Listen21 DECEMBER 2012
10 most underreported children's stories of 2012
UNICEF shines spotlight on main killers of children that went underreported this year
UNICEF Canada released a new report today on the main killers of children that have gone underreported in Canada this past year.
Every day 19,000 children die worldwide from mostly preventable causes.
"These deaths are unacceptable. Almost all of these lives could be saved by simply ensuring children have clean water, medicines, food or the basic protection they need," says UNICEF Canada's President and CEO David Morley. "At UNICEF we believe Canadians should know about these children who have died and what is being done to keep other vulnerable children alive."
This year's most underreported stories include severe threats to children's lives like the increased risk of death for babies born to child brides, the world's failure to end open defecation, a leading cause of diarrhea which kills 700,000 children every year, and the poor access children have to medicines needed to treat and prevent the spread of HIV.
The report highlights silent emergencies and emerging threats including the ongoing undernutrition crisis in Yemen, the silent emergency of child drowning in Asia and increasing concerns that long fought progress against malaria may be at risk due to the damaging effects of climate change.
There have also been important achievements in saving children's lives in 2012.
Stories in today's report include the vaccination of the 100 millionth person against meningitis, the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in five countries and the development of a new international action plan aimed at saving 6 million lives by making 13 basic health items available in the world's poorest communities.
"In the past two decades the number of children dying every day has declined from 33,000 to 19,000. This is success to be celebrated. But as today's report indicates global efforts can't stop now, there is a lot more work that needs to be done to reach the world's most vulnerable children," says Morley.
To read this year's report No Child too Far…10 Underreported Stories: Saving Children's Lives visit http://www.unicef.ca/en/featured-reports/article/underreported-child-survival-stories-2012
About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.
UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries – more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive.
SOURCE: UNICEF Canada
Press release: Canada NewsWire
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/983030
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19 DECEMBER 2012
A Koala Bear's Adventure: new Children's book app for iPad
Australia is far away from home, which is probably one of the main reasons why it holds such fascination for children. All the unfamiliar animals, which live on the continent, will make it exciting for the children to get to know Australia.
Explorers age 3 and up are going to have a lot of fun with the new iPad app "Puschel 2 – Adventure in the Eucalyptus Forest". The interactive multimedia children's book tells the story of animals from "Down Under". It is the brainchild of children's book author Marietta Wahl and was illustrated with beautiful watercolor paintings by Andreas Koridass.
Puschel, Cassandra and Tommy are on the move in Australia. The discovery app for little world travelers teaches the children about Australian animals. They are going to find out what koalas really like to eat, for example. Besides that, "Puschel 2" is also a very exciting adventure story. Authentic jungle noises immediately create the appropriate atmosphere.
The koala bear Puschel, and his friends, are on they way across the Australian outback. He is joined by the albino kangaroo Tommy and the snake Cassandra. During their journey through the eucalyptus forest the three friends encounter lots of animals – and come to realize that there are quite a few rivalries between the species, which are not exactly easy to overcome.
The children may read the story themselves in English, German or Spanish. Another option is to have it read to them page by page. The book features twelve chapters with interactive illustrations (animations and sounds), that offer plenty of interesting discoveries. If the children need to take a break from all the exciting discovery work, the app will keep track of how fare they have come in the book. They may continue exactly where they left off, before they put down the iPad. A Dingo tree climbing game and a quiz about Australia and koalas completes the app.
In a nutshell:
* Just released: Puschel 2 – Adventure in the Eucalyptus Forest"
* App is suitable only for the iPad
* Children's book app for little animal lovers age 3 and up
* Read-aloud function in English, German and Spanish
* Children may read the texts themselves
* Hand-painted watercolor paintings by Andreas Koridass
* 30 interactive illustrations (animations and sound)
* Includes a quiz about Australia and koalas
Press release
18 December 2012
http://prmac.com/release-id-52338.htm
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17 DECEMBER
SOS INTERNATIONAL
Care for ME! Improving the Quality of Care
Starvation, humiliating physical punishment and forced labor are commonly used as disciplinary methods in state residential care facilities, according to the National Human Rights Institution in Peru. These violation of the rights of children in care is a global issue. To address this, SOS Children’s Villages has embarked on an ambitious worldwide campaign – to improve the quality of care for vulnerable children.
Care for ME! stems from the results of in-depth research conducted by SOS Children’s Villages across seven countries. This research has uncovered appalling violations of children’s rights across the world. In response to this growing problem, a holistic approach combined with cutting-edge practices in social work is being advocated to ensure that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is always upheld. Needs vary from country to country; however, the message from children living in alternative care, or in vulnerable families, is the same. They are crying out for their rights when they say Care for ME!
