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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Teach the signs of communication Parents can start signing to their babies at any age By JENNIFER ROUSE EARLY YEARS
It’s the situation every parent of a toddler dreads: your child is tugging on your pant leg and crying. He clearly wants something. And you’d be glad to give it to him ... if only you had any idea what that something was. That’s the kind of situation Alyssa White is on a mission to prevent. The Cor“Sign With vallis mothYour Baby” er of three is class, ofan instrucfered at the tor of infant Linn-Benton sign lanCommunity guage classCollege Benes through ton Center. Linn-BenEight weeks, ton Combegins Sept. munity Col24. 10-11 a.m. Monlege. She’s days. Inseen babies structor: as young as Alyssa 7 or 8 White. months old Call 541six 757-8944 for — months bemore inforfore they mation. would be ready to speak verbally — learn simple signs to communicate with their parents. “It really lessens frustration,” White said. “With signing they can actually tell you what they need.” In the case of most families who use infant sign language, both parent and child have normal hearing.
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DAVID PATTON | EARLY YEARS
Megan McQueen of Albany teaches her daughters Ginger, 2, and Ruby, 5, sign language. The goal of signing is not to replace spoken language, but to provide a tool that very small children can use in the first year or two of life. It’s the age where children begin to walk, play with toys, and feed themselves — but before their verbal abilities have developed. That’s where the frustration usually comes in. “If she wants to play with a certain thing, and she’s pointing to a huge shelf of toys, instead of just pointing and going ‘Eh! Eh! Eh!’ she can give me a sign,” said Heidi Darden, of Corvallis, who took White’s class and still signs frequently with her 20month-old daughter. “Then I know exactly what
she wants.” Any parent who has ever put their finger to her lips and said “Shhh!” can tell you that signing and gesturing are an innate part of infant communication. But signing with babies deliberately has been growing in popularity since the 1990s, when books and videos began touting the idea. White said parents can start signing to their babies at any age — the earlier the better — but the optimal time for infants to begin
signing back is between 612 months. Most babies who learn signs will continue to communicate with signs until about 18 to 24 months, when verbal language takes over. Some parents may fear that sign language will delay their child’s speech development. However, a long-term study published in the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior in 2000 showed the opposite: compared to a control group, toddlers who had been taught sign SEE SIGN LANGUAGE | 3
20142598 2 X 1.00 SMALL WORLD SCHOOL
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Sign language Continued from page 2 language scored higher in me what they needed.” tests of speech and comSo how do you go about prehension. teaching a baby too small to talk how to share her ‘Like being bilingual’ thoughts and feelings with Megan McQueen of Al- her hands? And what if you bany first learned sign lan- don’t speak sign language guage in college, and then yourself? used it to communicate The key, White said, is to with her daughters Ruby, keep it simple and consisnow 5, and Ginger, now 2. She said that studying sign tent. While some parents language in college taught might take a class and teach her that speaking through their children many signs sign is not an inferior form — White’s oldest had a vocabulary of of commu100 at age 1 — nication, but a lanother famiguage in its www.babysigns.com lies report www.babysignlanguage.com own right. that even using a few “It’s like being bilingual,” she said. signs is helpful. “Do what “It boosts vocabulary in you’re comfortable with, both languages.” while being consistent,” Parents report that it she said. also eases emotional probTo start, pick a simple lems, which seems to be sign, such as “food” — you backed up by research: a pinch the tips of your fin2007 study in the Journal gers together and then tap of Applied Behavior Analy- them against your lips — sis tracked the episodes of and then use that sign crying and whining in tod- every time you use that dlers. The researchers word with your baby. “Do found that episodes of cry- you want food?” “Time for ing and whining decreased food!” “Here is your food!” substantially once the tod- can all be accompanied by dlers learned to use a sign the sign. You can gently guide your child’s hands to to communicate. make the correct motion as That’s something local well, but White cautions parents say they’ve seen in against getting too pushy. action. “Don’t do it if they’re “It’s always hard to say not into it,” she said. “You whether something is just have to respect their space, personality or if it’s due to because they’re people too. the signing, but I thought Just spend a couple of minmy kids had very few melt- utes playing with the sign. downs compared to their It’s not a lesson. It’s just peers,” said McQueen. “I mixed in with normal conattribute at least part of it versation.” to always being able to tell You can repeat the
ON THE WEB
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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TOP FIVE STARTER SIGNS Here are signs parents report using most frequently: Food/eat: Squish the tip of your thumb against the tip of your other four fingers, making a flattened “o” shape, and tap your hand against your lips. Milk: Start with an open hand and then squeeze it together into a fist. The open-and-close gesture looks like milking a cow.
process with as many words as you want—objects you see often around the house, or things you do frequently. Do your best to get on your child’s level while you speak and make the sign at the same time.
Learning curve Lisa Forkner of Corvallis, who took the LBCC class and signed with all three of her children, said that baby sign language was extremely useful, but not a 100-percent-effective communication cure. Just like any new skill, sign language has a learning curve. Forkner recalls a time with each child when it seemed like they were never going to catch on. Even when they did start signing, it was hard to distinguish words at first.
More: Make the flattened “o” shape with both hands, then tap your hands together. All done/finished: Hold both hands up, fingers spread, palms facing in, then rotate your hands so they’re facing out, as if you’re pushing something away from you. Please: Take an open hand and rub it flat against your chest.
“You’re staring at your baby, thinking, ’Oh, he’s banging his hands together. Is he saying ’more?’ Or is he trying to say ’ball?’ Or is he just mad about something?” she said. Eventually, say proponents of infant sign language, most children do learn to sign clearly enough to make their needs known. If they learn enough signs, they can actually bring up topics of conversation. “I could look at my daughter and see that she is making the sign for ’baby,’ and realize she’s telling me something about her special baby doll. It’s like getting this little window into your 1-year-old’s brain,” Forkner said. “It gave us the opportunity to know them a little better, at an earlier age.”
20139701 2 X 2.00 Ashbrook Independent
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Study: Yelling makes bad behaviors worse By NANCY RASKAUSKAS EARLY YEARS
DON’T OVERREACT!
“Young children will always test boundaries.” It’s a truism that assistant professor of human development and family science Shannon Lipscomb has seen both in her research on young children’s development of self-regulation and school readiness, and as Lipscomb the mom to a 4-year-old son. There’s a reason why the time that infants grow more and more independent and progress into toddlerhood is known as “the terrible twos” after all. It can be a challenging time for mom and dad. “Sometimes parents yell or overreact,” she said in an interview, but that can have negative effects down the line in the child’s development and ability to deal with negative emotions in a healthy way. Lipscomb is part of a team of researchers that found that parents who anger easily and overreact are more likely to have toddlers who act out and become upset easily. The Oregon State University-Cascades campus researcher is the lead author on the study – published this spring in the journal Development and Psychopathology and funded by the National Institutes of Health – that looked at data from 361 families linked through adoption (including birth parents and adoptive families) in 10 different U.S. states, including Oregon.
When your infant acts up or tests limits, here’s advice from experts, including Oregon State University assistant professor Shannon Lipscomb: • Don’t yell or appear angry. • Remain firm, confident and don’t overreact. • Set an example with your own emotions and reactions. • Set a consequence and stick to it. Read the full journal article at this web address: http://bit.ly/wPs4dT
Using adoptive families allowed researchers to isolate the effect of parenting. Parents self-reported on themselves and on their spouse’s parenting behavior during the study. “By analyzing data about children’s genetic risks for negative emotions in addition to data on parenting and child development we were able to isolate the effect of parenting, separate from shared genetic background,” she wrote. “Genetics played a role, but only for children that did not have overreactive parents. While genetics can be important in the development of children’s problem behaviors, it appears the strongest and most consistent effects on children’s behavior come from parenting and the home environment.”
