• [Latino Program]
MILITARY FAMILIES HAVE A RESOURCE TO HELP THEM LOCATE AND AFFORD QUALITY CHILD CARE
Department of Defense and the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Team up to Support Families of Active Duty Service Members

During this time of high military deployment, the families of Service Members are faced with enormous changes. Often there is a shift of shared parental duties to the parent or guardian who remains at home while the other serves overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations. More often than not, there is a need for additional support through high-quality child care.

Operation: Military Child Care (OMCC) and Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCIYN) are two initiatives created by the Department of Defense to help military families find quality, affordable care in their communities. By providing access to fee assistance and child care referral services such as (CCR&R Name), these programs address an urgent and basic need.

“Finding the right child care provider is a very real concern for military families, particularly when one or even both parents are deployed,” says Linda Smith, Executive Director of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. “These programs help address the issue by extending the high quality of care found on-base into the communities where they reside.”

OMCC was created to meet the child care needs of military parents who are mobilized or deployed in support of the Global Military contingencies, while MCCIYN meets the child care needs of Service Members who do not have access to on-base child care options due to wait-listing or geographic location. The amount of financial assistance varies by family and depends on factors such as total family income, geographical location, military services’ child care fee policies, available funding, and family circumstances.

Child Care Networks is very proud to support the OMCC and MCCIYN programs. To find out more about the program, please contact Child Care Networks at 919-542-6644 or info@childcarenetworks.org . Eligible families can call 1-800-424-2246 or visit www.naccrra.org for help with applying for the subsidy and location assistance.
About NACCRRA: Operation: Military Child Care and Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood are two of NACCRRA’s multiple initiatives to improve the development and learning of all children by providing leadership and support to state and community Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and promoting national policies and partnerships that facilitate universal access to quality child care. NACCRRA is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, VA, representing a network of more than 800 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies across the country. To find out more information about NACCRRA, go to www.naccrra.org.









Publication:
Date: 4/20/2006



Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
The Division of Child Development's web site now links to information and resources about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). These are targeted to child care providers, to parents, and to trainers. They include the latest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics on reducing the risk of SIDS.
Go to http://www.ncchildcare.net, click the What's New tab, then scroll down the page to October 2005 SIDS Awareness.



Publication: Division of Child Development's web sit
Date: 11/1/2005
Website: http://www.ncchildcare.net



HOT CARS COULD BECOME A CHILD¡¦S COFFIN
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS: HOT CARS COULD BECOME A CHILD¡¦S COFFIN
RALEIGH ¡V Weather forecasters are predicting a string of very hot days, with temperatures expected to rise past 90 through at least next Tuesday in much of the state. In hot weather a parked car can rapidly become a child¡¦s coffin. That¡¦s why state Public Health officials are urging parents and other caregivers to not leave children in cars.
"Deaths of children who are left in cars in the summer heat are tragedies that unfortunately are repeated summer after summer in North Carolina," said State Health Director Dr. Leah Devlin." "It is critical that parents and caretakers of children realize that the temperatures inside a car can heat up very quickly and that a child left in a car is at great risk for heat related death. No one should ever leave a child in a parked car--not even for a few minutes."
On a warm, sunny day, even at temperatures as mild as 60 degrees, a closed vehicle can heat up to dangerous levels in a matter of minutes. During the summer months, the temperature inside a parked car can reach over 120 degrees in as little as ten minutes. Direct sunlight and a dark colored car further speed the process.
Heat exhaustion can occur at temperatures above 90 degrees and heat stroke can occur when temperatures rise above 105 degrees. If not treated immediately, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke.
One North Carolina child has already died this year after being left in a parked car. The 20-month old Carteret County girl died on April 22 after she was inadvertently left in a closed car for five hours. According to the national nonprofit Kids and Cars, there have been 21 child fatalities from hot cars this year. The group says that last year, 154 children died under similar circumstances.
All caregivers should follow these tips concerning children, cars and heat:
„h Never leave your child in an unattended car, even with the windows down.
„h Check to make sure all children leave the vehicle when you reach your destination, particularly when loading and unloading. Don¡¦t overlook sleeping infants.
„h Make sure you check the temperature of the child safety seat surface and safety belt buckles before restraining your children in the car.
„h Make sure that unoccupied cars are locked, so that children don¡¦t accidentally become trapped.


Publication:
Date: 7/9/2004



HALLOWEEN SAFETY
The approach of Halloween sends children¡¦s imaginations into high gear as they decide who they want to ¡§be¡¨. Dressing up and pretending are activities that foster creativity in children. But Halloween also presents some potential hazards. Parents and caregivers can support children¡¦s development and ensure their safety by encouraging fun while being alert to the risks.

The DCD web site - http://www.ncchildcare.net - currently features Halloween Safety Tips. These provide guidelines for safe trick-or-treating, suggest alternative activities, and link to more information on creativity and dramatic play. You will find this article under What¡¦s New? on our home page.

The Division of Child Development urges our partners to share this information locally in whatever ways you can, including:

„h download and use the articles in your newsletters, brochures, etc.,
„h send the articles to your local media outlets (newspapers, radio, television) and encourage them to carry the information,
„h print and distribute copies to your constituents and clients.

Look for future media alerts like this one in your mail and/or e-mail. Continue to watch our web site for new information. Please let us know how you use these resources and tell us what else we could provide to meet your local needs for child care information.




DCD CONTACT:   Karen Ferguson    e-mail: Karen.Ferguson@ncmail.net
                     phone: 662-4567 extension 265



Publication: DCD MEDIA ALERT
Date: 10/7/2003
Website: http://www.ncchildcare.net



SIDS AWARENESS
October is SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Awareness month. SIDS is a tragedy that can occur at any time of year, but is more frequent during the winter months. Sadly, some of these deaths occur in child care homes and centers. The Division of Child Development (DCD) hopes to protect babies, parents and child caregivers by sharing information about SIDS risk factors and ways to reduce them. DCD is collaborating with the N.C. Healthy Start Foundation in a training project – ITS-SIDS – to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in child care throughout our state.

Publication: DCD MEDIA ALERT:
Date: 10/7/2003
Website: http://www.ncchildcare.net



DCD Media Alert: Immunizations
The Division of Child Development's home page now has a link to information on childhood immunizations. Go to http://www.ncchildcare.net, click the What's New tab, then scroll down the page.

Publication: DCD.Media.Alerts
Date: 9/24/2003
Website: http://www.ncchildcare.net



Appropriate Limits for Young Children: A Guide for Discipline, Part One
Denita is 5 years old. She whines not only when she is left in child care, but during most other times when she goes from one place to another. Once she gets interested in an activity, Denita's attention is completely focused until another child tries to join her or she is asked to put the activity away. Then she lashes out, usually throwing a toy or disrupting a corner of the room. During group time, she cries until she is allowed to sit on the teacher's lap. Teachers give her time-outs in the beanbag chair, which she doesn't seem to mind. When it is time to go home, she cries. Her teachers and parents are frustrated.

Publication: NNCC
Date: 7/4/2002
Website: http://www.nncc.org/Guidance/limits1.html



Behavior Management:The big stressor
"If I could get rid of Ricky, my class would be great."

Have you ever felt that removing one or maybe two children from your group would solve your classroom behavior problems? Research suggests that some misbehavior may be a result of classroom management. It also suggests that the children who misbehave probably need special guidance more than the other children in the group. These children need to learn to be responsible for themselves and how to live effectively with other people. These two things are learned through discipline and guidance.

Publication: NNCC
Date: 7/1/2002
Website: http://www.nncc.org/Guidance/sac33_behav.mgmt.stress.html