Discusses ways to prevent child abuse and neglect through parent education and home visiting programs for at-risk families that stress early intervention and preventive measures. Describes the Healthy Start program developed in Hawaii as a model for other states to follow. (MDM)

Describes folk healing beliefs and practices of Mexican-American families. Suggests that practitioners in cross-cultural child welfare services must understand traditional practices and incorporate a compatible approach to them. Otherwise, their clients and patients will go their own ways, sometimes with dire results. (BC)

Uses census data, 1886-1900, to examine Northern Cheyenne child-spacing and effective fertility patterns as indicators of maternal and infant health. Concludes that, contrary to early interpretations of improved health among reservation populations, the Northern Cheyenne suffered health deterioration related to oppressive government political and…

National School Population Fitness Survey data were reexamined to assess fitness in U.S. children and youth, comparing numbers meeting norm-referenced standards and criterion-referenced health (CRH) standards. Using CRH standards to view fitness had advantages over norm-referenced standards. Results did not indicate a decline in fitness levels.…

This study investigated the feasibility of broadening the traditional infant health focus of the Australian Maternal and Child Health Nurse or Public Health Nurse to encompass maternal emotional and social well-being to identify maternal depression and prevent child abuse. Conditions under which mothers would find this role expansion acceptable…

Although the Medicaid program has brought health insurance coverage to millions of poor children and their families, children continue to make up a disproportionately large share of uninsured Americans. Discusses the various national reform measures under consideration to expand health insurance coverage and contain the costs of such coverage,…

Telephone survey of urban school-based health programs nationwide examined current programs, obstacles, and approaches for addressing students' needs. City size affected the amount of services provided overall; a clear relationship existed between number of providers employed and number/amount of screening services available. (SM)

Measured the impact of managed care on the utilization of preventive health-care services by 867 inner-city Los Angeles families and assessed the relationship between insurance type, source of care, and access to immunization services. Results show that, lacking financial incentives, managed care is unlikely to improve immunization rates among…

This integrated unit focuses on healthy hearts and how to use exercise and nutrition to be "heart smart" for life. The unit includes activities on heart function, exercise, workouts, family activities, nutrition, cholesterol, and food labels. The activities help develop research techniques, thinking skills, and cooperative learning…

The effects of fetal cocaine exposure on newborn cry characteristics were studied in 80 cocaine-exposed and 80 control infants. Findings were consistent with the notion that two neurobehavioral syndromes, excitable and depressed, can be described in cocaine-exposed infants and that these two syndromes are a result of direct neurotoxic effects and…

A collection of suggestions for making camping trips safe for children and their families focus on hiking safety, water safety, poison prevention; and cooking safety (campfires, portable stoves, and food tips). (SM)

Describes study results that help to explain why U.S. children are not as fit as many health and physical education professionals think they should be, and discusses whether aerobic activity is sufficient for physical fitness. (GLR)

Discusses sources of stress in children's lives, noting adults too often trivialize situations children face, judging them by adult criteria. Parents must realize children's fears are real, and create a home that minimizes stressors and encourages openness. Suggestions for ways parents can help stress-proof their children's lives are included. (SM)

Reviews instruments used in conjunction with comprehensive programs to study children's dietary knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The instruments take about 20-45 minutes to complete and are easy for teachers or staff to administer and score, so respondent and staff burden are low compared to use of dietary methodologies. (SM)

Measures of preference are useful predictors of children's food consumption patterns. The paper discusses children's affective response to food and describes the preference assessment procedure which obtains information on children's likes and dislikes. The methodology helps investigate factors influencing development of preferences and food…