Keeping your cool Why is it so important that parents keep their cool when children are upset, fussy or difficult to soothe? Prior research has consistently shown that children with elevated levels of “negative emotionality” during these early years have more difficulties with
emotion regulation and tend to exhibit more problem behavior when they are of school age, Lipscomb explained. They also tend to have more temper tantrums or act out more as 2-yearolds than is normal for their age. “And those with the biggest increases in problem behavior also appeared to have parents who overreacted to their early outbursts,” Lipscomb added. Still, “as important as parenting is, it’s not everything,” Lipscomb said. Everyone is born with a preexisting temperament based on their genetic predisposition. Parenting has an important effect on children’s development, but each child starts in a unique place based on his or her inherited factors and personality. Genetics played a role, particularly in the case of children who were at genetic risk of negative emotionality from their birth mothers, but were raised in a
low-stress or less-reactive environment. The study was comprehensive in that it explored both the genetic and environmental influences separately and in tandem. “I like to get away from the mentality of genetics versus parenting (or environment),” Lipscomb said. The study focused on negative actions that parents should avoid and not on the effectiveness of specific discipline techniques; however, generally, the literature suggests that parents should avoid permissive parenting (where kids are allowed to make their own rules). Lipscomb suggests that parents set clear boundaries and when a limit is clearly broken – say when one sibling hits another – that parents set a consequence (such as a timeout) and stick to it. If a parent is consistent, the child will eventually stop testing that limit as often, if a parent is inconsistent then SEE BEHAVIOR | 5
20142184 2 X 3.00 CORVALLIS INDOOR PAR
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
5
Get your kids off to an active start Researchers worry over increased time young children spend glued to screens By NANCY RASKAUSKAS EARLY YEARS
It may be uncanny just how good your toddler is at operating your iPhone or tablet, but that doesn’t mean that using it as a way to keep junior entertained is always a good idea. In a recent study, researchers at Oregon State University confirmed that U.S. children are increasingly sedentary, spending more time sitting and looking at electronic screens. Most disturbing to lead author David Schary is that children ages 2 to 4, with parents ranging across the board from “authoritative” to “neglectful,” were sitting more than several hours per day. The research team also found that parents are a major factor in whether young children are on the move. “I think one of the biggest surprises that we
found was overall (screen time) was a lot higher across all parenting styles than we had expected; an average of about four hours a day in activities like watching TV and quiet play such as reading or coloring,” Schary said. Because kids and adults
tend to become more sedentary over time, it’s important that toddlers spend the maximum amount of time in active play in order to set the stage for a healthy life, Schary explained. “When we see this trend of even the most support-
ive parents having children that are more sedentary, it’s a little disturbing,” he said in an interview. “It’s interesting on how large of a role of technology is playing at such a young age. Is it a good or a bad thing? We’re just not sure yet.” The findings were presented in two studies published in a special issue of the journal Early Child Development and Care devoted to “Parental Influences of Childhood Obesity” this spring. About 200 participants were in the OSU studies and 72 percent of the survey respondents came from Oregon, Schary said. The researchers collected data in online surveys over a three-to-four month period. Parents self-reported on how much time their child was physically active, how often SEE ACTIVE START | 6
Behavior Continued from page 4 a child will naturally keep testing them. As a mother herself, Lipscomb has had moments where she’s had to heed her own advice to remember to stay calm when her son tests limits over and over. It can be hard to stay patient. “It’s important for parents to take their own timeouts, and be careful not to overreact and take it out on their kids,” she said. Data for the study came
from the Early Growth and Development Study, a 10year longitudinal study of adopted children and their adoptive and birth parents. The study is being conducted through the Oregon Social Learning Center and the Pennsylvania State University, under the direction of lead researchers Leslie Leve and Jenae Neiderhiser. Lipscomb started working on the project in 2006.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
ACTIVE PLAY Bradley Cardinal says sedentary behavior goes against the natural tendencies of most preschool-age children. “Toddlers and preschool-age children are spontaneous movers, so it is natural for them to have bursts of activity many minutes per hour,” said Cardinal, a professor of social psychology of physical activity at Oregon State University. “We find that when kids enter school, their levels of physical activity decrease and overall, it continues to decline throughout their life. Early life movement is imperative for establishing healthy, active lifestyle patterns, self-awareness, social acceptance, and even brain and cognitive development.” “A half an hour each day may not seem like much, but add that up over a week, then a month, and then a year and you have a big impact,” Cardinal made his comments in a previous press release on the topic from OSU. Added David Schary, a doctoral student in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU: “One child may be getting up to four hours more active play every week, and this sets the stage for the rest of their life.” In a separate study, Schary and Cardinal looked at the same group of participants and asked about ways parents support and promote active play. They found that parents who actively played with their kids had the most impact, but that any level of encouragement, even just watching their child play or driving them to an activity, made a difference. “When children are very young,playing is the main thing they do during waking hours,so parental support and encouragement is crucial,” Schary said. “So when we see preschool children not going outside much and sitting while playing with a cellphone or watching TV,we need to help parents counteract that behavior.”
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Active start Continued from page 5 their child watched screenbased media (such as TV or computer time) as well as a number of other questions. The survey results were confidential and not tied to specific parents. “We hope that this helps parents be more honest,” Schary said.
Four parental types Based on their responses, the research team grouped parents into four commonly used scientific categories – authoritative (high warmth and control),
authoritarian (controlling, less warm), permissive (warm, low control), and neglectful (low control and warmth). Overall, they found that children who had “neglectful” parents, or ones who weren’t home often and self-reported spending less time with their kids, were getting 30 minutes more screen time on an average each weekday, and even more on weekends. Because the survey group was heavily weighted to Oregon parents, Schary
is careful not to generalize the findings into a national trend. “It’s kind of a fine line in balancing the data that we have, with trying to make it more universal to help all parents,” he said. “It’s also tricky when you set up the surveys, because you don’t want the parents answering the surveys the way they think that they should be answering them. We really want to get a real snapshot of the parents, and obviously try to be as objective as we can – not try to pass any judgment on them while they’re taking the survey,” he said. “And also, when we write up the results, we SEE ACTIVE START | 7
20142628 3 X 5.00 BENTON COUNTY HEALTH
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Early diagnosis helps in treating mental illnesses By MIKE McINALLY EARLY YEARS
ADVICE
Here’s the bad news for parents who may fret about the possibility of mental illness in their children: Seventy percent of mental illness starts before the age of 14, said Dr. Caroline Fisher, a child psychiatrist who was raised in Corvallis and recently returned to the mid-valley to practice at Samaritan Mental Health Family Center. But here’s the good news, said Fisher: It’s treatable, and the earlier mental illness is diagnosed, the better the chances are that treatment will be successful. “We have some spectacular successes in child psychiatry,” she said in a recent interview for Early Years. And her message was consistent: Parents are wellsuited to assess their own children. If a child is showing extremes of behavior that parents don’t see in other children, it could be a signal that some professional consultation would be helpful. “Parents have good guts,” said Fisher. “They know their kids. They really do know their kids.” And early intervention often makes the difference between successful treatment and bigger issues down the road. But yet, parents can be reluctant to have a child evaluated for possible mental illness.
