Tdap Vacine Recommended for Many Adults

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a serious infection that spreads easily from person to person. It is most contagious before the coughing starts, so the most effective way to prevent it is through immunization.

The Center for Disease Control recommends that adults 19 - 64 years receive a single dose of Tdap in place of the Td booster previously recommended for adults.

The CDC also recommends that all adults in close contact with infants younger then 12 months of age receive a single dose of Tdap.

Adults can spread pertussis to infants who have not yet had all their vaccines, even before a cough develops. Infants have the highest rates of pertussis complications and death.

Facts about Pertussis for Adults:

• Pertussis, is a serious infectious disease that has been on the rise in the United States over the last decade.
• Protection against pertussis from early childhood vaccines wears off, leaving adults and adolescents at risk for infection.
• Early symptoms of pertussis are similar to the common cold or bronchitis and may include runny nose, sneezing and low-grade fever. Spasms of coughing then become progressively worse.

Indy Chapter of IAEYC hosts trainings on the Foundations

Come and join in this fun, hands on learning opportunity with the Foundations to the Indiana Academic Standards from birth to age 5.

· Participants will observe and participate in activities that support the Foundations.
· Participants will take home new ideas while earning .25 CEU’s per session.
· There will be 5 sessions held at Ivy Tech Community College ~ Fourth Floor Auditorium, 50 W. Fall Creek Pkwy. N. Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46208.
· Admission Fee: $10 per session, or $40.00 if paying for all 5 sessions in advance.
· Copies of the Foundations will be given out at the Orientation on January 31st.
· Each session will run from 10:00 am to 12:30.


Brown Bag Series Schedule

Orientation ~ January 31, 2009
Math and Science ~ February 28, 2009
Social Studies and Physical Education ~ March 21, 2009
English and Language Arts ~ April 18 or 25, 2009
Visual Arts and Music ~ May 16, 2009

If interested contact Diane Smith at dlsmith@ivytech.edu or 917-5986

Peanut Allergies; Information Needed

At Child Care Answers, many families have concerns and issues that cannot be addressed through our traditional child care referral process. Families of children with special needs are offered the opportunity for what we call an ENHANCED REFERRAL. These families are searching for care, where the traditional questions we promote as indicators of quality early childhood education and care are not enough to address their concerns. As Inclusion Specialist, I am available to assist families of children with special needs and providers who are caring for children with special needs answer those more indepth questions and concerns.

Recently a family called Child Care Answers looking for child care for a youngster with a severe peanut allergy. The child’s doctor had recommended a completely peanut free facility; as this child has complete anaphylactic (ceases breathing due to constriction of airway, often very fast… and very serious) reactions to peanut exposure. Currently our database does not give us the ability to record this data or search by this criteria. SO, I am starting a new “speciality” list that will be available to parents who have this specific need. Child Care Answers will continue to leave the final selection of child care to the family, and will continue to assist parents to decide what quality indicators are important to them, and we will never endorse or recommend any particular type of care or specific care provider. However, just as we maintain lists of coop preschools and Title XX locations separate from our main database for families who specifically request that information, I think given the increase in peanut and tree nut allergies it is to everyone’s benefit to keep a specialist listing for this as well.

Do you maintain peanut free classrooms? Is your facility completely peanut free? Please let me know. Email or call with your site information and I will add you to the specialist list.

Peanut Allergies DID YOU KNOW? (From The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network)
Some Hidden Sources of Peanuts
Artificial nuts can be peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut, such as pecan or walnut. Mandelonas are peanuts soaked in almond flavoring.
Arachis oil is peanut oil.
African, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes often contain peanuts or are contaminated with peanuts during the preparation process. Additionally, foods sold in bakeries and ice cream shops are often in contact with peanuts.
Many brands of sunflower seeds are produced on equipment shared with peanuts.

For more information on peanut and other food allergies please visit www.foodallergy.org


If you have questions about caring for a child with a severe food allergy or are a parent of a child with a sever food allergy and have questions about location care, please do not hesitate to contact me at Child Care Answers.

Help Families Get the Credit They Deserve This Tax Filing Season

No matter where you live, you can make a difference by educating low- and moderate-income families about federal, and in some cases state, tax credits that can help put thousands of dollars in their pockets!
Families with children or other dependents may be eligible for one or more of the following federal tax credits when they file their taxes for 2008 in early 2009:
Earned Income Tax Credit, which helps provide a wage supplement for low-income families (those earning less than $41,646 annually). This credit is worth up to $4,824, and is refundable.
Child Tax Credit, designed to help families offset some of the costs of raising children. This credit is worth up to $1,000 per child. Families who owe little or no income tax can receive some or all of this credit as a refund if they earned at least $8,500 in 2008.
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, designed to offset some of the child or dependent care costs that families incur in order to work. This credit is worth up to $2,100, though the amount that can be claimed is limited by a family’s actual federal income tax liability.

To access helpful outreach materials that you can use with the families you serve, visit the NWLC Tax Credits Outreach Campaign webpage at www.nwlc.org/LowerYourTaxes. These materials, many of which are available in Spanish and other languages, include state-specific fliers, envelope inserts, sample Public Service Announcement scripts, and Q&A’s about the federal credits.