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Child care providers encounter unique challenges when implementing the ADA at their centers. The Rocky Mountain ADA Center has developed Child Care resources to assist providers with understanding rights and responsibilities under the law, as well as resources for parent’s rights.  Topics include service animals, medication administration, diapering policies, equal employment opportunities, accessibility and much more.  If you are a child care provider, contact the ADA Center at adainfo@adainformation.org or call (800) 949-4232, for a free packet of information, which includes a refrigerator-sized magnetic erase board and pen.  Check out the Child Care and the ADA website !  http://www.adainformation.org/ChildCare.aspx

In 2003, the American Academy of Pediatrics partnered with national child care and health organizations to build on the achievements of two successful campaigns: The Back to Sleep Campaign and the Healthy Child Care America Campaign. This effort, known as the Healthy Child Care American Back to Sleep Campaign, aimed to promote the health and safety of infants in child care settings by providing education and outreach to child care providers regarding safe sleep recommendations.

Each year the Annie E. Casey Foundation funds a national survey of child well-being. The new report was recently released. Montana is again ranked 28th, same as last year.The data is analyzed in four different categories: education, economic well-being, family and community and health.Montana was above average in three of the four categories, but finished 50th in child health.The report shows that Montana improved in economic well-being, up to 15th from 20th last year. We held steady on education at 13th. We declined a bit on family and community, down to 14th from 13th.But it’s the child health numbers that seem to be the greatest cause for concern.If you dig into the health numbers, Montana did improve over last year’s report in having fewer uninsured kids — down to 12 percent — and fewer teens abusing alcohol and drugs — down to 10 percent. However, we have increased our percentage of children with low birth weights — 7.5 percent — and increased the number of child and teen deaths per 100,000 — 45.How do we make sense of this data? It’s hard because for many of us these kinds of statistics don’t mean a lot when you pull them apart. As a state, Montana’s 28th place ranking is the lowest in the region. North Dakota ranks sixth, Wyoming ranks 15th, South Dakota ranks 18th, and Idaho ranks 20th.What the report tells us about child health is we have more work to do. It may seem like 88 percent of children being covered by health insurance is pretty good, but we’re average for the region. Similar to Idaho and Wyoming, but lower than both Dakotas.For teen death rates, we’re highest in the region at 45 per 100,000. Idaho is at 28, Wyoming at 32, North Dakota at 34 and South Dakota 39.In general what this means is in Montana we can do a better job, in this areas, of improving the health of our kids. The good news is that health continues to be a priority of the Gov. Steve Bullock’s administration, which launched an initiative last week called “A Healthier Montana: A Plan to Improve the Health of Montanans.”Bullock’s plan focuses on six areas: Preventing, identifying and managing chronic diseases; promoting the health of mothers, infants and children; preventing, identifying and controlling communicable disease, preventing injuries and reducing exposure to environmental health hazards; improving mental health and reducing substance abuse; and, strengthening Montana’s public health and health care system.Reports like Kids Count, are one of many analyzing different aspects of health in Montana and around the country, said Jon Ebelt, spokesman for the Montana Department of Health and Human Services. Typically, those reports only tell part of the story. And though the state takes the Kids Count report seriously, it fit into the broader look of health in Montana now outlined in Bullock’s initiative.“We’ve done a lot of work the last year to set the priorities on where we can make the most difference,” Ebelt said.At Lewis and Clark County, county health officer Melanie Reynolds is also focused on local work.The county has been working for a number of months on their community health improvement plan and is looking to unveil soon.So while the news from Kids Count was mixed, we’re pleased the state and local governments are continuing their efforts to support better health for Montanans. We anticipate these efforts will show themselves with an improved report next year.

What:Child Care Resources has had to cancel some CSEFEL classes since they didn't fill with child care providers, so they are opening them up to social service providers and others.  The cost is very reasonable.  The focus will be more on group settings.  Child Care Resources is offering the following courses for Early Childhood educators and child care providers:1. The Pyramid Model (CSEFEL) Preschool Module 1    December 19, 2011    8:30 am - 2:30 pm    Childcare Resources - Missoula    Click here to register/more information!2. The Pyramid Model (CSEFEL) for Preschool Module One     January 23, 2012    8:30 am - 2:30 pm    Childcare Resources - Missoula    Click here to register/more information!3. The Pyramid Model (CSEFEL) for Preschool Module Two    March 5, 2012    8:30 am - 2:30 pm    Childcare Resources - Missoula    Click here to register/more information!Cost is $30 per session.Contact:Lucy Marose lucy@childcareresources.org  or  Jennifer Swartz jennifer@childcareresources.org

Best Beginnings Childcare Scholarships The Early Childhood Services Bureau offers “Best Beginnings” child-care scholarships to qualified low-income families whose child attends a licensed child care center, registered group or family child care home, or legally unregistered child care provider. Each family participates in the cost of that care by making a co-payment based on a sliding fee scale.

