A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, Sept. 18:
Targeting
Children to Curb Gang-Related Activities in San Mateo County
The San Mateo County Gang Task Force reports that no gang-related homicides
occurred this past summer – compared with 13 last year. Experts
attribute the success to various tactics adopted to counteract gang-related
violence, including programs to teach children and their parents alternatives
to gangs. (Examiner, 9/5/06, by Winegarner)
Lack
of Health Insurance Puts Hispanic Children at Risk
In 2005, 22 percent of Hispanic children nationwide had no health insurance,
compared to 7 percent of Caucasian, 15 percent of African-American, and
12 percent of Asian/Pacific Islander children, according to a new study
of 900 Hispanic families conducted by researchers at the Medical College
of Wisconsin. This lack of insurance, coupled with cost and cultural barriers,
are reasons why Hispanic children are less likely than other children
to get regular check-ups, researchers said. (KLASTV.com, 9/8/06)
Pediatricians
Warn Parents Against New Infant TV Network
A new cable television channel targeted at infants is being touted as
educational, but pediatricians are warning parents against letting their
young children watch any TV, in accordance with a recommendation from
the American Academy of Pediatrics. Some parents who have seen the channel
say their children enjoyed it, and network executives say the new channel
provides age-appropriate programming for children who would be watching
television anyway. (SF Chronicle, 9/11/06, by DeFao)
Study:
Teenage Brain Lacks Empathy
The area of the brain associated with higher-level thinking, empathy,
and guilt is underused by teenagers, a new study conducted at the University
College London Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience reports. The study
found that teenagers use a different part of their brain when problem-solving
than adults do, thinking first how the problem affects them personally.
By comparison, adults use another part of the brain and consider how the
problem affects others before giving an answer. (MSNBC, 9/8/06, by Goudarzi)
Government
Cuts Preteen Health Program
A federal health program for preteens was recently cut by the Bush administration
despite its reported success. The VERB program, led by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, aimed to promote exercise among preteens
in order to prevent obesity. Representatives from the CDC said they are
hoping to re-package the program’s information so that it is still
available to children. (AP, 9/14/06, by Neergaard)
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