While online computer exploration opens a world of possibilities, children and adolescents online can be exposed to individuals who attempt to sexually exploit children through the use of online services and the Internet. This pamphlet, prepared from actual investigations involving child victims, was designed to help parents understand the…

Examines research about serious childhood injuries. Describes a state program that tries to ensure the safety of children in family day care homes. (PCB)

Provides a checklist of safety features to look for when purchasing playground equipment or when evaluating the safety of existing equipment. The checklist covers playground surface, all equipment, slides, swings, climbing and stationary equipment, and equipment spacing. Also lists types of equipment to avoid and playground supervision tips. (TJQ)

Notes that, despite gains in eliminating lead sources, there are still detectable effects from low-level exposure. Discusses at what level of exposure the adverse effects of lead become trivial and what measures, if any, should be taken to reduce low-level exposure. (HTH)

A checklist/safety quiz from the National Fire Protection Association examines individual knowledge of how to escape if a home fire breaks out. The organization recommends that every household develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year. (SM)

Suggests that despite unprecedented attention to the issue of child welfare and rights, and commitment of resources by the global community, millions of children, including refugees, remain in desperate situations. Reports also that modern wars are exploiting, maiming, brutalizing and killing children and their families. Increasingly, humanitarian…

Key staff from over 500 child care centers were interviewed regarding risk assessment and reduction. Responses revealed three risk categories: (1) high frequency, low impact (playground injuries); (2) low frequency, low impact (burglary, vandalism, staff theft); and (3) low frequency, high impact (child abuse by staff, intruder crimes,…

Discusses playground safety and design issues. Considers the safety, appropriateness, and cost- effectiveness of renovating, removing, maintaining, and purchasing new playground equipment. Notes legal guidelines and standards for playgrounds. (JPB)

Policymakers are increasingly focusing on children exposed to domestic violence. The 1999 Minnesota legislature amended the definition of child neglect to include a child's exposure to family violence. What was initially seen as a simple change to bring more attention to children exposed to domestic violence resulted in great turmoil across…

Gun play results in hundreds of childhood injuries and deaths each year in the United States. Behavioral Skills Training (BST) is used to teach children the skills needed to resist gun play when finding a firearm. Although effective, existing BST programs are time and resource intensive and therefore lack the efficiency required to be widely…

Objective: Between 1995 and 1997, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities implemented Family Group Conferences (FGC) in 10 local authorities throughout Sweden. This study reports on client outcomes of this implementation. Method: 97 children involved in 66 FGCs between November 1996 and October 1997 were compared with 142 children from a…

The Internet poses challenges to parents who want their children to take advantage of online resources but also want to protect their children from questionable content. Using data from 749 dyads of American parents and their teenage children with Internet access, this study finds that the majority of parents report regulating their teenage…

The 1970s heralded the beginnings of a major shift in focus within child care social work in the United Kingdom, and the preventive, family support approach that had characterised practice since the 1940s was gradually, but decisively, replaced by a central concern with child abuse. This paper outlines the rise and dominance of child protection…

The California Report Card provides a clear, complete and concise picture of the state of the state's children along with recommendations for how we can better support our children through new and improved public policies. It assigns letter grades to such key indicators as health insurance, oral health, asthma, mental health, infant health,…

"Child Care Health Connections" is a bimonthly newsletter published by the California Childcare Health Program (CCHP), a community-based program of the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, Department of Family Health Care Nursing. The goals of this newsletter are to promote and support a healthy and safe environment…