STAY HEALTHY WHILE SWIMMING THIS SUMMER

Missourians are flocking to their favorite swimming areas with their families to stay cool and have fun as temperatures have soared.  Organisms that can cause recreational water illness (RWI) can be found in swimming pools, water/spray parks, hot tubs, water play areas, lakes, rivers, creeks, ponds, and oceans.
Some organisms, like Cryptosporidium that causes diarrhea, can live for days in well-maintained pools treated with chlorine.

HEALTH INSURANCE for Missourians that have been uninsured for 6+ months or longer

The Missouri Health Insurance Pool (MHIP), has announced a 23 percent reduction in premiums for its federal pool program. The pool guarantees health coverage for Missourians with pre-existing medical conditions who have been uninsured for six months or longer. The premium reduction aims to make comprehensive medical coverage accessible to Missourians who otherwise could not afford it. The Department of Insurance issued this press release: http://difp.mo.gov/news/2011/High_risk_health_insurance_pool_reduces_rates_by_nearly_25_percent.

More information about MHIP is available at http://www.mhip.org/

Current Immunizations Required for Child Care Enrollment

Children enrolled in child care must be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, pneumococcal, polio, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps and rubella and varicella at intervals. State regulation specifies that if the immunization history is not provided on the first day, or the child’s immunizations are not up-to-date, or in progress the child will not be permitted to attend.


Licensing rules require child care facilities, caring for 10 or more children, to review the immunization status of children enrolled in the facility. This information not only protects children but also staff from harmful and potentially deadly vaccine-preventable diseases.

It is the responsibility of the child care facility to maintain the immunization histories of all the children enrolled and to report that information to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services by January 15th of each year.

For additional information regarding immunization requirements for children enrolled in child care, mandatory reporting or to obtain an immunization schedule that includes what age children should be immunized against particular diseases, please visit the Department of Health and Senior Services web site at www.health.mo.gov/living/wellness/immunizations or call 573.751.6124.

Let's Move!

Follow this link for great some awesome resources for parents and Child Care providers:
http://www.healthykidshealthyfuture.org/welcome.html

Please take a few seconds to take this 6 question survey for the YMCA Community Center North to help them provide the services YOU want to see at your Y!
http://www.plattecountycommunitycenternorthsurvey.com/

Funding Opportunity from DESE

The School Age Community (SAC) Grant for before and/or after school programs is now available
for the 2011-2012 year! The purpose of the SAC grant is to increase school age program’s availability
and quality in order to provide a safe environment that meets the needs of the parents and youth in
your community. These funds may be used to start up or expand/enhance current before/after school
programs for youth ages 5 up to 13 years old. Go to   http://www.dese.mo.gov/divcareered/afterschool_grants.htm  for the guidance and application. Applications must be received by 3:00 p.m.. Tuesday, June 28, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Wolf at DESE at 573-522-2627.

THE HEALTHY CHILD CARE NEWSLETTER

The summer edition of the Healthy Child Care Newsletter is now available at http://health.mo.gov/safety/childcare/pdf/summer2011.pdf. This issue features the following:

• New Rules for Child Care Facilities

• New Proposed Rules

• Safe Sleep Practices Training

• Free Emergency Response Training

• Emergency Response Training Flyer

• Joplin Recovery

• Outdoor Play

• Planning Safe Field Trips

• Preventing Whooping Cough

• Funding Opportunity for School Age Programs

• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Information

• Let’s Move!

• Crib Safety

• Lead Testing

The Healthy Child Care Newsletter is posted quarterly on the DHSS website.