The Protective Factors
A new study from Northern Illinois University looks at potential protective and risk factors for child physical abuse. For this, we mean any physical abuse including hitting, shaking, choking, kicking, and spanking.
Resources
Research Reveals 25 Risk Factors for Childhood Abuse (Psychology Today)
A Lack of Child Care Costs Us All Money
Even if you don’t have children, our country’s child care crisis is costing you money. If you’re a business owner or just a taxpayer, the lack of affordable infant and toddler child care is undercutting your profits or your savings.
Resources
Child Care Deserts
Early childhood lays the groundwork for everything that comes after. But what happens when there’s not enough child care to meet the needs of our communities? Let's talk about what can be done about this disturbing trend.
Resources
Hello 2023
Happy New Year! With the new year comes a new legislature and a new governor. We’re optimistic for the 2023 session because there’s a lot at stake for Maryland families.
Resources
For Advocates (MFN)
Be A Gift Giving Rock Star
OK, you’re a new grandparent, aunt, or uncle. You’re probably thinking, this is my time to shine. The trouble is, you want that gift to be just right, and you haven’t been toy shopping in a long time. Don’t worry -- we got you.
Children Are Good for Seniors
Children and older adults both benefit from spending time together. Experts say that one-way seniors benefit from being around young children, is to fight feelings of loneliness.
Resources
Know Your Audience
At your child’s check-up there’s a lot of info coming your way. You try to pay attention to the doctor’s questions and advice but how can you be expected to remember everything she tells you? You're not alone.
Resources
Patterns in Mothers’ Recollection of Health Care Providers’ Young Child Feeding Recommendations (Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior)
RSV Risks
As if COVID wasn’t enough to worry about, health experts say this winter will be especially severe for childhood infections of respiratory syncytial virus better known as RSV.
Resources
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV Information and Resources (Boston Children's Hospital)
RSV Resources for Parents (Head Start)
SIDS and the Holidays
Sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby who is less than a year old. It’s sometimes known as crib death because that’s where the infants often die. The root cause of SIDS is mostly unknown. However, we do know how to reduce the risks.
Resources
Safe Sleep (AAP)
Updated Sleep Guidelines to Help Reduce SIDS (Cleveland Clinic)
Child Poverty in 2022
When I watch the news or just look around our city, it can feel like poverty, and child poverty especially, is never ending but there is some good news on the issue.
Resources
Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (Baltimore City)
Lessons From a Historic Decline in Child Poverty (Child Trends)