Here is general advice to parents from Dr. Caroline Fisher, who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry. 1. Listen to your gut. If you have a sense that something’s wrong with your child, don’t ignore it. 2. Look for extremes of behavior that aren’t like the behavior you see in other children. 3. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help.
Part of the issue there, she said, is that “a lot of people see mild mental illness as a character flaw” and then ask “Why should we invest in (treating) this, when it’s just a character flaw?” “But it’s not a character flaw,” she said. “It’s an illness. It’s treatable.” She offers a couple of examples from her experience: • A 10th grade girl — beautiful and outgoing and “adorable,” Fisher said — was underperforming at schools to the point where she had been bounced out of four different private schools. Finally, doctors ran a full appraisal of the girl and reviewed her history. The diagnosis: mild retardation. “It broke my heart,” Fisher said. “Had that been caught when she was 5,” she would have received a variety of tutoring services. • A 2½-year old child SEE MENTAL ILLNESS | 8
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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Active start Continued from page 6 don’t want to be condescending or judgmental in any way. We just try to present the facts … not to say this particular parent is a bad parent, just that parents in this category might want to consider a few things, if they want their children to be active.” “Being an exercise and sports science department, we think it’s important (that children stay active), but every family has their own priorities and sometimes physical activity is, unfortunately, not a priority,” Schary said. “We don’t want to negate the importance of quiet play, such as reading or coloring, because both are important,” he added. How much is too much? As a general guideline, young kids should spend two hours or less on sedentary activities daily, Schary said. Nap times and meal times don’t count toward the total.
It’s especially important for parents to put the focus on activity at home, as shifting academic priorities and tight budgets restrict school systems’ ability to provide an active day for students. “The education environment right now is not really promoting activity in a healthy way, whether it is overcrowded classrooms, not enough resources to have a P.E. teacher or have to have recess,” Schary said. Schary is a doctoral student in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU. Bradley Cardinal, a professor of social psychology of physical activity at OSU, co-authored both papers with Schary. Paul Loprinzi, who completed his doctorate at OSU and is now at Bellarmine University in Kentucky, also contributed to the study.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
AMANDA COWAN | CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
Dr. Caroline Fisher is pictured at Samaritan Mental Health Family Center on Aug. 3 with some of the books and toys she uses while working with small children.
Mental illness Continued from page 7 whom, as Fisher recalled, “spoke only to my shoelaces,” was unable to point to objects and in general had no sense of socially appropriate behavior. The diagnosis was autism, and the child started on a regimen of intensive behavioral treatment. Today, the boy is doing well in kindergarten, an example of how early intervention can make a big difference. An initial step for parents who are
consulting with mental health professionals is a session at which parents can expect plenty of questions. “The first thing we do is ask way too many questions,” Fisher said. But the whole idea is to gather as much information as possible, to see which parts of the puzzle fit where. “Our first job is to get as much information as possible from the family,” she said. “Once we can figure out the pattern, it’s not so hard.” And once a diagnosis is made, the illness typically can be treated. “It’s remarkable how treatable they really are,” she said.
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And that, she said, is what has kept her in the field. Fisher majored in economics at Dartmouth — “it’s an easy subject, but you never have to be right,” she joked — but found that the experience she really enjoyed in college was volunteering to help with activities therapy. That fueled an urge to become a psychiatrist, and the specialized field of child psychiatry proved attractive as well. “I’ve never wavered” from that early decision, she said. Why not? “The kids get better.”
20142566 2 X 2.00 LINN BENTON COMMUNIT
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
9
Samaritan becomes breast milk depot By MARIA L. KIRKPATRICK
ON THE WEB
EARLY YEARS
Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center is setting itself up as a breast milk depot. Using $5,000 in grant money, Samaritan purchased a high-quality freezer for its Center for Women and Families to help collect breast milk donations, which will be shipped to a milk bank for processing. Debbie Heim, nursing manager for the Center for Women and Families at Good Sam, said it has been a longtime Samaritan goal to become a breast milk donor site. “Because we have a high breast feeding rate here in Corvallis and at the hospital,” Heim said. “It is one of the core measures nationally for hospitals to initiate breast feeding in the hospital with no supplementation of formula. That’s always our goal. Unless it is medically indicated, we strongly encourage moms to breast-feed.” The benefits of breast milk are numerous and Samaritan has trained staff in breast feeding to support mothers as they nurse their newborns. Many mothers are able to produce enough to help babies in need, Heim said. Most milk recipients are infants in neonatal intensive care units. Heim said Samaritan uses lots of banked milk in its NICU for its antibodies. There always is a need for breast milk donors and, Heim said, many moms have asked how they can donate. The first step is contacting the Mother’s Milk Bank in Colorado. Samaritan’s location now makes the process easier
For information on donating or purchasing donated breast milk, visit www.milk bankcolorado.org.
The freezer where donated breast milk will be stored at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. ANDY CRIPE | EARLY YEARS
Donated breast milk will be stored at -21 degrees C at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. and drop-off more accessible. Samaritan can provide paperwork, testing services, draw blood and ship milk. Before, those chores had to handled by donors, who are not compensated. Until now, donors have had to get their breast milk to Newberg, where it would be screened and shipped to a milk bank. There are only two milk banks west of the Mississippi: San Jose, Calif., and Denver. Heim said a third location in Portland is in the works. Milk banks collect,
screen, process and dispense human milk to meet baby needs. All donor human milk has been pasteurized and frozen. Donors must be healthy, nonsmokers who aren’t on any medications and must be willing to donate a minimum of 150 ounces. “Most moms, if they are pumping, are able to easily collect six ounces,” Heim said. Samaritan has entered into a contract with the milk banks agreeing to follow criteria to ensure the milk meets
all requirements. To qualify, donors must not consume more than 24 ounces of caffeinated drinks per day and cannot regularly consume alcohol (there is a 12 hour waiting period after consuming alcohol before pumping for the bank). Other health requirements and restrictions may apply. Potential donors should speak with their doctor before proceeding. For information on donating or purchasing donated breast milk, visit www.milkbankcolorado.org.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
A prescription for literacy SAMARITAN HEALTH SERVICES
With September just around the corner, getting children prepared for school is on the minds of all parents. And there’s one simple thing parents can do each day to help young children be successful in school and in life – reading. In fact, reading has so many positive benefits for children, pediatricians are doing more than prescribing traditional health and wellness to families; they are also prescribing books. Pediatricians in the midvalley are helping families prepare children aged 6 months through 5 years to succeed in school by providing books to children to take home and keep at their well-child check ups. According to Dr. Carrie Colmenares, with Samaritan Mid-Valley Internal Medicine & Pediatric Specialists in North Albany, the initiative is part of a nationwide literacy program called Reach Out and Read, an evidence-based, research tested program model that was developed by pediatricians in 1998. “The emphasis of Reach Out and Read is to encourage parents to read aloud to and with their children,” said Colmenares. “Reading aloud to children not only enhances their neurocognitive development but also helps children develop language skills, supports school readiness and helps children succeed in kindergarten and throughout their schooling,” she said. In addition to providing books, pediatricians talk with parents about the im-
ON THE WEB For more information about the Reach Out and Read program, visit www.reachout andread.org/.
portance of reading to their young children every day, and offer age-appropriate tips and encouragement. The program got under way at Samaritan Mid-Valley Internal Medicine & Pediatric Specialists this spring, and Colmenares has already seen some positive changes. “The program works,” she said. “The children who I see that are part of this program have larger vocabularies, stronger language skills, and a six-month developmental edge over their peers,” she said. Reach Out and Read first became available locally in Lebanon at Mid-Valley Pediatrics in 2008, followed by Samaritan Pediatrics in Corvallis in 2010. The early literacy programs are funded by local hospital foundations and donors who give specifically to Reach Out and Read. “Children and their parents are loving the program. I see the child’s face light up when they receive a book at their pediatric checkups and it really helps solidify the patient-physician relationship,” said Colmenares. “It also helps the pediatrician observe the child’s development during the checkup to see how the child handles the book, looks through it, and how the child interacts with their parent while reading the book.”
