Helpful Links:
Maternal and Child Health Hotline 1800-722-2295 www.mch-hotlines.org Health Care Education and Training, Inc. www.hcet.org/resource Wisconsin Family Planning Clinics www.hcet.org WIC www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wicLifeline or Linkup
Lifeline makes telephone service more affordable and Link Up pays for the installation call Public Service Commission 1-800-225-7729Outagamie County Wic
410 South Walnut Street Appleton, WI 54911 (920)832-5109Department of Health and Human Services
Children, Youth and Family Division 3rd Level Human Services Building 401 South Elm Street Appleton, WI 54911 920-832-5161Wisconsin Works W-2
Economic Support Outagamie County Dept. of Health and Human Services 401 S. Elm Street Appleton, WI 54911-5985Family Support Program
Outagamie County cgrimmkirk@vpind.com Christine Grimm-Kirk, CSW 920-749-5870, Ext. 4502 Click here to add a comment.
Variety of services for neighborhood residents, Joining Forces for Families, Employment Search, computer classes, adult basic education, English as a second language, transportation services
Joining Forces for Families-City Wide
Emergency problem solving, job seeking, health care & housing resources, case management, advocacy with the human service system, school services, participation in resident advisory board, neighborly support
http://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/Family/JoiningForcesForFamilies/locations.aspx
- Allied- 2349 Allied Dr #123, Madison 53711 608-273-6342
- Atwood Community Center-2425 Atwood Ave, Madison 53704 www.atwoodcc.org 608-241-1574
- Bridge Lake Point Waunona Neighborhood Center-1917 Lake Point Drive-Madison, WI 53713 (608) 441-6991
- Badger/Magnolia- 838 W Badger Rd #1, Madison 53713 608-261-9764
- Bayview- 601 Bayview, Madison 53713 608-266-4388
- Broadway/Lakepoint- 1914 Lakepoint Drive Apt B, Madison
53713 608-224-3624 or 608-224-3625
- Darbo/Worthington- 3030 Darbo Dr, Madison, 53704 608-246-2967
- DeForest- P.O. Box 510, DeForest 608-846-9603
- Madison West/Middleton/Cross Plains- 7432 Hubbard Avenue 608-828-9373
- Monona/McFarland, 5915 Milwaukee St, McFarland 53558 608-838-5907
- Mt Horeb/Wisconsin Heights-11 Brodhead St, Mt Horeb,
53572 608-437-8399
- Oregon/Belleville – 200 N Main St, Oregon 608-835-4188
- Southdale:Deer Valley/Castille/Granada Way- 205 Deer
Valley Rd #2, Madison 53713 608-273-6676
- Southwest Resource Center- 6401 Hammersley Rd, Madison
53711 608-273-6621
- Stoughton/Cambridge– 125 Veterans Rd, Stoughton 53589 608-873-2180
- Sun Prairie-1303 Park Circle, Sun Prairie 608-825-3225
- Truax/Sherman-7 Straubel Ct #502, Madison 608-240-2045
- Vera Court- 614 Vera Ct, Madison 53704 608-241-4849
- Verona- 413 W Verona Rd, Verona 53719 608-848-2108
- Waunakee/Dane- 138 W Main St, Waunakee 53597 608-849-9093
- White Horse/Sennett- 3535 Tulane Ave, Madison 53713 608-246-2967
- Kennedy Heights Community Center–199 Kennedy Hts,
Madison 53704 608-244-0767
- Northport Community Center– 1740 Northport Dr, Madison 608-249-9281
- South Madison-Harambee Neighborhood Center-2202 S Park
St, Madison 53713 608-261-9138
- Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center-7009 Flower Ln, Madison
608-833-4979
- Wil-Mar Community Center- 953 Jenifer St, Madison 608-257-4576
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Start Early
Your children are precious. And so are their teeth. But many parents have a tough time judging just how much dental care their kids actually need. By kindergarten age, more than 40% of kids have tooth decay. Why is this the case for so many?
The largest misstep is not caring for a child’s teeth from the very first tooth. Proper dental care begins even before a baby’s first tooth appears — just because you can’t see the teeth doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. Teeth actually begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy, and at birth a baby has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed in the jaw.
So, when should you schedule your child’s first trip to the dentist? Should your 3-year-old be flossing? How do you know if your child needs braces? Following is a 6-step game plan to get you started with caring for your child’s oral health.
Start Oral Care Early
Your child should see a dentist by the time they are a year old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.Getting preventitive care early saves money in the long run. Costs for dental care are nearly 40% lower over a five-year period for children who gets dental care by age one compared to those who don’t go to the dentist until later.
Teach the Brush & Floss Habit
Dental visits are just part of the plan, of course. Tooth brushing is also crucial from the start. A lot of people think they don’t have to brush baby teeth. But if your baby has even one tooth, it’s time to start tooth brushing.
