The complexity and constantly changing dimensions of national discussions about health care reform hold the risk that special problems of children and pregnant women will be overlooked. This monograph summarizes two workshops which discussed the important health policy issues presented by children and pregnant women that should be addressed by any…

Noting that obesity among children is a major public health concern, this study sought to determine the relationship between the weight of mothers and weight of their offspring. Based on the literature review, the correlation between weight of mother and weight of offspring appears to be inconclusive. The subjects studied were 62 mothers and one…

The result of a collaboration of psychoanalysts and others who met over several years to study the many meanings of play, this book is designed to contribute to the broader field of knowledge about the emotional development and inner resources of children. Written primarily for therapists, educators, and clinicians, it is divided into three major…

This paper discusses the threat to children's health posed by environmental exposure to lead, focusing on public policy issues surrounding lead exposure in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. In Australia, the current blood lead level at which there is a health concern is at or above 25 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dl) of blood for infants and…

This book on the choices faced by adolescents regarding health behavior draws from recent publications of the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development as well as from other recent reports. The book contains eight chapters. Chapter One discusses the risks that adolescents face today, including lack of attention from adults, poverty, suicide, drug…

This issue of the "MCH Program Interchange" provides information about approximately 55 selected materials and publications related to school health, which have been developed by or are available from Federal agencies, state and local public health agencies, and voluntary and professional organizations. The interchange of this information is meant…

This paper discusses the importance of an effective partnership between health services and early childhood programs, and examines ways that leaders in both service systems can cooperate to help caregivers, teachers, and parents raise healthy children. After examining the need for an improved partnership, the historic and contemporary role of a…

This report summarizes the evidence that family planning can reduce deaths of children under 5 years of age at a reasonable cost. The report also: (1) identifies the major reproductive factors associated with child mortality; (2) estimates the approximate reduction in child mortality that could be achieved through improved childbearing patterns;…

Developed for use by staff participating in the Child Care Food Program (CCFP), this guide presents information on infant development, infant nutrition, safe food handling, and infant meal pattern requirements. The guide has an easy-to-read reference, covering general feeding issues as well as specifics of the CCFP infant meal pattern. All foods…

This amply illustrated booklet for parents presents activities that help children understand their emotions and build self-esteem, eat the right foods, prevent disease, and build strong bodies. Each of the 18 activities presented includes a list of what supplies are needed, a description of the activity, and the goals of the specific activity. The…

This handbook from the Division of Family and Youth Services in Alaska outlines the policies and guidelines of the division regarding foster care and offers support to foster parents in their journey as a foster family. The handbook's chapters are: (1) "Introduction to Foster Parenting"; (2) "When a Child Arrives, When a Child…

This Spanish-language report (with an English summary) describes a course on interagency cooperation held at the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center in Haifa, Israel. The course, with 30 Central and South American participants, discusses the necessity of pooling resources and sharing responsibility among institutions in various…

There is a high rate of children's injuries on America's playgrounds. This report examines this issue and provides guidance on how to make playgrounds safer and more fun for children, and procedures for performing an initial analysis of the safety of a local playground using a playground safety checklist. Additionally, it provides a step-by-step…

This study, which was conducted by a national consumer advocacy organization, examined the nutritional adequacy of the diets of elementary school children. The study also examined the nutritional adequacy of meals served in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The study determined that: (1) children consume too much fat, cholesterol, and…

This document is the fourth revision of a statement by the Centers for Disease Control. Introductory and background chapters present data that indicate significant adverse effects of lead levels in children's blood that were previously believed to be safe. Other chapters discuss: (1) sources of lead exposure, including paint, soil and dust, and…