Childcare workshops a big draw

By SVEN BERG

Study on children and TV: ‘It’s about changing the channel’

by DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP / Associated Press

KTVB.COM

Posted on February 18, 2013 at 11:58 AM

SEATTLE — Teaching parents to switch channels from violent shows to educational TV can improve preschoolers’ behavior, even without getting them to watch less, a study found.

The results were modest and faded over time, but may hold promise for finding ways to help young children avoid aggressive, violent behavior, the study authors and other doctors said.

“It’s not just about turning off the television. It’s about changing the channel. What children watch is as important as how much they watch,” said lead author Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician and researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.

The research was to be published online Monday by the journal Pediatrics.

The study involved 565 Seattle parents, who periodically filled out TV-watching diaries and questionnaires measuring their child’s behavior.

Half were coached for six months on getting their 3-to-5-year-old kids to watch shows like “Sesame Street” and “Dora the Explorer” rather than more violent programs like “Power Rangers.” The results were compared with kids whose parents who got advice on healthy eating instead.

At six months, children in both groups showed improved behavior, but there was a little bit more improvement in the group that was coached on their TV watching.

By one year, there was no meaningful difference between the two groups overall. Low-income boys appeared to get the most short-term benefit.

“That’s important because they are at the greatest risk, both for being perpetrators of aggression in real life, but also being victims of aggression,” Christakis said.

The study has some flaws. The parents weren’t told the purpose of the study, but the authors concede they probably figured it out and that might have affected the results.

Before the study, the children averaged about 1 1/2 hours of TV, video and computer game watching a day, with violent content making up about a quarter of that time. By the end of the study, that increased by up to 10 minutes. Those in the TV coaching group increased their time with positive shows; the healthy eating group watched more violent TV.

Nancy Jensen, who took part with her now 6-year-old daughter, said the study was a wake-up call.

“I didn’t realize how much Elizabeth was watching and how much she was watching on her own,” she said.

Jensen said her daughter’s behavior improved after making changes, and she continues to control what Elizabeth and her 2-year-old brother, Joe, watch. She also decided to replace most of Elizabeth’s TV time with games, art and outdoor fun.

During a recent visit to their Seattle home, the children seemed more interested in playing with blocks and running around outside than watching TV.

Another researcher who was not involved in this study but also focuses his work on kids and television commended Christakis for taking a look at the influence of positive TV programs, instead of focusing on the impact of violent TV.

“I think it’s fabulous that people are looking on the positive side. Because no one’s going to stop watching TV, we have to have viable alternatives for kids,” said Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston.

click here to go to story at ktvb

Lawmakers hear from dozens on Medicaid issues

Lawmakers hear from dozens on Medicaid issues
by Rebecca Boone / Associated Press

KTVB.COM

Posted on February 8, 2013 at 2:29 PM

BOISE — Increased mental health services, improved dental care coverage and Medicaid expansion topped the list of priorities presented to Idaho lawmakers during a hearing on health and welfare issues.

About three dozen people testified at the joint Senate and House Health and Welfare committee hearing Friday morning, many focusing on what they said is a dire need for increased access to mental health care.

Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson told lawmakers his department responds to an average of 20 calls each day for residents experiencing a mental crisis, and Boise loses an average of one person a day to mental illness.

He says the state needs to treat people with mental illnesses early instead of waiting for them to reach a crisis

Lawmakers debate food stamp distribution

Lawmakers debate food stamp distribution
by Jamie Grey
Bio | Email | Follow: @KTVBJamieGrey
KTVB.COM

Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:29 PM

Updated today at 8:40 AM

BOISE — With Friday being the first of the month, many grocery stores will be busy with all of Idaho’s food stamp recipients getting their money at once.

A new proposal presented Thursday at the statehouse could change that distribution model, and impact nearly everyone who buys groceries in the state.

The proposed changes come from Nampa Representative Christy Perry, and carry a nearly $700,000 initial price tag.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee agreed Thursday to at the very least to look at the changes and printed the bill for consideration.

Since August 2009, Idaho has issued all food stamp money on the first of the month. Recipients told KTVB back in October that they’ve got to hit the store that day, because they’re out of food.

“I am close to empty when I get to the first of the month,” said food stamp recipent Jessica Carver.

Last year, a bill to go to multi-day issuance passed the house, but it didn’t get a hearing on the senate side.

This year, Rep. Perry brought the idea back to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.

“Really the impetus for doing this is that businesses have come to us and said, ‘Hey we need you to change something’. We’ve had citizens come to us and say ‘Hey you need to change something’,” said Rep. Perry, R-Nampa.

The proposal is to issue benefits over 10 days each month, and print recipient’s names on their benefit cards.

The price tag will be nearly $700,000 to start and more than $200,000 to maintain. That cost and other issues are already bringing opposition and skepticism.

“I would like to use this money to educate people on how they can use their food stamps more efficiently and stretch them over the month. They do not have to be used on the first of the month. They can be used throughout the month,” said Senator Pattie Anne Lodge, R-Huston.

“I have trouble seeing any benefit to the state. Or for that matter, I don’t see a lot of benefit to the recipients,” said Senator Les Bock, D-Garden City.

Ultimately, the senators want more information from Rep. Perry and stakeholders.

“I would like to see the discussion. I think this is important. I think that we need to help our people be as healthy as they possibly can but also efficient,” Sen. Lodge said.

“Efficiency isn’t necessarily always what’s cheapest to do. A government program, it should be effective and it should be efficient, but efficient is not always synonymous with cheapest.” Rep. Perry said.

The senators printed the bill, with discussion to be continued.

If this bill were to pass in current form, the change to staggered day issuance would happen in 2014.

Another element, which Rep. Perry says accounts for much of the cost, would be embossing recipients names onto cards, which she says that would help cut down on fraud.

click here to access article on KTVB site

Idaho Federation of Families Youth M.O.V.E. Idaho

Youth M.O.V.E. Idaho is made up of teenagers who want to help people understand what it is like to be a youth affected by emotional, behavioral or mental health issues in Idaho. Their goal is to teach peers, parents, providers, and others about the importance of youth voice.

click here to access Youth M.O.V.E. page

Mental health hospitalizations rising in Idaho

Mental health hospitalizations rising in Idaho

by Rebecca Boone / Associated Press

KTVB.COM

Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:16 PM

Updated Wednesday, Jan 16 at 3:16 PM

BOISE — Officials with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare say more Idaho residents are being committed to the state’s psychiatric hospitals, but the length of time they spend in the hospitals is dropping.

Ross Edmonds with the department’s Division of Mental Health told members of the Legislature’s budget-setting committee on Wednesday that there were 473 commitments to State Hospital South in Pocatello and State Hospital North in Orofino in fiscal year 2008, compared to a projected 818 commitments for fiscal year 2013.

The average length of stay in Idaho’s state mental hospitals is down from more than 80 days in fiscal year 2009 to fewer than 60 days in the last fiscal year.

click here to read article on KTVB site

FDA requires lower doses for sleep medications

WASHINGTON

Four more Idahoans die from flu-related complications

BOISE — The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is reporting that four more people in the state have died from flu-related complications, bringing the total number of deaths this flu season to seven.

Click here to read more

Otter opts for state-run health insurance exchange

Click here to read about progress towards Idaho’s health insurance exchange

Idaho Teacher of the Year honored

by COLE HEATH & KREM.com

KTVB.COM

Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:03 PM

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