A Look At Children Services · • Store opened packages of dry foods, such as rice and pasta, in dry, airtight containers. This will keep out insects and rodents and keep food from

Volume 68 winter 2016

A Look At Children ServicesUp-Close

CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY & SUPPORT SERVICES

National Nutrition Month in March is a nutrition education and information campaign which focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans state that the majority of Americans follow a diet that is too high in the amounts of added sugar, sodium and saturated fats. "During National Nutrition Month and beyond, make an effort to cut back on food and beverages high in these added components. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to learn how to "Savor the Flavor of Eating Right" while still following a healthy eating pattern.

MARCHIS NATIONAL NUTRITION

MONTH

> TAKE THE TIME TO FIND CREATIVE, HEALTHFUL AND NUTRITIOUS WAYS TO ADD FLAVOR TO FOOD.


2UP-CLOSE: A Look at Children Services Volume 68 winter 2016

Over the years Up-Close has dedicated at least one page or more of every issue to nutrition and associated issues surrounding the eating and exercise habits of young children and their effects. We have known for a long time that obesity is no longer a problem that only affects adults. Recent statistics indicate that about one in five children in the United States is overweight or obese and this is an alarming number. This issue of Up-Close focuses on nutrition issues since March is National Nutrition Month. Anyone who cares for children including parents, relatives, teachers, and health care workers should be aware of the fact that too many children are too heavy --- at a very early age. Please copy and distribute the information in this issue to staff and parents at your center.

Important Facts about Why Childhood Obesity Is Serious

Childhood obesity increases risks for health problems.

Health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure can affect children as well as adults. Obesity increases the risk for these and other serious conditions. That’s why it’s important not ignore any signs that a child is becoming overweight.

Overweight children are more likely to become obese adults.

When children are obese, they often grow up to be obese adults. This can easily become a lifelong problem. That’s why parents and caregivers should not think of it as a phase or something that kids will outgrow but rather that it becomes more difficult to control weight as you get older.

Childhood obesity can affect a child’s self-esteem.

Very often children who are overweight are targeted for teasing and bullying. Even if this doesn’t happen, children are often judged by their appearance. Unfortunately, some adults may even discriminate against overweight kids, which can have a negative impact on their self-esteem.

Childhood obesity may affect academic performance.

Studies have indicated that obese children tend to have more difficulty learning than non-obese children. This may be due to social discrimination on the part of teachers. Being overweight may also contribute to health issues that make concentration more difficult.

Childhood obesity encourages an inactive lifestyle.

While an inactive or sedentary life can contribute to obesity, the reverse is also true. Children who are overweight may feel awkward about participating in sports and other physical activities. They may also suffer from low energy. This can create a vicious cycle in which they get into the habit of being inactive, which makes it even harder for them to lose weight.

MARCH m Complete and submit WINTER Outcome Analysis Report 3/18/16

m Complete Classroom Observation and provide feedback.

m Review lesson plans using criteria for child appropriate planning and implemen-tation of curriculum and provide feedback

m Review Gold Documentation Report (for quantity)

m View documentation (for quality)

m Review COPA and Teaching Strategies GOLD information to ensure data entered is accurate for: teacher/classroom match, funding sources, color bands, Home Lan-guage survey, primary language, children with IEPs and HR

m Plan & schedule for Week of the Young Child.

m Share completed Outcome Analysis report and share with parent and policy groups.

m Review 2015-2016 Creative Curriculum, GOLD Assessment, CLASS activities and/or training schedule for the month of April and May

m Register new staff into Gateways within 30 days of hire

m Verify GOLD Assessment preliminary markings

m Webinar: Delegate agency Education Data Analysis discussion with ED/PD and Ed Coordinator

m SLOT REALLOCATION – new slots awarded to delegate agencies

m New partner sites on GOLD

m Review and compare COPA #601/970 staffing patterns with GOLD staffing patterns and email to DFSS Education Support Service Coordinator

EducationMilestones

CHILDHOOD OBESITY HAS BEEN CALLED BY EXPERTS

“ ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH

CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY.”


3UP-CLOSE: A Look at Children Services

MARCH m Support parents in convening their monthly parent committee and policy committee meetings and maintain record keeping sys-tems for securing meeting materials

m Present and provide written monthly re-ports to the Policy Committee and Board: Meals/Snacks/Enrollment/Attendance/Fis-cal/PIR Summaries

m Submit/Upload February’s Certification of Personnel Actions

m Present 2nd Quarter Child Outcome Analy-sis to the Policy Committee and Board

m Conduct Agency’s Annual Self-Assessment

m Ensure/provide CPPC report to the Policy Committee

m Submit updated Letter-of-Certification and Policy Committee Membership List

Program Governance Milestones

Several Ways to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Promote healthy eating habits as a family.