Tools for Keeping Children in Care Safe
States and childcare authorities now have a tool to help them improve the quality of care for children. The assessment tool for the implementation of the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children not only indentify the gaps in care , it also provides recommendations based on the experience and the best practices of experts. The in-depth, ground-breaking information now available for the first time provides a clear picture for decision makers across the world. They can easily relate to the detailed knowledge gathered from Armenia, Columbia, Croatia, Lithuania, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
What each report has in common is the fact that vulnerable families need to be empowered. The separation of parents and children must be prevented. Where alternative care is deemed necessary, individualized solutions will provide the key to quality care. SOS Children’s Villages believes that every child, whether living within a family or in alternative care, has the right to experience the positive, stable and loving relationships that he or she needs for healthy personal development.
A significant gap exists between the theory behind child rights and the ways they are put into practice across the world. For children without parental care, or those who are at risk of losing their parents, the consequences can be especially severe and potentially irreversible. As Gitta Trauernicht, the vice-president of SOS Children’s Villages International, said “For us it is important that each child can develop his and her individuality in a family setting. We will fight for the rights of children in care and children in families at risk of separation until every child lives in a caring and safe environment.”
SOS: Helping Children for over 50 Years
SOS Children's Villages is an international, non-governmental social development organization that provides care, education and health services to children who have lost or who are at risk of losing parental care. Founded in Austria in 1949, the organization runs more than 2,100 programs that cater to 2.2 million children and adults in 133 countries and territories.
To assure the wellbeing of children, we support caring parents and caregivers through our family strengthening programs. This is achieved through cooperation involving communities, authorities and various partners.
Guided by the spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, SOS Children's Villages advocates for the rights of children and believes that a child’s development is best achieved in a family environment.
Press release: SOS Children's Villages
December 20123
http://www.sos-usa.org/newsroom/press-releases/Pages/Care-for-ME-Improving-the-Quality-of-Care.aspx
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14 DECEMBER
My Home Is Not A Democracy:
10 Commandments for Parents Who Refuse
To Compromise On Their Children's Future
'My Home is Not A Democracy' draws a line in the
sand, offers sound strategies for effective parenting and challenges
every reader to stand your ground and fight for the future of your
families!
Author Joseph B. Woodley introduces, 'My Home Is Not A Democracy'.
I must warn you before you open the pages of this book; this will not be a "softball" or "appeasement" or "politically correct" book. If you are easily offended, this book may not be for you.
The systematic strategy for dismantling and destroying the family unit and the God-given potential for greatness we each carry within us is no longer knocking at your door.
We can no longer take the posture of back- seat drivers; reacting as if we are helpless kidnapped- passengers being dragged along for the ride by an oversized bully, incapable or unwilling to make the choices necessary to maintain the character and integrity of the home.
Whether you are a two- parent home or a single- parent home, the choices we face are still the same. We can either choose to fold up our tents and raise the white flag of surrender or we can choose to stop complaining about everything that is wrong with the world and fight.
If you want to win and you refuse to compromise the future of your child to a world bent on promoting the worst in your child instead of getting the best out of them, then keep reading.
'My Home is Not A Democracy' draws a line in the sand, offers sound strategies for effective parenting and challenges every reader to stand your ground and fight for the future of your families!
Kindle users, download your copy at: http://www.amazon.com/My-Home-Not-Democracy-ebook/dp/B00AL0VQ48/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1355415860&sr=8-2&keywords=My+Home+is+Not+A+Democracy+Joseph+Woodley
Press release: Canadian Free Press
13 December 2012
http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&f
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12 DECEMBER
Eating Disorders in Teens Presenting to the Emergency Department
Clinical Context
According to the current study by Dooley-Hash and colleagues, eating disorders are among the most prevalent of disorders seen in adolescents, and rates as high as 7% to 21% have been reported. Eating disorders are associated with increased use of healthcare services. Eating disorders are also associated with psychiatric comorbidities such as depression and substance use disorder and a high mortality rate attributed to suicide.
This is a screening study to examine the prevalence of eating disorders in an emergency department (ED) and to assess the association between eating disorders and mood disorders and substance use disorder.
Study Synopsis and Perspective
The prevalence of eating disorders among teens who present to the ED is much higher than previously thought, new research shows.
Suzanne Dooley-Hash, MD, and colleagues from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, found that 16% of patients between 14 and 20 years old screened positive for an eating disorder during an ED visit for any reason.
Males accounted for 26.6% of all eating disorders identified during the ED visit; no difference in eating disorder rates was observed across ethnic or income groups.
"One of the reasons I was interested in this subject is because I think eating disorders are underdiagnosed, so that was the initial reason for doing this study," Dr. Dooley-Hash told Medscape Medical News.