Goals: To build local capacity and expand inclusive child care options for families by providing training, resources, and technical assistance directly to Montana's child care resource and referral programs (specifically the Early Childhood Specialists), licensed child care programs, LCPs (legally certified providers), PLUK (Montana parent and training information program), and CFSP (regional child/family service providers/early intervention programs).

Schraf is a child life specialist, a type of health care provider whose job is to help sick children and their families navigate difficult medical situations emotionally and psychologically while in the hospital. They do it largely through play—the basis of how a child learns and grows.

The publication, “We Can Do Better,” evaluates state policies on child care and assigns each state a score. This year, no state scored above 87 percent, and the lowest-ranked state, Idaho, rated only 15 percent. Texas was actually ranked in the top 10 states, at 82 percent. But, as Cohn’s story explains, child care centers in Texas are inspected only once a year, and home day care centers only every other year.

The HCCA program is a collaborative effort of health professionals and child care providers working to improve the early education and health and safety of children in out-of-home child care. This includes increasing access to preventive health services, safe physical environments, and a medical home for all children. The program also strives to increase pediatrician participation and effectiveness in providing high-quality care and promoting early education and children's health and well-being.

Click here to register for this webinar What: This presentation will provide an overview of dental care for individuals with special health care needs (pediatric to adult).  The presentation will include information about unique aspects of providing dental care to individuals with special health care needs, barriers to access to care, the dental home model, as well as a presentation on dental training resources/modules.  This presentation will include an overview of the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center. When: September 19, 2011 12:00 - 1:30pm Mountain For more information: Contact Rebecca Carman, at Senior Program Specialist at AUCD, at rcarman@aucd.org.

This knowledge path about child and adolescent health insurance and access to care has been compiled by the Maternal and Child Health Library at Georgetown University. It offers a selection of current, high-quality resources that analyze data, describe effective programs, and report on policy and research aimed at advancing health coverage and improving health care access for children and adolescents. Emphasis is placed on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Separate sections present resources for professionals (health professionals, program administrators, policymakers, and researchers) and for families. A special topics section presents resources that address health reform, outreach and enrollment, and school-based and school-linked care. This knowledge path will be updated periodically.

Grantee Spotlight Project Access grantees are implementing unique and innovative strategies to address the challenges children and youth with epilepsy face within their health care system, schools, and communities. Learn more as we highlight a new grantee each month. How can I help improve care for children and youth with epilepsy? Explore the resources and best practices from the National Center for Project Access (NCPA) to learn about what others have done to improve systems of care. News & Events Stay informed with current epilepsy and Project Access news, funding opportunities, and upcoming events. Next About Project Access is a national initiative funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration that seeks to increase awareness of epilepsy and improve access to coordinated, comprehensive care for children and youth with epilepsy in medically underserved and rural areas.

Project Access is a national initiative funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration that seeks to increase awareness of epilepsy and improve access to coordinated, comprehensive care for children and youth with epilepsy in medically underserved and rural areas.

Wondering or concerned about your Child's: Development? Speech? Hearing/Vision? Social Skills? Free Child Development Clinic for Children Birth to Six Years of Age, provided by Yellowstone-West/Carbon County Cooperative in conjunction with STEP and in cooperation with your local public school. Purpose: Screen children birth to 6 for a wide range of developmental areas Provide information to parents about their child's development Birth to 3 Years Old: Development - Screens social skills, language and motor skills. Wellness - By public nurse, if available. Hearing - By an audiologist. 3 to 6 Years Old: Motor - Screens your child's catching, jumping, skipping, and cutting. Concepts - Screens your child's colors, counting, naming body parts, and following directions. Language - Screens your child's articulation, language usage, and problem solving. Social - Screens how your hcild engages with other children and adults. Self-Help - Screens your child's ability to take care of himself or himself. Wellness - By a public nurse, if available. Hearing - By an audiologist. Vision - Screens your child's near and far vision. For more information please call: 406-628-7903