Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
January 2018
Inside this issue:
1) Free Nutrition Training – Jan. 25, Hattiesburg
2) Parents4Parents Network Meeting – Jan. 25, Tupelo
3) Family Voices of Mississippi
4) 2018 Mississippi Legislative Updates and Action Alerts
5) Flu Is Now Highly Active in Mississippi
6) Support Groups in Mississippi
7) CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Program Launches Newest Resource
8) Parent Participation in Early Intervention
9) New Head Start Disabilities Services Newsletter Explores Adapting Environment to Support Engagement
10) Annual Disability Statistics Compendium Release
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1) Free Nutrition Training – Jan. 25, Hattiesburg
It’s a new year! Do you want to eat healthier in 2018? Attend a free Nutrition Is for Everyone training for people with disabilities, their families and friends in Hattiesburg on Thurs., Jan. 25, at 1 p.m. at the Jackson Dole Sherrill Community Center. The Community Center is located at 220 West Front Street. At the training, participants will learn to eat more fruits and vegetables, cook more meals at home and make activity a part of their lives. There will be a hands-on food preparation activity. Interested in learning more, drop by a come-and-go recruitment event between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 18, at LIFE of Mississippi at 2101 West 4th Street, Suite 50. For more information or to register, email Alma Ellis at alma.ellis@usm.edu or call her toll-free at 1.866.883.4474.
2) Parents4Parents Network Meeting – Jan. 25, Tupelo
Are you truly partnering in the decision-making of your child’s healthcare with their providers? Would you like to develop the “know how” for speaking up for families, like yours, with children with special healthcare needs on state boards, coalitions and policy forums? Join us at the Family Resource Center of Tupelo on Thurs., Jan. 25, to discuss these issues with professionals and parents. Light refreshments and child care will be provided. For more information, directions or to RSVP, contact Ashley Privett at 662.844.0013 or Shawn Smith at 601.432.6929.
3) Family Voices of Mississippi
Family Voices of Mississippi, our state’s chapter of Family Voices, has been busy helping families with children and youth with special health care needs navigate the complex world of health care. Would you like to join their efforts as a member or a volunteer? If so, contact Shawn Smith at 601.432.6929 for more information.
4) 2018 Mississippi Legislative Updates and Action Alerts
Follow the 2018 Mississippi Legislative session through Legislative Updates and Action Alerts via email provided by the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities. The Updates and Alerts are also available on the Coalition’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MSCoalitionforCitizenswithDisabilitiesMSCCD/. For more information or to be included in the email Updates and Alerts, email Mickey Alford at mickey@msccd.org.
5) Flu Is Now Highly Active in Mississippi
There has been a consistent sharp increase in patients reporting flu-like symptoms in Mississippi over the last several weeks, and the state is entering the typical peak season for the flu. Flu vaccination reduces your chance of getting the flu and makes hospitalization or severe illness less likely if you do get sick. Flu protection is especially important for pregnant women, older adults, those with a chronic illness and younger children. Last flu season, two Mississippi children died from flu. You can get a flu shot at your local pharmacy, neighborhood clinic or from your physician. Children and qualifying adults can receive flu shots from any of Mississippi’s county health departments. Find a location near you that offers flu shots by visiting www.vaccinefinder.org
6) Support Groups in Mississippi
Are you looking for a peer support or family support group? Contact the MS F2F Parent Coordinator at 601.432.6929 or at ksmith@ihl.state.ms.us for information about local groups in your area or for help starting your own.
7) CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Program Launches Newest Resource
The new Milestone Tracker app makes it easy for parents and other care providers to track, support and celebrate young children’s developmental milestones, as well as share this important information. Although it is packed with parent-friendly features, this app isn’t just for parents. Healthcare providers can use the app to assist with developmental surveillance as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and early care and education providers can use the app to better understand their students’ skills and abilities and to engage families in monitoring developmental progress. The Milestone Tracker app features
· parent-friendly, interactive milestone checklists for ages two months through five years,
· photos and videos that illustrate milestones,
· personalized milestone summaries that can be easily shared with the child’s healthcare provider and others,
· tips and activities for supporting early development, including what to do if there’s a concern, and
· reminders for appointments and recommended developmental screening.
Download the app today from the App Store or Google Play (search “CDC’s Milestone Tracker”) and learn more about the app by visiting www.cdc.gov/MilestoneTracker.
8) Parent Participation in Early Intervention
Parent involvement is key for making the necessary decisions about early intervention services for children. This list of resources for parents and early intervention providers recently compiled by the Center for Parent Information and Resources offers information and strategies for supporting parent participation in developmental screening, identifying appropriate services to best meet the child's needs, and staying informed about your (parents') rights. For the list and more information, visit http://bit.ly/2E7DBJM.
9) New Head Start Disabilities Services Newsletter Explores Adapting Environment to Support Engagement
This free resource shows how effective, engaging, and accessible environments have age-appropriate equipment, materials, supplies, and physical spaces--and how teachers and families can adapt materials to support all children. For a copy of this newsletter and others, visit https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/children-disabilities/newsletter/disabilities-services-newsletters.
10) Annual Disability Statistics Compendium Release
On Tues., Feb. 13, join the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics (StatsRRTC) for the release of the 2017 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium. Participants are invited to join the event either in-person or online. The event will be archived for later viewing. The Compendium release event will include a briefing and overview of the new Compendium, a data panel discussion, as well as several invited speakers. For additional information and links, visit https://iod.unh.edu/event/annual-disability-statistics-compendium-release?mc_cid=719930f526&mc_eid=35d95f5b31.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Family Health Notes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family Health Notes is sponsored by the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS), Mississippi’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at The University of Southern Mississippi. IDS provides university training, community service activities, research and information that promote the independence, productivity, and community inclusion of individuals with disabilities and their families. For more information about IDS, visit http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies or call 1.888.671.0051 (TTY). To make a tax-deductible gift to IDS, visit http://www.usm.edu/disability-studies/support-ids.
The Family-to-Family Health Information and Education Center (F2F) is a family-focused, family managed resource center that empowers families of Mississippi children with special health care needs to be partners in the decisions made concerning the health of their children. F2F is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (GR#H84MC07948).
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