that haven’t had a Tdap dose, especially those who are healthcare workers or take care of young babies, need to get a dose Tdap. Child care and school requirements Children entering child care or preschool must be up-to-date with their immunizations. 

When considering Kindergarten Readiness, think beyond your child's social, emotional and intellectual development. Consider their medical vaccination needs, too. In Washington State, it is required for children entering kindergarten to have 5 DTaP shots.

Where can I find the whooping cough vaccine? 

Ask your doctor, nurse, or local health department to find out more about the Tdap or DTaP vaccine and where you can get it. 

Washington provides all recommended vaccines at no cost for kids through age 18, available from providers across the state. Providers may charge an office visit fee and an administration fee to give the vaccine. People who can’t afford the administration fee can ask to have it waived. Call the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 or go to ParentHelp123 to find a healthcare provider or immunization clinic. 

For more information about whooping cough, visit the Washington State Department of Health at www.doh.wa.gov/whoopingcough.