Keeping Kids Healthy

The recession has forced families to make the difficult choice of going without health insurance during these tough economic times. And in our own backyard, many Collin County families are facing this dilemma.

It is estimated that over 50,000 children are uninsured in Collin County. A staggering statistic that is mirrored throughout the state. Many of these children are eligible for the state's Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid, but are unaware they could qualify for these programs.

For as little as $50 a year, families could receive the health care that their children need to grow up to be healthy and strong. Medical, dental, vision...benefits that are all essential for the healthy development of our youngest residents.

As we face an increase in uninsured children, we need your help to promote awareness of these important programs to the families in Collin County and to our Texas representatives.

How can you help?

1) Become an advocate. Talk to your elected officials about the importance of keeping state funded health insurance for our most valuable resources...our children.

2) Support local outreach events. There are several organizations in the area that coordinate outreach events targeted to inform families regarding CHIP and Medicaid and to assist them with the application process. This February 27th, the Dallas Area CHIP Coalition will conduct an outreach event covering nine Fiesta Mart stores in the Dallas area, including one in Collin County. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed.

3) Support our local non-profits. There are several clinics in the area (Plano Children's Medical Clinic, Frisco Cares Children Clinic, and Community Health Center of McKinney to name a few), have been established to assist families and their children that would normally "fall through the gap." Those children that may not qualify for programs, but still need access to health care. Your time, money and services are all welcomed and needed at these local non-profits.

Just one simple step and one step closer to ensuring children can grow up to be healthy and strong.

Begin at the Beginning

What’s going on inside a baby’s brain? As parents or caregivers, we often ponder this question as we look into a baby or young child’s eyes.

Simply put, the answer is a lot. A whole lot. Just read this article by Jonathan Lehrer and find out some of the fascinating things scientists are discovering about a baby’s mind.

If you don’t have time to check out the article, though, the take home message is pretty straightforward: a baby’s mind is full of activity. In fact, many of the skills that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives, we learn as young children. Just watch a toddler as they figure out which shapes fit into which holes and you’ll realize that this simple endeavor is teaching a child important problem-solving skills.

Between the ages of 0-5, a baby’s brain is growing rapidly. Important connections are forming as a child explores and discovers the world around them. These connections will form a foundation that a child will build on for the rest of his or her life.

That’s why at ReadyStart we stress the importance of investing in the earliest years of life. Too often, we ignore the needs of children until they have reached school age. We don’t think about the simple things that we can do to help young children build a solid foundation. By doing so, we miss important opportunities to help every child become prepared to enter school ready and excited to learn.

Supporting children in these earliest years doesn’t mean trying to make your baby “smarter.” What it does mean is a few simple things: being nurturing and responsive so your child can learn how to regulate and control his/her emotions, talking and reading to your child so that they learn new words and what those words mean, and letting your child play and explore. It also means ensuring that all young children are protected, have access to quality nutrition, medical care, and early educational experiences outside of the home.

By paying attention to the needs of young children, we won’t get stuck in the catch-up game once they get to school. And that will pay huge dividends into the future.