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20141369 2 X 2.00 CORVALLIS WALDORF SC
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
11
READING LIST FOR PARENTS New parents and parents-to-be have all sorts of choices when it comes to finding reference materials to help them through the challenges and joys of raising children. But with so many choices, parents also could use a little guidance to help find the most useful books and other materials. So we consulted with experts at The Corvallis Clinic for their choices. Here are some of the responses: • Dr. Patrick Allender, a pediatrician, said: “I frequently recommend ‘Children: The Challenge,’ by Rudolf Dreikurs. It is easy to read and engaging and gives parents insights into children’s sometimes frustrating behaviors. • Dr. Eunju Metzler, a pediatrician, said: “For preteens, I recommend ‘Rollercoaster Years,’ by Charlene Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese and ‘In The Shelter of Each Other,’ by Mary Pipher. • Kelly Ward, a registered nurse and a lactation consultant, said: “We often recommend ‘The Happiest Baby on the Block,’ by Dr. Harvey Karp. It discusses colic and the 5 Ss to soothe a crying baby.” And here are some recommendations from the clinic’s list of suggested titles:
First year • “Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, Birth to Age 5,” by The American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009. An excellent home reference, even for the most experienced parents. Clinic patients receive the book as a gift at their 2week “well-baby visit.” • “Your Child’s Health,” by Barton Schmitt, 2005. Another excellent, easy-to-use guide to the health and development of children from birth through the preschool years. • “What to Expect: The First Year,” by Eisenberg, Murkoff & Hathaway, 2008. A very popular and comprehensive reference for parents of newborns. • “Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems,” by Richard Ferber, 2006. An excellent and comprehensive guide to sleep problems in childhood. A must if your child can’t sleep and you can’t either. • “Best Baby Products,” from Consumer Report Books.Updated every one to two years.This is an excellent source for safety and reliability infor-
mation on all kinds of baby care equipment,both large and small. Available as an in-library reference at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library and online for a small fee for one month of use.
Second year • “What to Expect: The Toddler Years,” by Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway, 2007. • “Toddlers and Parents,” by T. Berry Brazelton, 1989. An accurate discussion of early child development and sensible approach to common problems. • “Touchpoints: Your Child’s Emotional and Behavioral Development,” by T. Berry Brazelton, 2006. More about development by one of the nation’s leading authorities. • “Beyond Discipline,” by Edward R. Christophersen, 1998. A wonderful little book that helps you help your child to become a caring, responsible adult.
Websites Here are some websites recommended by experts at The Corvallis Clinic: • kidshealth.org: One of the most comprehensive resource for all topics related to child health and development. • healthychildren.org: American Academy of Pediatrics Web site with a wealth of information and extensive links to other sources. • familyvoices.org: An extensive resource and heavily linked site for parents of children with special health care needs. • parentsaction.org: Parent’s Action for children is an excellent source of information in DVD and pamphlet format on topics related to child development, nutrition, school readiness, special needs and much more. • pathwaysawareness.org; A resource for parents of children with delays in early motor (movement) development. • mchlibrary.info: The Maternal and Child Health Library at Georgetown University features a comprehensive portal to all information on child health and development. • mayoclinic.com: A reliable and extensive resource for health information.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Oxygen sensor helps check for heart defects By MARIA KIRKPATRICK EARLY YEARS
Heart health is important at Samaritan Health Services and catching heart defects early can make a life-or-death difference. That’s why Samaritan’s Center for Women and Families now checks all newborns for life-threatening congenital heart defects. Using pulse oximetry screening, doctors can read the oxygen level in a baby’s blood to detect congenital heart defects. Dr. Julia Paz, medical director of Samaritan’s pediatric hospital program, began a year ago to encourage staff to look into this heart screening. As of June 1, all ANDY CRIPE | EARLY YEARS babies are screened 24 The heart monitor in action at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. hours after birth or before they go home to rule out the possibility of heart defects. The process is easy, said Debbie Heim, nursing manager for the Center for Women and Families at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. There was no reason not to include the test in standardized testing on newborns. Testing involves a noninvasive probe on a hand and the opposite foot to measure oxygen circulation levels. About 12 out of every 10,000 babies born in the United States are born with critical congenital heart defects, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart defects account for 24 percent of infant deaths. There are seven classified critical congenital heart defects. Visible problems
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Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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ANDY CRIPE | EARLY YEARS
Eric Culver plays with his 26-hour-old daughter Arainna Culver while perinatal nurse Cindy Lefton monitors her blood oxygen saturation at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis.
Oxygen sensor Continued from page 12 may not be present at birth and babies can appear healthy and may be sent home before a defect is detected. There is significant risk for death or disability if the heart defect is not diagnosed and treated soon after birth. Samaritan handles about 1,100 births each year and while the test hasn’t yet caught any defects, Heim said it is important for Samaritan to offer this as part of newborn screening
because it’s a simple test that can make a big difference. Previously, prenatal ultrasounds or physical exams were how doctors looked for heart defects. Adding pulse oximetry increases the chance of finding a defect. “Nothing is 100 percent but between all three checks we can pick up more,” Paz said. “If we detect it earlier, babies have a better outcome.”
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Take steps to raise your child on a budget EARLY YEARS
A baby changes everything, including your bank account balance. While many expenses are unavoidable, new parents can cut significant costs with some planning and creativity. “Take time to evaluate your baby needs versus wants,” said Mike Sullivan, director of education for Take Charge America, a national nonprofit credit counseling agency based in Phoenix. “Many products and services are marketed as essential, but they’re really not. Be cautious of gimmicks and stick to purchases you know are crucial to raising a healthy and happy baby.” Before reaching into your wallet for the latest and greatest baby “essentials,” review Sullivan’s moneysaving tips for new parents, as reported in a news release from Take Charge America: 1. Baby budget: Revise (or create) a new household budget, adding up the costs that will arrive the moment your baby does. Among the categories to consider: health care, child care, daily baby needs, mom gear and transportation. 2. Maternity leave: Many working moms get six weeks or more of maternity leave. Is your leave unpaid? Do you have a savings buffer to cover your family’s living expenses? Can you use accrued sick and vacation days during your leave? If money is a concern, begin setting aside extra cash as early as possible to ease the financial burden of maternity leave. 3. Brands: Be careful
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not to stock up on too many items of the same brand – like bottles, binkies and formula – until you’re sure your baby likes them. And, if an “essential” item is available in a dependable, lower-priced brand, consider trying that one out instead. 4. Luxury baby items: Many parents feel pressured to buy luxury gear, but remember that your baby won’t know the difference between a no-name swing and the top-of-the-line model. 5. Newborn gear: Don’t buy many “newborn” outfits or onesies. Your baby will outgrow them in a few weeks. 6. Choose “convertibles”: Seek out baby furniture and other necessities that have multiple uses. For instance, buy a playpen with an optional bassinet or
a crib that converts to a toddler bed. 7. Buy used: While there are a handful of items you should always buy new, such as car seats and breast pumps, consider browsing
consignment stores and garage sales for toys, swings and strollers. 8. Choose your registry wisely: You will likely receive gifts of clothing and blankets from friends and family. When planning your gift registry, select necessities your loved ones may not think to buy. Sites like babycenter.com can help you choose items. 9. Stock up: Buy the jumbo box of diapers and the largest-available canister of formula. And when it’s on sale, stock up. This applies to clothes, too, but keep in mind your baby’s age and be sure to buy seasonally appropriate clothing. 10. Sign up for samples and coupons: Warehouse stores as well as brands like P&G, Huggies, Pampers, Enfamil and Similac give generous samples and coupons to new parents. Get on their email and mailing lists. Newspapers can be good sources for coupons as well.