Children look to adults as their role models. Children eat what their parents and caregivers feed them. Parents are in control of their family's diet and can set a good example by eating and promoting healthy food. Eating well-balanced family meals, including at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, enables children to have a more nutritious diet.

Keep children active on a daily basis.

Children need physical activity on a daily basis even though they may not enjoy it. It’s important to get active with children. Often when given a choice, children will pick television or games over physical activity. As a family start exercising together early and make the activities fun. It is recommended that children and teens get an hour of moderate intensity, physical activity daily. Make an active lifestyle a household priority and prevent childhood obesity.

The “Clean Plate Club” is a thing of the past.

Many adults have been raised to eat everything that is put on a plate. Experts suggest that if a child simply does not want to eat his or her vegetables, offer smaller portions. If kids are still hungry, they can get seconds. There is no reason to force consumption of food, short of a medical problem. Kids instinctively learn early to eat only as much as they need, just like adults.

Food should not be used as a tool.

Sweets as well as soft drinks are not a good way to reward a child for good behavior, and withholding them for bad behavior is even worse. Food should be treated as what it is – fuel for a healthy body. Food should not be a tool for discipline. Limit sugary juices, treats, and desserts to special occasions only.

Get your child involved.

Living a healthy lifestyle should not be optional in your home. Let your child have some input on the foods you eat and the activities you do. For example, try letting him or her choose one new fruit or vegetable to try a week and have your child help with meal prepa-ration (tasks that are age appropriate). Try outdoor activities (year-round) that everyone in the family can participate in on a regular basis.

Limit "screen time” particularly for young children.

Experts recommend less than two hours of screen time per day, and much less for toddlers and elementary-aged children. Don’t let tele-vision and/or DVD’s serve as a babysitter for kids. Make play time (games, indoor and outdoor activities) a family affair.

Volume 68 winter 2016

“ PARENTS WANT TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN

GROW UP HEALTHY. REGRETTABLY,

CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS KEEPING MANY

CHILDREN FROM ENTERING ADULTHOOD

WITH A STRONG HEALTHY FOUNDATION.”

Know the serious health risks that can come with childhood obesity which include:

• Cardiovascular disease, caused by high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and abnormal glucose tolerance

• Asthma

• Type 2 diabetes

• Kidney disease

• Sleep apnea

• Fatty degeneration of the liver

Obesity Health Risks for Children



IMPORTANT HOME FOOD SAFETY TIPSProper preparation, cooking and storage can keep foods safe while maintaining their flavor and nutrients. “Taste is typically what we have in mind when we prepare food, but it’s also important to consider how we’re preparing foods and how this could affect food safety. Each year, 48 million Americans are sickened by food poisoning. By following a few simple steps, you can reduce your risk while enjoying the flavorful, nutritious foods you love. How food is cooked can enhance or destroy flavor. Get the most flavor and nutrition out of your food, while also reducing the risk of food poisoning. Storing food correctly helps keep nutrient loss to a minimum and flavor and food quality at their peak.”

Keeping Nutrition, Flavor and Safety in Mind While . . .

Preparing Foods • Whether they are organic or conventionally

grown, wash all fresh fruits and vegetables with cool tap water. Avoid soaking fruits and vegetables as you wash because some nutrients dissolve in water.

• Leave edible skins on vegetables and fruits such as carrots, potatoes or pears, and trim away as little skin as possible. Most vitamins and miner-als are found in the outer leaves, skin and areas just below the skin, not in the center. Peels also are natural barriers that help protect against nutrient loss.

• Cut vegetables that need to be cooked longer into larger pieces. With fewer surfaces exposed, fewer vitamins are lost.

Cooking Food • Overcooking meat can detract from its fla-

vor. Use a food thermometer to determine when meat has reached a safe minimum internal temperature and to prevent over-cooking. Cooking foods to a safe tempera-ture is the only reliable way to determine the doneness of cooked meats, poultry, egg dishes and leftovers.

• Cook vegetables or fruits in a small amount of water, or steam them in a vegetable steamer, covered pot or a microwave oven. Steaming retains nutrients and there’s also a flavor advantage. Unless they are overcooked, vegetables retain the color and tender-crisp qualities that make them appealing.

Storing Foods• Keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below to slow bacteria growth that spoils food and

ruins flavor.