Even before your baby has teeth, you can gently brush the gums, using water on a soft baby toothbrush, or clean them with a soft washcloth. Once there are additional teeth, you can buy infant toothbrushes that are very soft. Brushing should be done twice daily using a fluoridated toothpaste. Flossing should begin when two teeth touch each other. If you’re not sure how to go about this, you can ask your dentist to show you the right flossing techniques and schedules.
Also ask your dentist’s advice on when to start using mouthwash. It’s advised that parents wait until the child can definitely spit the mouthwash out, as mouthwash is a rinse and not a beverage. Also ask your dentist if your child’s teeth need fluoride protection or a dental sealant.
So how long until your child can be responsible for brushing their own teeth? Generally, parents have to clean the teeth until children are able to tie their shoes or write in cursive (traditional advice given to parents by dentists).
Avoid “Baby Bottle Decay”
For years, pediatricians and dentists have been cautioning parents not to put an infant or older child down for a nap with a bottle of juice, formula, or milk. Even so, many parents don’t realize this can wreak havoc with their child’s oral health.
The sugary liquids in the bottle cling to baby’s teeth, providing food for bacteria that live in the mouth. The bacteria produce acids that can trigger tooth decay. Left unchecked, dental disease can adversely affect a child’s growth and learning, and can even affect speech. If you must give your child a bottle to take to bed, bed, make sure it contains only water, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.
Control the Sippy Cup Habit
Bottles taken to bed aren’t the only beverage problem. The other? Juice. Juice given during the day as a substitute for water and milk is often in a sippy cup. It’s meant as a transition cup when a child is being weaned from a bottle and learning to use a regular cup. Prolonged use of a sippy cup can cause decay on the back of the front teeth if the beverages they contain are sugary.
A little nutrition note: Juice consumption has been linked to childhood obesity and the development of tooth decay, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In its current policy statement on preventive oral health, the organization advises parents to limit the intake of 100% fruit juice to no more than four ounces a day. Sugary drinks and foods should be limited to mealtimes. These days most pediatricians are telling parents to use juice only as a treat.
Beware of Mouth-Unfriendly Medicines
Many medications that children take are flavored and sugary. If that sticks on the teeth, the risk for tooth decay goes up. Children on medications for chronic conditions such as asthma and heart problems often have a higher decay rate, she finds. Antibiotics and some asthma medications can cause an overgrowth of candida (yeast), which can lead to a fungal infection called oral thrush. Suspect thrush if you see creamy, curd-like patches on the tongue or inside the mouth.
If your child is on chronic medications, ask your child’s dentist how often you should brush. You may be advised to help your child brush as often as four times a day.
Stand Firm on Oral Hygiene
As a parent you may encounter the problem with your children putting up a fuss when it comes time to brush and floss. Because of this you may cave in and not keep up with oral care at home as you should. However, it is strongly advised that you let your children know they don’t have a choice about brushing and flossing.
But it has to be done, even if children can get cranky and difficult. Here are some tips to get reluctant brushers and flossers to get the job done — or if they are too young, to allow their parents to help them do it.
• Plan to help your children longer than you may think necessary. Children don’t have the fine motor skills to brush their own teeth until about age 6. Flossing skills don’t get good until later, probably age 10.
• Schedule the brushing and flossing and rinsing, if advised, at times when your child is not overly tired. You may get more cooperation from a child who isn’t fatigued.
• Get your child involved in a way that’s age-appropriate. For instance, you might let a child who is age 5 or older pick his own toothpaste at the store, from options you approve. You could buy two or three different kinds of toothpaste and let the child choose which one to use each time. You may offer him a choice of toothbrushes, including kid-friendly ones that are brightly colored or decorated.
• Figure out what motivates your child. A younger younger child may gladly brush for a sticker, for instance, or gold stars on a chart.
source: www.blackdoctor.org
By Felicia Vance, BDO Staff Writer
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Media portrayals of families tend to show them either highly dysfunctional or unrealistically perfect. Of course, neither is generally accurate in terms of showing normal, and healthy, families.
Despite this, a healthy family is not only possible, but essential, in order to better survive and thrive in other areas of your lives.
So how do you go about building a stronger, healthier family?
Step 1. Help promote respect, honor differences and establish a no-losers policy where every family member has a voice in how to best resolve family conflicts and problems.
Step 2. Find ways to share life experiences together and play together. Once a week, enjoy a night of playing board games. Plan a visit to an amusement park. Families who are close and healthier tend to share a committment to spending quality time with each other.
Step 3. Establish and respect healthy boundaries. Boundaries help people to understand what they are and are not responsible for in the various aspects of their lives. For example, allowing your children to experience the natural consequences of their actions can help them to understand that, while they are not responsible for the actions of others, they are responsible for their own choices.
Step 4. And, of course, help encourage a healthier family lifestyle by embracing basic healthy habits every day, such as eating healthy meals, exercising, visiting the doctor regularly, practicing great hygiene habits and getting enough sleep.
With some patience and determination, a healthier, happier family can be your reality.
source: www.blackdoctor.org
By Elle Greene, BDO Staff Writer
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