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Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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Website a portal for parents By MIKE McINALLY EARLY YEARS
Linn-Benton Community College has been offering education for parents for just about 40 years. Now, working with a long list of collaborators in both Linn and Benton counties, it’s taken a leap into cyberspace with a site that offers a wealth of information and resources for parents. The website Parenting Success Network (online at parentingsuccessnetwork. org) has been up now for about a year, and the word is getting out: Cyrel Gable, an LBCC faculty member who coordinates the site, says traffic is steadily growing. The project has been funded by a grant — $90,000 a year over three years – from the Oregon Parenting Education Collective, a group of foundations with a keen interest in parenting and collaboration between agencies. “A big part of what they wanted to see happen was collaboration,” Gable said. As it happened, Linn and Benton counties were ahead of the curve. “In our case, we actually had a lot going on in Linn and Benton counties,” Gable said. “And we actually were already working together quite a bit.” So the site lists as partners not just Linn-Benton Community College, but Benton and Linn county governments, the Albany and Corvallis school districts, Casa Latinos Unidos, the Corvallis Waldorf School, Family Tree Relief Nursery, the H.A.R.T. Family Resource Center, Kidco
This screenshot shows Toddler Parenting Programs on the Parenting Success Network website.
ON THE WEB Check out the Parenting Success Network at this website: parentingsuccess network.org.
Head Start, the Parent Enhancement Program, Samaritan Health Services and Strengthening Rural Families. The common goal, Gable said: “We want to make it easier for people to access parenting education.” So the website includes lists of area parenting classes and calendars of events. It features blogs from parenting experts with tips for successful child-rearing. It has lists of resources available to help parents cope
with stressful situations. It includes information about child care options and even includes suggestions for places where families can go to have fun together. There’s still some stigma attached to parenting education in some circles, Gable noted, a sense among some people that parents should already know how to raise children. “But you don’t,” Gable said – no parent, no matter how experienced or wise, can possibly have all the answers. So the site, she said, offers parents a stigma-free option to find answers. Gable and her colleagues are working to add new information to the site. Ideally, she said, she’d like to in-
crease the amount of content contributed by the site’s partners. “It would be great to have some different voices to showcase other organizations.”
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Paying attention key for preschoolers EARLY YEARS
Young children who are able to pay attention and persist with a task have a 50 percent greater chance of completing college, according to a new study at Oregon State University. Tracking a group of 430 preschool-age children, the study offers evidence that social and behavioral skills, such as paying attention, following directions and completing a task may be even more crucial than academic abilities. The good news for parents and educators, the researchers said, is that attention and persistence skills are malleable and can be taught. The results were published online in Early Childhood Research Quarterly, according to a press release from OSU. “There is a big push now to teach children early academic skills at the preschool level,” said Megan McClelland, an OSU early child development researcher and lead author of the study. “Our study shows that the biggest predictor of college completion wasn’t math or reading skills, but whether or not they were able to pay attention and finish tasks at age 4.” Parents of preschool children were asked to rate their children on items such as “plays with a single toy for long periods of time” or
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Recent research suggests that being able to pay attention is more important for preschoolers than knowing specific skills. “child gives up easily when difficulties are encountered.” Reading and math skills were assessed at age 7 using standardized assessments. At age 21, the same group was tested again for reading and math skills. Surprisingly, achievement in reading and math did not significantly predict whether or not the students completed college. Instead, researchers found that children who were rated higher by their parents on attention span and persistence at age 4 had nearly 50 percent greater odds of getting a bachelor’s degree by age 25. McClelland, a child-development expert, said college completion has been shown in numerous studies to lead to higher wages and
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better job stability. She said the earlier that educators and parents can intervene, the more likely a child can succeed academically. “We didn’t look at how well they did in college or at grade point average,” McClelland said. “The important factor was being able to focus and persist. Someone can be brilliant, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they can focus when they need to and finish a task or job.” McClelland, who is also a core director in OSU’s Hal-
lie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families, said interventions aimed at increasing young children’s self-control abilities have repeatedly shown to help boost “self-regulation,” or a child’s ability to listen, pay attention, follow through on a task and remember instructions. In a past study, McClelland found that simple, active classroom games such as Simon Says and Red Light/Green Light have been effective tools for increasing both literacy and self-regulation skills. “Academic ability carries you a long way, but these other skills are also important,” McClelland said. “Increasingly, we see that the ability to listen, pay attention, and complete important tasks is crucial for success later in life.” OSU’s Alan Acock, along with Andrea Piccinin of the University of Victoria and Sally Ann Rhea and Michael Stallings of the University of Colorado, contributed to this study, which was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a Colorado Adoption Project grant.
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Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
17
Project aims to help breast-feeding mothers EARLY YEARS
Health officials in Linn and Benton counties, bolstered by federal grant money, have high hopes for their Linn-Benton Breast Feeding Coalition, designed to support the health and well-being of breast-feeding mothers and their children. The counties, responding to a call to action in 2011 from the U.S. surgeon general, applied for and received grant money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through Oregon’s Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program. WIC staff and newly hired project coordinators in each county created a work plan to find ways to support breast-feeding mothers and their children. The funding to get the project going in Linn and Benton counties expires at the end of September, but Cindy Cole, the Linn County WIC coordinator, said in an email that momentum is building to continue the work after after the federal money runs out. In particular, Cole said, organizers are focusing on these four goals this summer: • Strengthening the
F.Y.I. For more information about the Linn-Benton Breast Feeding Coalition, call Cindy Cole at the Linn County Health Department at 541-967-3888, Ext. 2583 or email her at linnbentonbreastfeeding@gmail.com.