• Store opened packages of dry foods, such as rice and pasta, in dry, airtight containers. This will keep out insects and rodents and keep food from obtaining odors.

• Leave food in its original wrapping unless the package is torn. If you have to rewrap, seal storage containers well to prevent moisture loss and absorption of other odors. Wrap-ping raw meat, poultry and fish in separate plastic bags also keeps raw meat juices from contaminating other foods.

• When freezing, pack food items in freezer bags or airtight containers. Squeeze air from bags before sealing and leave some space in containers in case foods expand. If moisture escapes, frozen food can become dry, tough and tasteless and may develop freezer burn.

Family & Community PartnershipsMilestones

MARCH m FCP: Update follow-up documentation in COPA (goals, referrals/services and case notes) documentation must support families’ priorities

m FCP: Enter and/or follow-up on documen-tation in COPA (goals, referrals/services and case notes). All documentation must support families ‘priorities

m FCP: Complete documentation of parent volunteerism and enter in COPA

m FCP: Develop and/or follow the transition plans of children transitioning to HS and/or Kindergarten

m FCP: Submit an improvement plan based upon the second quarter PIR analysis for any areas less than 75% to CSD

m FCP: Conduct monthly parent meetings

m FCP: Ensure two home visits and parent teacher conferences are conducted during the program year. Visits are to be conducted by classroom teachers. Family service workers will conduct visits as needed

m FCP: Complete list of parent and commu-nity volunteers and distribute to agency staff

m FCP: Submit Delegate Agency Health/FCP monthly report to CSD

Know the Facts about Processed Food

Processed food is more than boxed macaroni and cheese, potato chips and fast-food hamburgers. It may be a surprise to learn that whole-wheat bread, homemade soup or a chopped apple are also processed foods. According to experts, while some processed foods should be consumed with caution, many actually have a place in a balanced diet. The following indicates how to sort the nutritious from the not-so-nutritious.

What Is Processed Food?

Processed food falls in a range from minimally to heavily processed:

• Minimally processed foods — such as bagged spinach, cut vegetables and roasted nuts — are often simply pre-prepped for convenience.

• Foods processed at their peak to lock in nutritional quality and freshness include canned beans, tomatoes, fro-zen fruit and vegetables, and canned tuna.

• Foods with ingredients added for fla-vor and texture (sweeteners, spices, oils, colors and preservatives) include jarred pasta sauce, salad dressing, yogurt and cake mixes.

• Ready-to-eat foods such as crackers, granola and deli meat are more heavily processed.

• The most heavily processed foods often are frozen or pre-made meals including frozen pizza and microwaveable dinners.

Eating processed food in moderation is fine, but consumers should always be on the lookout for hidden sugar, sodium and fat. Use the Nutrition Facts label on the package to compare sugar, sodium and the fat content of foods and choose products with the least amount of all three. Be sure to read all labels because many foods that may seem or sound healthy can have hidden amounts of sugar, sodium and fat.

CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY & SUPPORT SERVICESCHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY & SUPPORT SERVICES


MARCH m Complete playground equipment safety check

m Conduct monthly fire drill.

m Submit facility improvement plans as needed

m Conduct tornado drill* (only completed twice a year)

m Complete daily, weekly and monthly checklist

m Submit five samples of daily health checks (consecutive) to CSD per Grantee request

m Replenish First Aid Kit supplies

Safe Environments Milestones

Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated — simply begin to shift to healthier food and beverage choices. These recom-mendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans can help get you started.

• Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products.

• Include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts.

• Make sure your diet is low in saturated fats, Trans fats, salt (sodium) and added sugars.

Eating Right Can Be Easy!

Some foods can cause choking. Keep foods such as grapes, hot dogs, raw carrots, hard or sticky candy, popcorn or peanuts away from babies and young children under four years of age. Cut food for babies and young children into pieces no larger than one-half inch. Encourage children to chew food well. Supervise meal times. Insist that children sit down while eating. Children should never run, walk, play, or lie down with food in their mouths. Be aware of older children’s actions. Many choking inci-dents are caused when an older child gives a dangerous toy or food to a younger child.

Choking Hazard Foods

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ position is that improving overall health requires a lifelong commitment to healthful lifestyle behaviors, emphasizing maintainable and enjoyable eating practices, and regular physical activity.

Breakfast – An Extremely Important Meal for Growing Children

Breakfast has traditionally been called --- the most important meal of the day. Breakfast in the morning comes after a long night of sleep during which energy stores are used up. Totally skipping breakfast puts children at a serious disadvantage in the growing arena. In addition, being hungry at school is no good for a child’s attention span and/or grades.