"Our prevalence figures may be slightly higher than elsewhere, as Ann Arbor is a college town and these are the people at risk for eating disorders.
"But a lot of the more recent studies have been finding similar numbers, and we also think it is more common in males than ever before as well."
The study is published in the November issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Binging Most Common
Patients 14 to 20 years old who presented to the ED of the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor from October 15, 2010, to March 1, 2011, were eligible for screening.
Patients were first instructed on the use of a touchscreen tablet computer, which they used to complete a 20-minute screening survey.
A modified version of a validated self-report questionnaire, the SCOFF, was used to screen for the presence of eating disorders.
The abbreviated Patient Health Questionnaire-2 was used to measure depressive symptoms as well.
The first 3 questions on the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C were also used to assess for risky drinking behavior during the past 3 months.
A total of 942 ED patients (mean age, 17.7 years) completed the computerized questionnaires.
Analysis of baseline characteristics in those who screened positive for an eating disorder showed that they were 2.6 times more likely to be female (P < .001).
Average body mass index (BMI) was also higher in patients with eating disorders, at 26.0 vs 23.2 for those with no eating disorder.
They were also over 3 times more likely to be obese than those with no eating disorder.
Patients who screened positive for an eating disorder also were more than 3 times as likely to be depressed as well as almost twice as likely to display risky drinking behavior.
Smoking, cannabis use, and the use of stimulants and other drugs were also more prevalent in those who screened positive for an eating disorder than in those with no eating disorder.
| Screened Positive for Eating Disorder (n = 143) |
No Eating Disorder (n = 749) |
|
| BMI > 30 (obese) | 24.5% | 9.1% |
| Depression | 31.9% | 9.9% |
| Risky drinking | 39.2% | 25% |
| Smoking | 52.4% | 31.9% |
| Cannabis use | 46.1% | 32.8% |
| Stimulant use | 23.1% | 7.1% |
| Other drug use | 39.2% | 20.8% |
"People often think that patients with eating disorders are really thin, but anorexia represents only a minority of eating disorder diagnoses," Dr. Dooley-Hash noted.
"The most common eating disorder is actually binge eating – people just binge, but they don't purge. So the eating disorder doesn't usually cause people to lose weight, it just causes them distress."
Confirms Long-Held Suspicions
Kathryn Zerbe, MD, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, told Medscape Medical News that the study supports what those in the field have long suspected – that many eating disorders go unrecognized by medical practitioners.
"When asked about it, patients will often tell you that they have these symptoms," Dr. Zerbe noted.
However, the fact that these young people could answer questions through an impersonal computer device suggests that this approach may help override the shame that many patients feel about their eating disorder.
Although some remain in denial for decades, "we can infer that a certain percentage of these people do want to be helped," she added.
Early identification of patients with an eating disorder is very important, she added, because they are more amenable to an intervention at the earlier stages of the disorder and, by inference, should have better outcomes.
"These young people are still impressionable," Dr. Zerbe noted.
"And this is why I think we see better outcomes in adolescents when they are diagnosed early."
The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The authors and Dr. Zerbe have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Int J Eat Disord. 2012;45:883-890. Abstract
http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/775300?src=cmemp
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10 DECEMBER
PAKISTAN
Children’s Day celebrated
A marvellous show was put up by the students of Great Beginnings School System, F 10/4, in celebration with ‘Universal Children’s Day’, says a press release.
The day started with recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and a Naat by the young students. An Urdu skit ‘Taaleem Hamara Haq Hay’ was performed depicting importance of education and eradication of child labour. The children beautifully shared their future plans through a song ‘I Have a Dream’. Everyone looked adorable in their outfits for the tableau on Iqbal’s famous poem ‘Lub Pai Aati Hai Duaa’, in which even the youngest of the students participated.
Parents went on stage and contributed in their own way, some sharing experiences as kids while others discussing how and why children are a blessing. The children also conveyed some important facts relating to Children’s Rights. There was a superb Taekwondo display by the young learners in their karate suits where other than the basic moves they also got the chance to break tiles. This was followed by an amazing display of skill by the school’s karate instructor, Imran Khan.
Press release
9 December 2012
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-147417-Childrens-Day-celebrated
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7 DECEMBER
MINNESOTA
Fraser Experts Offer Tips to Minimize Holiday Stress For Children, Families
Holidays can be a stressful time for children and families. Fraser, Minnesota’s largest and most experienced provider of autism services, provides the following helpful tips to lessen the inevitable increased stimulation associated with the holiday season.
1. Try to maintain as much of a routine as possible. If the routine will be changing it can be helpful to inform your children ahead of time.
2. Use social stories to prepare children for upcoming events or changes in routine. Social stories provide children with a description of what will happen through a story. Parents can write a brief story to help children to know what to expect.