Linn-Benton Breast Feeding Coalition. “You will see us at local events such as fairs and community gatherings (we had a ‘family rest area’ tent at da Vinci Days to facilitate a quiet private space for moms to breastfeed),” Cole wrote. “We expect more projects for our coalition in support of breast-feeding families as we grow.” • Offering a training workshop for health care professionals regarding best practice guidelines for managing early breast-feeding challenges. The workshop, Cole said, is scheduled for mid-August, and the hope is that “parents may see their providers become more knowledgeable regarding breast-feeding challenges.” • Creating policy and advocacy recommendations for increasing breast-feeding support in the work place. Cole said that coalition members are meeting with businesses in the two
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counties this summer to gather data on current business practices on breastfeeding and working mothers. A policy training workshop is planned for either this fall or next spring. “Parents may see their employers make it easier for moms to continue breast-feeding when returning from maternity leave,” she said. • Developing con-
sumer-friendly resources and materials for breastfeeding mothers and providers. Cole said work with focus groups is scheduled to begin in September to help pinpoint needs. “We then hope to translate materials and create new learning tools in Spanish, Russian and Farsi that will be useful to parents,” she wrote.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Helping parents in the home BENTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
On a sunny Sunday afternoon this spring at a northwest Corvallis park, local children enjoyed the warmth, chattering and laughing as they frolicked on the playground equipment. Lisa and Dan Leventhal emerged from a nearby cluster of houses pushing a stroller with their 7month-old son, Samuel. The Leventhals, just like any young family, are experiencing the newfound joy of parenthood. In many ways, Samuel is a healthy and active baby but he does face some challenges that not all 7-month-olds face. Samuel was born eight weeks premature at Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend. This presents challenges for his parents and puts him at risk for serious health issues and developmental delays. As with any premature infant, the hospital referred to a specialized home visiting public health nursing program for infants, children and youth who have serious medical issues or are at risk of developing them. This program, Nurse Dan and Lisa Leventhal with their son, Samuel. Care Coordination (CaCoon), is designed to provide high-level nursing and care coordination services to families in the comfort of their own homes. Benton County Public Health Nurse Jan Liebeskind, who works in CaCoon, received the referral and started services with the family in conjunction with the pediatrician. Once the family was
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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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CaCoon Continued from page 18 home from the hospital, Liebeskind, a registered nurse and certified asthma educator, initiated contact and made her first of many home visits. Her visits provided physical assessments, medical guidance and support for the Leventhals. Liebeskind worked to support and empower the family, while being a resource for concerns or medical questions about Samuel. “Families of babies who have spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit often experience anxiety after the initial discharge,” Liebeskind said. “While in the NICU babies are closely monitored and everything is measured, all of which give parents piece of mind. When they transition to the home, they lose that perceived safety net. Having a pediatric nurse making home visits, assessing the baby’s physical status, reviewing the discharge information, ensuring they understand what needs to be done and allowing them time to ask for help give parents the confidence they need to care for their baby at home.” All the while, Liebeskind coordinates with the pediatricians and specialists to ensure all parties are informed of Samuel’s progress and his parents’ concerns. “It is very reassuring to know that Jan and our pediatrician are in frequent communications,” said Dan, who works as a graphic designer. “We know that we are getting correct and accurate information from all of our providers.”
Coordinating care One important aspect of the nurse home visiting program is care coordination which facilitates communication, when needed, between various health care partners. Liebeskind plays a key role in this effort. “Children with special health care needs typically have complicated medical needs,” she said. “Often families are seeing multiple specialists and are given instructions and suggestions from each of those specialists, which can make coming home quite confusing. As a CaCoon nurse, I have the opportunity to explain the information in a more relaxed setting and parents have the opportunity to ask questions or clarify information. Many of our specialty clinics are in Portland or Eugene, thus families often need assistance getting connected to appropriate local support systems such as mental health providers, occupational therapists and other local services.” Dr. Shawn Hathaway, Samuel’s pediatrician at Samaritan Pediatrics, knows firsthand the value of the CaCoon nurse in the home. He said the program is essential to the most atrisk families in the community, and he is an active participant in helping to connect those families with the service. “If I have a family that I feel is at risk for any reason I quickly contact the people at the CaCoon program to assist the family,” Hathaway said. “The children with multiple medical problems
are at the highest risk for serious medical issues. I have had several children with genetic disorders, physical disabilities and severe prematurity at birth go through the program.” Liebeskind currently serves 35 families — each with varying degrees of health care needs — during her allotted time of 32 hours weekly in the program. CaCoon is designed to serve all children and families, regardless of income level, from birth to 21 years of age with special health care needs or those at risk of developing special health care needs. The program allows Liebeskind to see patients with a wide variety of diagnoses, including cerebral palsy, cardiac issues, respiratory issues, prematurity related concerns and seizure disorders, to name only a few. “The beauty of the program is that we span from birth to 21 years of age and any medical diagnoses ensure eligibility,” Liebeskind said. “The home visiting approach is especially successful for those with chronic illnesses such as asthma. More recently, I
have seen a large increase in the number of children with newly diagnosed asthma or a history of poorly controlled asthma. Seeing patients in their home environment helps give me an opportunity to work with kids and parents in understanding how to control their environment, how to manage varying symptoms and generally provide comprehensive information to ensure best outcomes. It is quite common to discover problems with self-management that may not be apparent just by virtue of being in the home.” The Leventhals can tell you how important it is to have the CaCoon nurse coming into the home. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that families of babies and children with involved medical issues are well prepared to manage their conditions in the home setting armed with the knowledge of how to appropriately use their medical resources. “It cuts down on the stress that parents experience,” Lisa said. “You can be a better parent when you’re not stressed out.”
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
SAMARITAN CLASSES Here is a partial list of childbirth and new parents classes offered by Samaritan Health Services. The Corvallis Clinic also offers classes; for a partial listing of the clinic’s classes, see the listing on page 21. Call the phone number listed with each class for dates, times and other information.
All about breastfeeding Learn how to optimize successful breast-feeding. Husbands and partners welcome. Free. Offered at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, 525 N. Santiam Highway in Lebanon. Call 541-451-7872 for details. Offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive. Call 541-768-5244. Also offered at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, 1046 Sixth Ave. S.W., Albany; Call for information: 541-812-4301
Anesthesia and pain relief options An anesthesiologist will explain pain control options during labor and delivery, and discuss the benefits and risks of each. Offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis. Free. Call 541-768-4752.
Babysitting training Learn how to supervise children, handle emergencies, prevent accidents, how to diaper, dress and feed babies and children. An American Red Cross certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the course. Participants must be at least 11 years old. Prerequisites: advance registration and payment. Call for information: 541-9261543
Becoming a new sister or brother Children will learn about baby care and see a film on pregnancy, delivery and adjusting to the new baby. Recommended for children 30 months or older, this class helps begin the process of sibling preparation and familiarizes chil-
dren with the hospital. Offered at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, 1046 Sixth Ave. S.W., Albany; call 541-812-4301. Also offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis; call 541-768-4752. Also offered at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, 525 N. Santiam Highway, Lebanon; call 541-451-7872.
Offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis. Cost: $65 a couple. Call 541-768-4752. Also offered at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, 525 N. Santiam Highway, Lebanon. Cost: $50, scholarships available. Call 541-451-7872.
Boot camp for new dads
Learn about labor and birth, possible complications, breathing and relaxation. Offered at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, 1046 Sixth Ave. S.W. Albany. Cost: $70. Call 541812-4301. Also offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis. Cost: $75. Call 541-768-4752.
Expectant “rookie” fathers learn from “veterans” who bring their young babies to class. Cost: $20, includes book. Offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis. Call 541-768-4752.
Breast pump rental Breast pump rental and other breastfeeding supplies are available from Samaritan Medical Equipment Albany, 541-812-5460 Corvallis, 541-768-7500 Lebanon, 541-451-6364
Breastfeeding lifestyle Learn how to provide optimum nutrition for your baby, even after returning to work. Offered at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, 1046 Sixth Ave. S.W., Albany. Call 541-812-4301. Also offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis. Call 541-768-4752.