Try “3 out of 5” Food Groups for a Healthy Breakfast!

Eating the right combination of 3 of the 5 food groups provides children with a healthy breakfast that will keep them energized until lunch, whether they are active on the play lot/play ground or energetically learning in the classroom. The formula is simple “3 out of 5” of the following:

Refrigerator Oatmeal

(No Cooking Required – Make Ahead)

Also known as overnight oatmeal, this simple, no-cook recipe allows busy families to have a balanced breakfast with foods from 3 out of 5 food groups (Fruits, Grains, Milk plus Milk Products). It’s ready to grab and go each morning and kids can help make it ahead.



MARCH m Nutrition: Document IMIL implementation

m Nutrition: Follow up on nutrition assessments

m Nutrition: Monitor Nutrition services reports in COPA

m Nutrition: Document Nutrition education weekly

m Nutrition: Document Food experience

m Nutrition: Complete referral and follow-up for children with identified needs and document into COPA

m Nutrition: Plan for parent nutrition workshops (at least 2 per year)

NutritionMilestones

Reasons to eat the “3 out of 5” way for breakfast:• Keeps energy levels high until lunch

• Gives children the important nutrients they need

• Helps children eat the foods they don’t typically get enough of: low-fat dairy, vegetables, fruit and whole grains

Three Easy Center Activities for National Nutrition Month

1. Organize a “healthy recipe” contest among employees. Share winning recipes on special occasions at your center such as a parent meeting night or event.

2. Highlight ethnic and cultural food traditions. Offer special menu items from inter-national cuisines (Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, African, Polish, etc.). Encourage center parents to submit ethnic recipes and/or ideas.

3. Create a “nutrition question of the day” (or week) contest sent out by email or posted on a special display or bulletin board. Draw the name of a daily or weekly prize winner from those who provided the correct answer and post the results.

-or-+ + =healthy

balanced breakfast

-or-grains, breads & cereals

vegetables dairy

meat, beans & nutsfruits

WHAT CAN YOU ADD TO YOUR BREAKFAST TO MAKE IT “3 OUT OF 5”?

Refrigerator OatmealIngredients:2 cups vanilla low-fat or fat-free Yogurt (any flavor works) 2 cups low-fat or fat-free Milk4 cups rolled Oats (or 2 cups steel-cut Oats) 2 cups Strawberries, sliced, or Raspberries

Preparation:Combine ingredients into a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Divide mixture evenly between four containers, cover and refrigerate overnight. The oats will absorb the moisture in the yogurt and milk, softening for a pudding-like consistency. Use whatever yogurt, fruit, oats or nuts you have on hand. Adjust the amount of milk, oats and fruit to match your personal preferences. Try adding cinnamon, honey, etc. for different flavors and consistency.



“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There

are seven million.” - AUTHOR UNKNOWN -

A Quote

to Note

MARCH m Medical/Dental: Submit an improve-ment plan based upon second quarter PIR Analysis for any areas less than 90% compliance.

m Medical/Dental: Complete referral and follow-up for children with identified needs and enter into COPA

m Medical/Dental: Replace toothbrushes

m Medical/Dental: Complete required child screenings, including vision/hearing and submit COPA documentation within 45 days

m Medical/Dental: Monitor health services screening (including hearing and vision) reports in COPA and update COPA health case notes

m Medical/Dental: Prepare the health services transition packets for children in EHS/HS

m Developmental Screenings: Ensure developmental screenings are completed by 45th day

m Developmental Screenings: Children who scored within the referred catego-ries must be sent to disabilities coordina-tor within five days

m Medical/Dental: Replenish first aid kit supplies

m Medical/Dental: Complete Monthly Health Report and forward to assigned Health/FCP SSC by the 5th of the month

m Medical/Dental: provide health require-ments overview to enrolling parents

Health/Developmental Screening Services

Milestones

March is National – Save Your Vision Month

To remind parents everywhere to make sure their children receive annual eye exams, March has been named National Save Your Vision Month. Many parents imagine that if their children are able to see well, there is nothing wrong with their eye health. Unfortunately, this is not always true. Without regular comprehensive eye exams, chil-dren may be suffering from eye problems of which parents are unaware and they may have less than perfect vision.

Warning Signs of Vision Problems in Children

While children with a family history of childhood vision problems are more likely to have eye problems themselves, all parents should know the warning signs of vision problems.

