More WA Kids Will Soon Qualify for Health Care Coverage
Many more children will soon qualify for the state’s health care coverage for low- and middle-income kids. The program – which has a new name, Washington Apple Health for Kids – is currently available to children in families making less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level. In January, that income threshold will increase to 300 percent, or about $5,300 per month for a family of four.
“We won’t rest until every parent and caregiver has the information and access to get their kids covered,” says Jon Gould, executive director of the Children’s Alliance, an advocacy group that fought hard to get the Legislature to pass the Cover All Kids law in 2007.
Seattle is the first stop on a 15-city spread-the-word tour. The Children’s Alliance is hosting a kick-off event at 1 p.m. on July 31 at Rainier Playfield (3700 S. Alaska St.). Gov. Chris Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims will speak, and there will be fun and prizes for kids.
Is This a Phase? Author to Speak in Woodinville
Helen F. Neville, author of the recently published Is This a Phase? Child Development & Parent Strategies, Birth to 6 Years, will speak at Woodinville’s Tot Spot Café on Tuesday at 11 a.m. July 29. Neville, a Bay Area pediatric advice nurse and parent educator, will discuss some of the most common concerns of new parents. Copies of her book will be available at the event. For more information, visit http://www.parentingpress.com/media/phase.html" target="_blank">www.parentingpress.com or http://www.totspotcafe.com" target="_blank">www.totspotcafe.com.
Summer Safety Tips for Parents and Kids
Childhelp, a national nonprofit that works to help at-risk children and victims of child abuse and neglect, offers six summer safety tips:
• Never leave a small child alone in a vehicle, even for just a few minutes. On hot days, temperatures inside vehicles can soar 20 to 40 degrees higher than outside. • Know your children's friends and get their parents' contact information in case you need to track them down. • Buckle up your kids and yourself, too. Nearly 1,500 children ages 14 and younger died in motor vehicle crashes in 2005; almost half of them were not restrained. • Monitor your children's Internet and computer usage. Internet predators are skilled at applying social and peer pressure to appeal to kids. • Always designate a supervisor to watch your kids when they're swimming. Accidental drowning is the second-leading cause of death among children. • Make sure your kids drink plenty of water and wear sun block to avoid heat exhaustion and dangerous sun burns.
Hopelink, a Redmond-based social service agency, is collecting backpacks, notebooks and other school supplies during July and August that will go to an estimated 1,700 low-income school children in north and east King County. The items needed most: pencil pouches or boxes, rulers, markers, backpacks for older children, tab dividers for three-ring binders, and lined binder paper, both wide- and college-ruled. To make a donation of school supplies or cash, call 425-869-6000 or go to www.hope-link.org. Or you can drop off your donation at any of Hopelink’s centers in Shoreline, Northshore, Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond or Carnation. For more information, call Teresa Andrade at 425-485-6521 or teresawa@hope-link.org.
Sleep Country USA also is also collecting donations of school supplies, which it's donating to foster kids in Washington and Oregon. Drop off new pencils, pens, notebooks, calculators, paper, backpacks, binders and pocket dictionaries at any Sleep Country USA store in Washington and Oregon from July 21 to Sept. 14. To find the store closest to you, go to www.sleepcountry.com or call 1-888-88-SLEEP (888-887-5337).
Free Parenting Tool Kits
Parent Trust for Washington Children, an agency that provides support services for families statewide, is offering free parenting tool kits with practical tips on everything from soothing a fussy baby and watching for signs of post-partum depression to teaching responsibility to school-age children. Kits are available for four age groups: infant/toddler, preschool/kindergarten, school-age, and pre-teen/teen. To get a kit, call the Parent Trust’s Family Help Line at 1-800-932-HOPE (4673). Parenting coaches are available to callers from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. More information, including tip sheets and a database of resources, classes and support groups is available at www.parenttrust.org.
‘A Library Champion Lives Here’
Children who read 20 books as part of the Everett Public Library’s annual summer reading program are getting bright green yard signs that say: “A Library Champion Lives Here.” It’s a fun way for kids to let their neighbors know about their enthusiasm for reading. “Research has proven that library summer reading programs help children maintain, and even improve, their reading skills during vacation,” says Emily Dagg, the library’s head of youth and outreach services. Kids from birth up to high school can sign up for the summer reading program by stopping at one of the city’s libraries. For more details, go to www.epls.org/summer.
Southcenter Mall Expands with Some Family-Friendly Extras
Tukwila’s Westfield Southcenter mall will show off its $240 million expansion on July 25. In addition to 75 new shops and a 16-screen movie theater with stadium seating, it includes parking spaces for expectant moms and family lounges that have nursing areas with privacy curtains, diaper-changing stations with bottle warmers and baby wipes, plus a rest area with sofas, children’s books and a flat-screen TV with kid-friendly programming.
‘Fly Day’ at Paine Field
Challenge Air for Kids & Friends, a national group that offers motivational experiences to physically challenged children, is recruiting kids with special needs, volunteers, pilots and sponsors for its second annual “Fly Day,” happening at Paine Field in Everett on July 19. The day will include a 30-minute flight over Seattle, lunch, face painting, clowns and more. The event is free for all children with disabilities and serious illnesses. To register as a volunteer or participant, go to www.challengeair.org.