Caring for your new baby Learn about newborn care, including how to hold, burp and diaper your baby. Free. Offered at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, 1046 Sixth Ave. S.W., Albany. Call 541-812-4301.
Childbirth preparation/Lamaze Lamaze is a series of sessions preparing the expectant mother and her support person for labor and delivery. Offered at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, 1046 Sixth Ave. S.W., Albany. Cost: $60. Call 541812-4301.
Childbirth preparation/ Lamaze in a weekend
Childbirth preparation/ Lamaze refresher This class is open to couples who have attended a Lamaze class within the last four years. Offered at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, 1046 Sixth Ave. S.W., Albany. Cost: $30. Call 541812-4301.
Child safety seat inspection Make sure that your baby’s first ride home is a safe one. Learn about the proper use and installation of child/infant safety seats. Safety recall information will also be available. Available in Albany. Call for information: 541-917-7727. Available in Corvallis. Call for informa-
tion: 541-766-6961
CPR for family and friends: Infant only Covers infant CPR and choking. Cost: $10, Advance registration required. Call: 541-7686629. Offered at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, 1046 Sixth Ave. S.W. Albany Offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis Offered at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, 525 N. Santiam Highway, Lebanon.
Expectant parent class Learn about newborn care and talk with a pediatrician. Offered at Samaritan Pediatrics, 3517 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis. Free. Call 541-7684900.
‘Hey! Look Us Over’ maternity program Expectant parents will tour the birthing wing and meet the delivery staff. Offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis. Call for information: (541) 768-4752. Offered at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, 525 N. Santiam Highway, Lebanon. Call for appointment: 541- 258-2101, ask for the Girod Birth Center
Infant massage Learn how you can use touch to SEE SAMARITAN CLASSES | 21
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Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
SAMARITAN CLASSES Continued from 20 help your baby release accumulated tension and relax her or his body. Offered at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 3600 N.W. Samaritan Drive, Corvallis. Cost: $20. Call 541-768-4752.
Lactation clinic Nursing moms have the opportunity to consult with a lactation nurse during a breastfeeding clinic. You’ll get answers to any breastfeeding questions, discuss different techniques and positioning, and help with problem solving. Call for an appointment. Albany, 541-812-5116 Corvallis, 541-768-4900 Lebanon, 541-451-7177
Lactation line Call for breastfeeding support over the phone. Albany, 541-812-5116 Corvallis, 541-768-5244 Lebanon, 541-451-7588 Lincoln City, 541-996-7179
women face during the days, weeks and months after delivery of a new baby. We will discuss healing after birth, activity and exercise, emotional changes, sexuality, sleeping issues, baby blues and postpartum depression. Available in Albany. Call for information and to register: 541812-4301
Preparing for twins This session will educate and prepare parents expecting a multiple delivery. A nurse will answer questions and discuss delivering twins or triplets. Available in Corvallis. Prerequisite: attend when you are between 20 and 26 weeks along. Call to register: 541-768-6908
Safe sitter
Learn all you need to know to babysit in this one-day course. Each participant who completes the course will receive a “Safe Sitter” completion card. Cost: Mommy connections $45 Participants must be at least Explore the unique challenges 11 to 13 years old and registration women face during the days, weeks and months after delivery is required. Offered at Samaritan Lebanon of a new baby. We will discuss Community Hospital, 525 N. Sanhealing after birth, activity and exercise, emotional changes, sex- tiam Highway, Lebanon. Call 541451-7047. uality, sleeping issues, returning to work, feeding issues, adjusting Your incredible newborn to life as a mother, baby blues and postpartum depression. Join a pediatrician or nurse Available in Albany. Call for inpractitioner to learn about your formation and to register: 541baby´s characteristics and be812-4301 haviors. Free. Offered at Samaritan Albany Postpartum class General Hospital, 1046 Sixth Ave. S.W., Albany. Call 541-812-4301. Explore the unique challenges
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RESOURCE GUIDE Hospitals If your baby is born at the hospital, begin there. Check into the many support services and continuing education classes offered by Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Samaritan Albany General Hospital and Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. All provide early pregnancy and childbirth preparation classes for parents-to-be and parental classes for after baby’s arrival. (A partial list of classes begins on page 20.) • Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, 541-768-4752 • Samaritan Albany General Hospital, 541-812-4301 • Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, 541-451-7872 The hospitals also offer a wide range of support groups, covering topics such as child-bearing loss, grief and sudden infant death syndrome. For a brochure or more information, call one of the numbers listed above or visit www.samhealth.org.
Make your Maternity Connection You just found out you are pregnant. Congratulations! It is very exciting, but what do you do now? Samaritan Health Services developed Maternity Connections to help you organize these decisions, prepare early for your pregnancy, and help to create a pleasant and satisfying hospital stay. Your maternity care coordinator will help you design a plan for the best care possible before,
during and after the birthing experience. All services are free. For more information, call the maternity care coordinator in your area: • Albany: 541-812-4301 • Corvallis: 541-768-6908 • Lebanon: 541-451-7872 Información en español: • Albany: 541-812-4303 • Corvallis: 541-768-5772 • Lebanon: 541-451-7872
The Corvallis Clinic The Corvallis Clinic offers many resources for new parents, including medical experts on newborns, child development, lactation, immunizations, pregnancy, childbirth, child behavior and women’s health. To learn more about pediatric, family medicine and women’s health physicians accepting new patients, call the Clinic’s Find-a-Physician specialist at 541-757-3757.You can also browse the clinic’s provider and service directories online at www.corvallisclinic.com. Here are some of the classes offered by The Corvallis Clinic for expecting parents: • “Baby Bundle” prenatal talk Obstetricians present a 90minute talk covering the most important topics for moms and dadsto-be.Call 541-738-2075 or go to www.corvallisclinic.com/classes for details. • “Healthy Baby”prenatal talk Learn the essentials of caring for your new baby. Call 541-738-2075 or go to www.corvallisclinic.com/ classes for details. SEE RESOURCE GUIDE | 22
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
RESOURCE GUIDE • WIC: Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Family Connections Program (WIC) is a health and Another source of information nutrition program for pregnant for new parents is the Family women, women up to six months Connections program at Linnafter delivery, nursing mothers Benton Community College. up to 12 months after delivery, By calling 541-917-4899 or and children from birth to age 5. 800-845-1363, you can access WIC also provides checks for information about child care, par- fresh fruits and vegetables at ent education, a parent advice summer farmers markets and line and children’s activities. Or farm stands, breast-feeding edusend an e-mail to cation and consultations and has connect@linnbenton.edu or some breast pumps for those check out the website who qualify. For WIC appointwww.linnbenton.edu/family ments or information, call 541resources/familyconnections. 766-6835. • Maternal and child health: Benton County Maternal Child Health Program Health Department provides services to pregnant women, young children and their Locations: families through three home visit • Benton Health Center, 530 programs: Maternity Case ManN.W. 27th St., Corvallis, 97330. agement, Babies First!, and CaPhone: 541-766-6835. Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m.-5 Coon. All families enrolled in p.m.; Wednesday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; home-visit programs receive Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. home visits from a public health • Lincoln Health Center,121 S.E. nurse, culturally sensitive care Viewmont Ave.,Corvallis,97333. and help in accessing other comPhone: 541-766-3546.Hours: Mon- munity resources. For more inforday through Friday,8 a.m.