Babies Under One Year of Age

Babies older than three months should be able to follow or “track” an object, like a toy or ball, with their eyes as it moves across their field of vision. If your baby can’t make steady eye contact by this time or seems unable to see, let your child’s doctor know.

Before four months most babies’ eyes occasionally look misaligned. However, after four months of age inward crossing or outward drifting that occurs regularly is usually abnor-mal. If one of these is present, let your child’s doctor know.

Preschool Age

If your child’s eyes become misaligned let your child’s doctor know right away. However, vision problems such as a lazy eye may have no warning signs, and your child may not complain of vision problems. That’s why it’s important at this time to have your child’s vision checked. Know that there are special tests to check your child’s vision even if he or she cannot yet read.

All Children

If you notice any one of the following, again, let your child’s doctor know:

There are several eye conditions that can affect children from a young age, and early diagnosis is essential to start treatment as soon as possible and reduce the risk of developing a serious condition that may permanently affect vision. Children need to have comprehensive eye exams which are critical for ensuring normal vision development. These exams can even prevent academic problems at school where sight is central to learning. Additionally, a comprehensive eye exam does the following:

• Examines eyes for all common diseases

• Checks how eyes work together, and

• Looks for a sign of problems in a child’s overall health.

• Eyes that are misaligned (look crossed, turn out, or don’t focus together)

• White or grayish-white color in the pupil

• Eyes that flutter quickly from side to side or up and down

• Bulging eye(s)

• Child often complains of eye pain, itchiness, or discomfort

• Redness in either eye that doesn’t go away in a few days

• Pus or crust in either eye

• Eyes that are always watery

• Drooping eyelid(s)

• Child rubs or squints eyes often

• Eyes that are always sensitive to light

• Any change in the eyes from how they usually look

Up-CloseA Look At Children Services



Lisa Morrison ButlerCommissioner of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services

Vanessa RichManaging Editor (2009 - 2015)

Julie A. EllisWriter

Xenia DemoDesigner

Up-Close, A Look At Children Services is published by the

Chicago Department of Family and Support Services in

conjunction with The Chicago Coalition of Site Adminis-

tered Child Care Programs. Funding for this publication is

provided by the United States Department of Health and

Human Services (HHS).

san serif is Univers light 45 serif is adobe garamond pro

One of the special ways we can honor Vanessa’s legacy and leadership as Chairman of the National Head Start Association (NHSA) Board

of Directors is to have a huge Chicagoland participation in the reclaiming of all former Head Start students and their parents.

Please distribute this information.

A Special Chicago Tribute to C VANESSA RICH c

Chicagoland AreaSign Up and Be Counted!The National Head Start Association (NHSA) has an on-going registration for all former HS children. This began during the year-long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Head Start, and now the NHSA is continuing to look for former Head Start students all over the nation. NHSA states, “If you are an alum or your child attended Head Start, join us in a national campaign to encourage all former Head Start children and parents to identify themselves.

In 1965, our nation made a commitment to open a window of opportunity for at risk children - Head Start. In the 50 years since, nearly 28 million Americans have attended Head Start. Head Start alumni have gone on to become business owners and artists, musicians and doctors, teachers, Members of Congress, and exceptional parents to their own children. Those who have been touched by this program know the reality of how a Head Start in life leads to success. We will keep you informed about what we are doing to keep the Head Start window of opportunity open and you will hear about many ways to get involved.”

Go to the NHSA website www.nhsa.org and fill out on-line the Head Start Parent/Graduate Form.

We want Chicago to be as near 100% as possible in this effort – please sign up now!

2016 Annual Training Conference and Parent InstituteEDUCATE, ADVOCATE, COLLABORATE & INNOVATE!

Monday, March 14 through Wednesday, March 16, 2016 • Wyndham Springfield City Centre in Springfield, Illinois

The Illinois Head Start Association (IHSA) invites everyone to the Annual Training Conference and Parent Institute that features Component Meetings, the IHSA Business Meeting, Directors Forum, Awards Luncheon, Exhibitor Rally and

Reception, and additional special events such as outstanding Keynote Speakers, pre-conference Public Policy Luncheon and post-conference, Edward Zigler Midwest Research Institute. In addition, at the Awards Luncheon there will be a

Special Tribute to Vanessa Rich. IHSA requests “Join us as we honor our friend, Vanessa Rich’s memory and legacy.”

38th Annual IHSA Conference

Documents

A Look At Children Services · • Store opened packages of dry foods, such as rice and pasta, in dry, airtight containers. This will keep out insects and rodents and keep food from