Institute for Disability Studies
Family Health Notes
December 2016
Inside this issue:
1) Open Enrollment for the 2017 Insurance Marketplace
2) Central Mississippi Sibshop – January 13, 6:30 p.m., Ridgeland
3) Get Your Flu Shot ASAP!
4) Tips for Hydrating in Cold Weather
5) Policy Statement on Media and Young Minds
6) Girls and Autism
7) Free Monthly Tobacco Cessation Newsletter and Flyer
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1) Open Enrollment for the 2017 Health Insurance Marketplace
You can now enroll or change your health insurance through the 2017 Marketplace.
Important dates to remember:
- November 1, 2016: Open enrollment started — first day to enroll, re-enroll, or change a 2017 insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Coverage can start as soon as January 1, 2017.
- December 15, 2016: Last day to enroll in or change plans for coverage to start January 1, 2017.
- January 1, 2017: 2017 coverage starts for those who enroll or change plans by December 15.
- January 31, 2017: Last day to enroll in or change a 2017 health plan. After this date, you can enroll or change plans only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
For more information or to enroll, visit https://www.healthcare.gov/.
2) Central Mississippi Sibshop – January 13, 6:30 p.m., Ridgeland
Sibshops are a pedal-to-the-metal event of hope where siblings of individuals with disabilities will meet other sibs, have fun, laugh, talk about the good and not-so-good parts of having a sib with special needs, play some great games, learn something about the services their brothers and sisters receive, and have some more FUN! A Central Mississippi sibshop will be held for Jackson-area siblings ages 8 to 13 on Fri., Jan. 13, 2017, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church at 750 Pear Orchard Road in Ridgeland. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/centralmssibshops/ or contact Claire Shrader at ceshrader@ms.edu or Katie Nelson at katieorr.nelson@gmail.com.
3) Get Your Flu Shot ASAP!
Flu is a seasonal threat that can result in extended illness or hospitalization. Seasonal flu vaccination is the best way to protect adults and children from the flu. Yearly flu shots are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for everyone six months of age and older. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses and prevent flu-related hospitalizations and death. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for protection against the flu to take effect. Mississippi State Department of Health county clinics are offering pediatric flu vaccinations for children up to age 18. Beginning in 2016, adult flu vaccinations are offered only for those who lack health insurance coverage or who are underinsured and who meet certain high-risk criteria.
4) Tips for Hydrating in Cold Weather
Although we tend to think of it as a summertime concern, colder temperatures and drier air can also lead to dehydration. This can cause your body to feel sluggish and run-down, with muscle fatigue and a lowered immune system being some side effects. Use these tips to stay hydrated this winter:
1. wear layers
2. match your drink to the duration of your activity
3. hydrate with room-temperature beverages
4. eat water-rich fruits and vegetables
5. limit alcohol and caffeine
For more information on where to get a flu shot or about staying hydrated, contact your MS Family2Family Parent Coordinator, Keishawna Smith, at 601.432.6929 or at ksmith@ihl.state.ms.us.
5) Policy Statement on Media and Young Minds
Media and Young Minds, a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), addresses the influence of media on the health and development of children from 0 to 5 years of age, a time of critical brain development, building secure relationships, and establishing health behaviors. This document reviews the existing literature on a variety of traditional and new technologies, their potential for educational benefit, and related health concerns for young children. The statement also highlights areas in which pediatric providers can offer guidance to families in managing the content and time limits of their children’s media use. It emphasizes the importance of parents interacting with their children during media use and the importance of not displacing other developmentally healthy activities—sleep, exercise, play, reading aloud and social interaction. To review this information, visit http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2016/10/19/peds.2016-2591.
6) Girls and Autism
The fall issue of Autism Spectrum News looks at the unique needs of girls and women with autism. Every article in the 32-page newsletter addresses an aspect of autism for females: misdiagnoses, successful initiatives, employment, and social life. There are family-centered articles on page 18, “How Autism Manifests Differently in Girls: What Families Need to Know,” and page 23, “How Supported Decision-Making Can Help Family Caregivers.” To download a copy of the newsletter, visit http://www.mhnews-autism.org/back_issues/ASN-Fall2016.pdf.
7) Free Monthly Tobacco Cessation Newsletter and Flyer
Need tobacco cessation information? A free monthly tobacco cessation newsletter and flyer are available through the Tobacco Control Strategies project of the Institute for Disability Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi. The TCS News addresses tobacco prevention and provides cessation tips and timely tobacco cessation special event information, particularly directed toward use by people with disabilities, mental illness or substance abuse disorders and their service providers. The monthly cessation flyer is aligned with holidays and health-related awareness events. These easily printed electronic materials focus on the effects of tobacco use, secondhand smoke and resources for tobacco cessation. The Tobacco Control Strategies project is funded by the Mississippi State Department of Health Office of Tobacco Control. For more information or downloadable copies of these materials and more, visit the TCS resources page https://www.usm.edu/disability-studies/tobacco-cessation-resources or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mstobaccocessation. The join the monthly email lists, contact Alma Ellis at alma.ellis@usm.edu.
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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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