3. Limit the number of stores to which you expose your child. Consider the extra amount of noise, people and smells; which limit the number further than during other times of the year.
4. Have your child help plan, organize and assist with the decorating process.
5. Some families find it helpful to only have one color of lights on the tree (the non-blinking variety is less stimulating).
6. Holidays are associated with delicious smells; however; some fragrances are more calming than others. Vanilla, chamomile, and lavender are best for many children.
7. Add decorations to the inside and outside of your house slowly to avoid overloading the senses all at one time.
8. Limit the number of gifts that are visible during the weeks leading up to the holidays.
9. Incorporate sensory activities into family functions (i.e., make snow angels, etc.)
10. Discuss realistic expectations for holiday events and family functions prior to their occurrence to avoid stress and disappointment.
11. It is all right to say, “No” to anything that you think may cause undue stress to you, your family, or your children.
12. Enjoy the holidays!
News release: Fraser press release.
5 December 2012
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5 DECEMBER
Ontario's Advocate for
Children and Youth disappointed in denial of leave to intervene in
federal government's appeal about discrimination against First Nations
children
Ontario's Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, Mr. Irwin Elman,
has been denied leave to intervene in the Federal Court of Appeal case
about equitable child welfare funding and services for First Nations
children. "We are disappointed by the Court's decision to deny us leave
to intervene," said Irwin Elman, Provincial Advocate for Children and
Youth. "Young people need to know we are here for them. We will continue
to push for all children in Canada to be afforded equal access to the
services they need." The underlying human rights complaint in this case,
filed by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and
the Assembly of First Nations, alleges that the federal government is
discriminating against First Nations children on reserves by
underfunding child welfare services. On its appeal, the federal
government is arguing that comparing the services First Nations children
receive with those other Canadians receive is "beyond the jurisdiction"
of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
The Provincial Advocate opposes the federal government's appeal. "This is a children's rights issue, not simply an issue about funding and jurisdictions," says Elman. "The Federal Court has decided that the best interests of the children will be canvassed by the parties to the appeal currently. First Nations children are going to be critically affected and we hope their best interest remains at the forefront of this appeal."
In April, the Federal Court sent the case back to the Human Rights Tribunal to be heard on its merits, and this hearing begins in February. The federal government's appeal could stop that hearing.
"This case should be heard on its merits, so that the Human Rights Tribunal can look at the evidence and decide whether or not First Nations children are being treated fairly," said Mr. Elman. "This is about how we want to treat children in our society and about what we believe is fair."
Press release: Canada NewsWire
3 December 2012
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/957305
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3 DECEMBER
FLORIDA
500 Children Adopted During National Adoption Month
More than 500 children from Pensacola to Miami were adopted during dozens of November celebrations of National Adoption Month.
“Our goal for children in foster care is to find a forever family who will love them, accept them and give them the home that they deserve,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins. "I am so proud of our agency and our partners who are always looking for a permanent home for our kids.”
Florida’s Explore Adoption campaign takes place each November. A newly redesigned website at www.adoptflorida.org highlighted amazing children and sibling groups in foster care each day of the month with photos and videos. The children most in need of homes are teens, sibling groups and children with special needs whose biggest dream is to be part of a permanent, loving family.
“I would like to thank all of our wonderful parents who adopted children this month, and throughout this year,” said Florida’s Chief Child Advocate Zack Gibson, Director of the Governor’s Office of Adoption and Child Protection. “National Adoption Month may be over, but our work is not finished. There are still about 750 children waiting for a family to call their own.”
More than 500 adoptions have been reported from our community-based care partners across the state. All of the adoptions have not yet been reported, so the number may still increase.
Last year, 3,250 children were adopted from Florida’s foster care system. That was the fifth year in a row that more than 3,000 children were adopted from foster care, bringing the total to more than 17,000. Additionally, over the past two years, Florida has significantly reduced the number of children in foster care available for adoption without an identified family.
Florida’s children come into foster care through no fault of their own but because they were abused, neglected or abandoned. They come from varied backgrounds, circumstances, races and ethnicities. While some have specific medical, physical or emotional issues that require special care, many do not. Their entire life histories are shared with prospective adoptive parents.
While private adoption can cost more than $30,000, adopting one of Florida’s children in foster care costs little or nothing. The benefits include a monthly adoption subsidy for the family, health benefits for the child, and free college tuition at a Florida public university, community college or vocational school.
For more information about the “30 Days of Amazing Children: Explore Adoption!” initiative or general questions about adoption of foster children in Florida, please visit www.adoptflorida.org
Department of Children and Families Release
30 November 20123
http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/500-Children-Adopted-During-National-Adoption-Month-181538461.html
