Children’s Health News

Covered by Apple Health? Limited Time Offer & Free Memberships

Are your children covered by Molina Health under Apple Health? 

Limited Time Offer!
Complete your child’s well-care visit and earn an increased $50 Gift Card! Your child must have their well-care visit between July 1, 2023, and October 31, 2023 to be eligible for this reward. This reward is available to Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) members who are 6 through 17 years of age.

Molina offers many benefits: 

Financial incentives for completing well-check visits, immunizations, and ADHD follow-up visits. Click the links here (available in Spanish and English) to about the Walmart or CVS gift cards. Apple Health (Medicaid) Member Rewards | Molina Healthcare of Washington

Free annual membership to Boys & Girls Clubs in Washington state

For ages 6-18 get a free annual membership to Boys & Girls Clubs in Washington State? They can have access to:

·    Free club access during open hours; after school, open as late as 7:30 p.m.

·    Summer Club access

·    Free after-school programs focused on healthy lifestyles, fitness, and homework support

·    Most clubs provide a free snack or a meal

·    Some clubs may provide free transportation from your child’s school to the Club

Click here for more information!  

Harmful Impacts on Children from Climate Change

A new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spells out the harmful impacts on children from climate change.  The effect on children includes physical and mental health.  Also education, home and future income will be impacted.  Pediatricians are already seeing some of this in their offices and in communities with severe weather and climate change.  See EPA report here:  https://www.epa.gov/cira/climate-change-and-childrens-health-and-well-being-united-states-report

Guaranteed recess for children in Washington State!

Guaranteed recess for children in Washington State now required beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, K-5- one of the strongest in the country.  “Having equitable recess in all elementary schools gives children across our state, regardless of their family or community circumstances, daily opportunities to move their bodies, get outdoors, engage in child-directed play, and return to classrooms less stressed and more ready to learn,” said Dr. Pooja Tandon, pediatrician, and researcher at Seattle Children’s Hospital and an associate professor at the University of Washington.  There are many important features including:  all Washington State elementary school students must receive a minimum of 30 minutes of recess on days longer than five hours, recess is defined as supervised and student-directed, should be held outside whenever possible and use of computers, tablets, or phones should be avoided. The law also directs the Washington State School Directors Association to create a model policy which encourages physical activity breaks for middle and high school, encourages schools to hold recess before lunch in elementary school, and prohibits the use of physical activity as punishment and discourages withholding recess for disciplinary or academic reasons. Read more at Seattle’s Child – https://www.seattleschild.com/washington-recess-law

Nature Everywhere

Creating equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play

Interested in increasing equitable access to nature in your community? The Children and Nature Network is offering information and support through Nature Everywhere, designed to advance nature everywhere children live, learn and play. The 2023 Request for Applications is now live — check it out and apply by August 25, 2023.

Taking Additional Time For Dinner May Help Children Eat More Healthy Food, Study Suggests

The Washington Post (4/18) reports, “When families took about 10 minutes longer to eat dinner, children ate ‘significantly’ more fruits and vegetables, amounting to an additional seven pieces of fruits and vegetables – one extra portion – a new study by German scientists shows.” Additionally, “having fruits and vegetables available in bite-sized pieces may have made it easier for the children to eat more during the extra time, the researchers said.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open News.

COVID-19 vaccine or booster?

Confused about when your child can get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster? It is important to keep your child up to date.  These vaccines equips their immune system to recognize and resist the disease. This protects them and everyone around them from serious illness and hospitalization. Find out more in this HealthyChildren.org article.