-5 p.m.; mation about maternal and child Wednesday,noon-7 p.m. health programs, call 541-766• East Linn Health Center, 100 6835. Mullins Drive, Suite A-1, Lebanon, 97355. Phone: 541-451-6920. Linn County Department Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursof Health Services day and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed from noon to 1 p.m.); SERVICES FOR CHILDREN Wednesday, 1-5 p.m. 0-18 YEARS OF AGE Services include: Office sites: • Medical care: The Health • Albany: 315 Fourth Ave. S.W., Centers provide affordable, high Albany, 97321. Phone: 541-967quality medical care for people of 3888 or 1-800-304-7468. Hours all ages. Staff includes family are Monday through Friday, 8:30 practitioners and pediatricians. Mental health and addiction serv- a.m. to 5 p.m., closed from noon to 1 p.m. ices plus pharmacy services are • Lebanon: 1600 S. Main, available. Services are culturally Lebanon, 97355. Phone: 541-451and linguistically appropriate. 5932 or 1-888-451-2631. Hours: While services are not free, they are offered on a sliding fee scale. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed from noon Private insurance, Medicaid, to 1 p.m. Medicare and self-pay are ac• Sweet Home: 799 Long St., cepted. For appointments or inSweet Home. 97386. Phone: 541formation, call 541-766-6835. 367-3888 or 1-800-920-7571. • Immunizations: All infant Hours typically are 8:30 a.m. to 5 and childhood vaccines. Adult p.m., but call for times and days. vaccines such as tetanus-diphClosed from noon to 1 p.m. theria, influenza, and pneumoServices include: coccal pneumonia. Travel vac• Immunizations: Immunizacines. All immunization services tions are available for children 0are by appointment. Call 54118 years. Payment is based on a 766-6835. Continued from 21
sliding scale from $7.50-$15 per shot. Various grants are occasionally available to provide free immunizations at special clinics or under special qualifying conditions. Shots are given at office sites listed above. • WIC: Nutrition program for low-income pregnant and breastfeeding or postpartum women, infants, and children to age 5. Supplemental food vouchers plus nutrition information and education, diet screening, and monitoring of child growth and development plus referrals to health care and social services provided. Offered at the office sites listed above. Maternal-child health programs include: • Healthy Start: Healthy Start home visitors work with Linn County families having their first baby to provide information, parenting tips and referral services for families prenatally or shortly after the baby is born. New parents receive a call from a Healthy Start home visitor offering assistance and a “Welcome Baby” gift from the community. Eligible families may receive home visits with parenting information and support to help their new baby and family get off to a healthy start. Healthy Start serves all of Linn County. Call to sign up for Healthy Start, 541-924-6910. • Babies First Program: Public health nurses provide home visits to Linn County parents with infants and young children up to 5 years of age who are at risk for health and developmental delays. The nurse provides specialized developmental screens, case management, and referral to local community and regional services. Health information is provided on the child’s development, feeding and child safety. Babies First serves all of Linn County. Call 541-967-3888, Ext. 2676 • CaCoon Care Coordination Program: Public health nurses provide home visits to Linn County parents with infants and children birth to 21 years with special health care needs. The goal of this program is to work with the parent to provide care coordination for their children with special
health care needs. Case management and advocacy are provided as well as referrals to early intervention and other needed special health care services. CaCoon serves all of Linn County. Call 541-967-3888, Ext. 2676 Other services include: • Vital statistics: Birth certificates for 0-6 months of age. • Reproductive health services: Family planning,birth control,low or no-cost vasectomy program.
Parent Enhancement Program Parent Enhancement Program is a nonprofit agency offering outreach services free of charge to parents, pregnant and/or parenting, male or female, living in Benton County, age 13 through 25, and their children. Current services, offered by staff and volunteers to participating families, include BUDDYs (mentors), parent and adult life skills classes, social activities, in-home visits, transportation, child safety equipment, educational assistance, supervised playroom, opportunities for parent volunteerism, clothing and food closet, parent newsletters, Latino family outreach, fathers outreach and referrals to other agencies. For more information, visit the website www.pep.peak.org or call 541-7588292.
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Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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LBCC PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAMS Parenting is a learned skill for everyone, so Linn-Benton Community College’s Parenting Education Program offers programs to fit every family at every stage. For these classes,“parent” means anyone who fills the role of parent in a child’s life. Classes are available throughout the year in many locations in Linn and Benton counties. Trained parenting educators teach all programs. Many classes are free; some have a fee, but most of those have scholarships available. Class offerings change each quarter and are posted a couple of months in advance at both www.linnbenton.edu/go/ parenting-education and www.parentingsuccessnetwork.
org . Information also is available by calling Family Connections at 541-917-4899. Here’s a guide to some of the classes offered:
Live and Learn Programs Enjoy new songs, games and activities with your child. Meet other parents and children in your community and learn how to support your child’s amazing development. In Live and Learn classes, parents and their young children (birth-5) learn and grow together. Classes include Live and Learn with your Baby, Live and Learn with your Wobbler, Live and Learn with your Toddler, Live and Learn with your Two-Year-Old and Creative Development.
Parent Cooperative Preschools In a co-op preschool, parents join the teacher in providing a positive learning environment for children 3-5. Children attend preschool for 2½ hours a session, 2-3 days a week. Parents take turns assisting the teacher in the classroom.At parent meetings, class activities are planned and
parenting topics are discussed. Offered in Albany, Corvallis, Halsey, Lebanon, Philomath and Scio.
The Incredible Years Build a more cooperative relationship with your child and learn how to make clear family rules. Prevent behavior problems and help your child get along with friends and do better in school. For parents of children ages 2 through 10. Offered as 10 sessions over 10 weeks.
Make Parenting a Pleasure Identify your strengths as a parent, take better care of yourself and discover new ways to make parenting easier. Develop a better understanding of your child’s development and ways to make discipline fit your child’s age. For parents of children ages 2 through 8. Offered as 10 sessions over 10 weeks.Available in Spanish as: Haga de la Paternidad un Placer.
Nurturing Parenting Build skills to nurture your child better through empathy and positive communication. Know why your child behaves the way she does and explore what discipline works best at different ages, including alternatives to spanking. Ten sessions can be delivered as a series or as individual workshops. Available in Spanish as Crianza con Cariño.
Nurturing Skills for Families The class starts with a questionnaire to assess your parent-
ing beliefs and strengths. The instructor chooses lessons to fit the group’s needs. Topics include developing expectations based on your child’s age, building empathy and positive communication, understanding discipline, rewards and punishments, alternatives to spanking, deciding when parents should be in charge and when to support your child’s growing independence, and more. Classes are usually 10 sessions. Classes sometimes are offered just for parents, but other times can include a group in which children learn the same ideas through guided activities. Available in Spanish as El Programa de Crianza con Cariño para Padres y Sus Niños.
Living With Your Middle Schooler What makes middle schoolers tick? Learn how you can help your child develop responsibility, stay engaged in school and weather the social turmoil of these years. For parents of children ages 11 through 15. Usually offered as six sessions over six weeks. A number of parenting programs are available by request. These programs include: • Make Parenting a Pleasure with Your Special Needs Child • Parenting Your Autism Spectrum Disorder Child • Talking to Your Kids About Sexuality • Strengthening Families — for parents and youth ages 10 — 14 • Stepparenting • Talking to Your Teen
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Ore., Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Ore.