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Pay Attention: Family Disability Services Set to Expire

Families like Calli Ross’ are dreading July 15. That’s when Oregon’s Office of Developmental Disability Services (ODDS) temporary waiver to allow parents to be paid caregivers expires. This temporary policy set in response to COVID, greatly helped many families like Calli Ross’. She’s the mother to 11-yearold Brecken, and 7-year-old Tens (pictured right). Tens was born with 1 p36 deletion syndrome and a form of primordial dwarfism. He also has epilepsy and developed chronic lung disease; his lung disease progressed and he coded for 33 minutes and was placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for three weeks. He now has an anoxic brain injury, so he is nonmobile, nonverbal, on a vent and oxygen, and feeding-tube dependent. He requires around-the-clock care.

“Prior to becoming a paid parent caregiver my husband worked two jobs and spent 90 hours outside our home every week,” she says. “We have never, not even before COVID, had our monthly allotted (caregiver) hours fully or even near fully staffed. I stayed with our son, often running on three or four days in a row without sleep. We incurred thousands in debt paying bills on credit cards and often chose between groceries and medications. With the paid parent caregiver policy we are now able to pay down debt, afford our home and basic amenities, and provide a few extras that insurance won’t cover.”

Ross has been working with other parents to advocate for the paid caregiver policy to be extended and made permanent — and to cover more families. They’ve met with lawmakers, but keep hitting roadblocks with the ODDS. If the policy is not at least temporarily extended, many families will be making decisions no families should ever have to face. “At this point, myself and 340 other families are facing two choices,” says Ross. “Leave our children in the ERs when we no longer have the resources to take care of them … or tax an already overtaxed medical foster system. This policy … is the vehicle to allow our children to live at home.”

If you’d like to help support Ross and other families like hers, you can send emails to your state reps and senators, call Governor Kate Brown’s office, sign the petition at change.org/p/kate-brown-choice-in-care-providers-for-children-with-disabilities, and join their Facebook group: Allow Oregon’s Disabled Kids to Keep Parent-Caregivers. — Denise Castañon

Ask Dr. Baynham

Q: My son plays flag football and loves it. He’s now eligible to play tackle football, but I’m nervous about his risk of concussion. Should I let him play? What can I do to keep him safe?

A: Not surprisingly, football has the highest rate of concussions in youth sports. More surprising is the difference in the number of head impacts between tackle and flag football athletes. In one study, tackle football players sustained an average of 378 head impacts per player, per season, compared to only eight impacts for a flag player. Tackle athletes were 15 times more likely to sustain a head impact in a practice or game than in flag, and 23 times more likely to sustain a high magnitude or “hard head” impact. Tackle players are also twice as likely to sustain an impact during a game versus a practice. Not all head impacts result in a concussion, but the more impacts you sustain, the greater the risk.

The data is sobering and should seriously factor into your decision. Tackle football should be avoided in kids younger than 14. Once eligible, it’s still recommended to choose a nontackle sport. But, if your child is going to play, follow GAIL PARK these top safety strategies: 1. Teach your child to never ignore a head injury, even if the coach or trainer didn’t see it. Kids and teens are great at ignoring injuries because they want to keep playing, but this puts them at risk for repetitive head impacts, prolonged post-concussion syndromes, and second-hit syndrome (rare but fatal). 2. Make sure your child wears a well-fitting helmet. 3. Don’t be afraid to ask the coach questions. Ask if trainers are present at practices and games; what their protocol is for a witnessed collision; how do they teach and enforce fair play, safety and sportsmanship; and how much time is spent doing tackle and full-speed drills versus safe practice. Still not sure? Your pediatrician is a great resource to discuss the data and help you decide what is right for your family. Pediatrician, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and mom of two, Allison Baynham, M.D., knows what it takes to raise healthy, resilient children. Come bond, share your struggles and team with her for great care at Metropolitan Pediatrics in Tigard.

Send your kids off to summer camp with a new water bottle! Here are three great choices to help keep kids hydrated.

Camelbak eddy+ Kids, 14-ounce

This water bottle is fun, practical and durable — all at a great price point! The recycled plastic bottle comes in numerous vibrant colors and designs and will stand up to rough treatment. And the soft bite valve is easy for kids to use. Pro tip: It’s easy to buy replacement bite valves and straws! $15. At Sportsman’s Warehouse, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Fred Meyer.

Hydro Flask Kids Wide Mouth, 20-ounce

If your kid won’t drink roomtemperature water, this is the perfect solution. Add a few ice cubes and the doublewalled vacuum insulation will keep the drink icecold for up to 24 hours! Plus the larger size of this bottle helps keep bigger kids hydrated. Bonus: Hydro Flask is an Oregon company based in Bend! Comes in four colors. $37.95; 12-ounce size: $29.95. At REI and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Thermos Funtainer, 12-ounce

This 12-ounce insulated, stainlesssteel water bottle keeps drinks cold for up to 12 hours and features a covered soft, silicone straw. We like the softtouch handle that makes it easy for kids to carry (and hopefully not lose). Comes in nine colors. $16.99. At Target and Fred Meyer. — D.C.

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