Advocates for children's well-being are in Washington, D.C. today, calling on lawmakers to invest in
kids.

The Save the Children advocacy summit is gathering people from around the country to speak with members of Congress. They are focusing on the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, which is a voluntary home visiting program.

Anita Davis, volunteer and outreach leader for the Save the Children Action Network in Tennessee, said she did home visiting for seven years in Metro Nashville in a low-income housing area and is well aware of the needs of families and the importance of the renewal of the program.

"This legislation will end on September 30th if Congress does not renew it," Davis pointed out. "So we're talking with -- I'll be speaking with -- my two state senators and two of the congressional representatives from Tennessee, to urge them to please not only renew this legislation but to improve it."

Davis noted they also are advocating for Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill, which would include improvements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

According to Feeding America, in Tennessee, 41.8% of households receiving SNAP benefits have children. Save the Children is urging Congress to preserve and protect SNAP benefits because so many families rely on them.

Roy Chrobocinski, managing director of federal domestic policy for Save the Children, said the rising price of goods and supply-chain issues have affected families and their ability to access food.

"We know the benefits don't go far enough," Chrobocinski stressed. "We know that families who receive the benefits, they still have to pay money out of pocket. It's not covering the cost of all of their food, but it makes sure that they can supplement what they are paying to make sure that they have enough food to eat each day, each month."

Chrobocinski added children do not donate to political campaigns, and they cannot vote, so he argued it is critical for Save the Children advocates in Washington to share their stories and make it clear to members of Congress the importance of investing in children.

Nebraska is one of six states participating in "No Child Grieves Alone," a series of regional conferences aiming to help communities recover after the social isolation and the tremendous loss of life during the global pandemic.

Carly Runestad, executive director of the Mourning Hope Grief Center, said the event will explore ways for parents, teachers, school counselors and anyone else working with children to support them as they process the loss of a family member or friend.

"It's kind of our human nature for us to try and shield children from grief, but grief is really a natural human experience," Runestad explained. "It's not a problem, we don't need to try to fix it, it is just a universal healthy reaction to loss."

The one-day conference begins at 11 a.m., Sept. 29 at Mourning Hope's campus on South Folsom street in Lincoln. The event is free to attend, includes lunch, and professionals can earn three Continuing Education credits for a fee.

Children of color are more likely than their white counterparts to experience the death of a parent, as are children living in rural areas. One in sixteen Nebraska kids will experience a death before they turn 18.

Runestad emphasized when children have support, they can learn to integrate a death-loss experience and go on to live healthy, engaged lives. Without support, they can suffer long-term consequences.

"That's where we can see their life trajectory derail a bit," Runestad observed. "That's where we can start to see them finding unhealthy coping skills, where they may start to look at drugs or alcohol to help ease the pain of their loss."

Runestad noted just like adults, each child experiences grief differently. It is not one size fits all. She added anyone with children in their lives can offer critical support by simply being there, and listening with their heart.

"Having people that walk alongside them in their grief, that meet them where they're at, and are really present for that person's pain," Runestad advised. "Not trying to take it away, not trying to relieve it, but just to be present for them."

Small children are landing in the hospital because of accidental poisoning from ingesting medication meant for adults. Experts are working to give households the tools they need to keep kids out of medicines which could potentially harm them.

Tonya Jernigan, licensed social worker for the Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine at the University of Kentucky Clinic, said it is not just illicit substances children can get their hands on, and pointed to cases where they accidentally consumed medications meant for their grandparents or caregivers.

"We see ingestions related to over-the-counter medications like Tylenol," Jernigan noted. "Another really common medication that we see is Clonidine. So it's definitely a wide-reaching problem."

Accidental poisonings account for around 2% of all unintentional injury deaths in the state, according to the state's 2021 Child Fatality Review.

Find more information and drug storage tips at faceitabuse.org.

Steve Sparrow, program manager of the Core Violence and Injury Prevention Program in the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center at the University of Kentucky, said more than 1,800 medication lockboxes have been distributed so far across 24 counties, to community colleges, women's shelters, health departments, drug-treatment centers and other organizations working with parents of young children.

"The distribution of the medication lockboxes was statewide," Sparrow explained. "We tried to make sure we didn't just focus on central Kentucky, but that we actually reached out to far eastern, southeastern, north central and western Kentucky."

Barry Dunn, president and CEO of Kosair Charities, said child-resistant packaging can provide a false sense of security, but he pointed out children are often good at getting into things they shouldn't.

"This is a really simple, straightforward method for parents and caregivers to step up their game," Dunn asserted. "To safely place medicines in a place that is out of reach of children, to know the difference in what's child-resistant versus childproof."

The medication lockboxes and statewide campaign are supported by a partnership between The Kosair Charities Face It Movement, Kentucky Youth Advocates, Kentucky Children's Hospital and the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center.

With a new school year beginning, Virginia parents are being urged to keep an eye on their children's mental health.

According to Mental Health America, 79,000 children in Virginia or 13%, have experienced a "severe major depressive episode" in the past year.

Dr. Asha Patton-Smith, a child psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente, said there are many ways parents can help provide their children the support they will need. She described some of the signs parents should look out for, which might signal a mental-health concern.

"Some of the main things that come up are changes in sleep, changes in appetite, increased social isolation, increased irritability; challenges with patients not wanting to separate from their parents," Patton-Smith outlined. "Social-emotional attachment issues."

Other signs to watch for are panic or anxiety symptoms, and kids complaining of headaches or stomachaches. Given the new school year will more closely resemble schooling pre-pandemic, Patton-Smith feels the return to normalcy might help children. She acknowledged returning to a structured environment is not always easy, but thinks the adjustment period should be easier this year compared to last.

Patton-Smith pointed out parents who take an active role in their child's life can help them maintain good mental health. She advised parents to talk with their children and encourage them to ask for help. Whether the help comes from talking with a mental health provider, a school counselor or school social worker, she feels parents need to be proactive, not reactive.

"As a parent, just be there for your child," Patton-Smith advised. "Have that emotional support by establishing an open dialogue, making sure that you are modeling positive, balanced behavior. And I think that goes a long way for kids."

She added helping children to understand and regulate their own emotions is one way parents can be guides for their child's mental health.