Health problems related to school buildings can be categorized in five major areas: sick-building syndrome; health-threatening building materials; environmental hazards such as radon gas and asbestos; lead poisoning; and poor indoor air quality due to smoke, chemicals, and other pollutants. This paper provides an overview of these areas,…

Young people deserve to grow and thrive in good times and bad, in poverty and prosperity, in war and peace. Yet children still suffer from hunger, poverty, and maltreatment, even in a country as rich as the United States. This paper provides a historical background of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the kinds and nature of the…

Outside of major illness or severe developmental problems, child mental health has not previously been a focus of much study. The West Australian Child Health Survey (WACHS) was one of the first surveys to specifically address mental health as part of an attempt to gain comprehensive data on child and adolescent health. During 1993, data were…

CityMatCH is a national organization of urban maternal and child health programs and leaders. In 1995, CityMatCH sponsored a conference at which urban maternal and child health leaders from city and county health departments across the country came together for professional development and networking. This report of highlights from the conference…

The Healthy Meals for Healthy American Act of 1994 requires that a variety of meal-planning approaches be available for schools to plan menus. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulation "School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children," published in 1995, implements the provisions of the 1994 legislation and incorporates…

This newsletter issue focuses on the basic sliding fee child care program, outlining the need for child care assistance, explaining how the program costs less than public assistance, examining the effects on families waiting for the program, providing an overview of how the program currently works with a county-by-county analysis (a 2-page chart…

This report contains highlights from a seminar on integrated approaches to youths' health problems. Comments by these panelists are summarized: Renee Jenkins, Director of Adolescent Medicine, Howard University Hospital, and President of the Society for Adolescent Medicine; Vivian L. Smith, Deputy Director, Office for Substance Abuse Prevention…

Noting that there is a relationship between hunger and the ability to learn, this study examines teacher opinions of the impact of a school breakfast program on student success. A survey, focusing on grades 1 through 3, was completed by 188 elementary teachers in 100 Connecticut schools in which breakfast programs had been implemented. Respondents…

A study explored girls' emerging attitudes toward breast care and breast self-exam (BSE) and the extent to which girls had given thought to these issues. Analyses focused specifically on individual differences related to age, stage of breast development, perceived normalcy of breast development, and body image. The sample consisted of 43 white,…

This report examines the use of health care services by children enrolled in Medi-Cal, California's counterpart to Medicaid, and the Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) program. Expenditures related to these services are also examined. Data for the report were derived from utilization and expenditure data from Medi-Cal and CHDP. Analysis…

Focusing on health issues in developing countries, this journal presents information about diarrhoeal diseases and related health problems. The journal is divided into the following sections: (1) "Intestinal Absorption of Water and Electrolytes"; (2) "Diagnosis of Infectious Diarrhoea"; (3) "Hydration and…

In 1994, an Institute of Medicine committee was convened to study comprehensive school health programs (CSHPs) in grades K-12 and to make recommendations for national, state, and local actions. The background of the study, issues considered by the committee, and an overview of CSHPs are discussed in the first two chapters of this report. The…

In 1993, nine states were awarded Making the Grade grants to develop financial and other strategies to foster replication of school-based health centers (SBHCs). This report details the financial strategies used by Vermont, Rhode Island, Oregon, North Carolina, New York, Maryland, Louisiana, Connecticut, and Colorado, as reported in a meeting of…

Parents can make better decisions regarding a care setting for their toddler when they have information about how toddlers learn and about quality programs for toddlers. This brochure provides information to parents on how toddlers learn through play, exploration, and observation; the importance of toddlers learning at their own pace; and the role…

This report discusses changes in markers of the well-being of children in California, focusing on at-risk children in lower income groups. The report considers earnings growth and decline for California's families, public and private resources available, family economics, health, education, and safety. Specific problems are discussed such as a…