JAMA Pediatrics

Study Confirms Fears that COVID Pandemic Reduced Kindergarten Readiness

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 5, 2024

CINCINNATI, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Numerous studies have raised alarms about how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted learning, development and mental health among school-aged children. But few have focused on the effects felt by the 22 million children under age 6 who were not yet in school.

Key Points: 
  • Now a study published Feb. 5, 2024 , in JAMA Pediatrics, led by researchers at Cincinnati Children's in collaboration with the Cincinnati Public Schools, documents the pandemic's harmful effects on kindergarten readiness.
  • The findings are based on data from about 8,000 kindergartners who took a state-required Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) in 2018, 2019, and 2021–including 3,200 children who receive care through Cincinnati Children's primary care clinics.
  • "This means that 7 of every 10 children in the Cincinnati Public Schools were considered not ready to learn when they entered kindergarten during the pandemic.
  • "The good news is that we identified several factors that predicted later kindergarten readiness that we already measure during primary care visits," Copeland says.

Truveta Research on increased speech delays in children during the pandemic published in JAMA Pediatrics

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 5, 2023

BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Truveta announced new research published in JAMA Pediatrics exploring the incidence of first-time speech delays in children under the age of 5 prior to and during the pandemic.

Key Points: 
  • BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Truveta announced new research published in JAMA Pediatrics exploring the incidence of first-time speech delays in children under the age of 5 prior to and during the pandemic.
  • The research found a significant increase in the rate of children under the age of 5 being diagnosed with first-time speech delays since July 2020.
  • In this analysis, using a subset of Truveta Data, Truveta Research identified children younger than 5 years with encounters between January 1, 2018, and February 28, 2023, and no previous speech delay diagnosis.
  • The study observed significant step increases in the number of diagnoses of speech delays overall following the onset of the pandemic.

Full-Day Preschool Improves 3rd Grade School Achievement

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, November 19, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --

Key Points: 
  • Three- and four-year-olds participating in full-day preschool in the Child-Parent Center Education Program performed significantly better than their part-day counterparts in 3rd grade reading and math achievement.
  • [email protected]
    Children who attended a full-day preschool program in the Chicago Public School District had higher scores in 3rd grade reading and math achievement as well as reduced grade retention compared to children who attended part-day preschool, according to a study in the November 20 issue of JAMA.
  • Participation in high-quality preschool programs by age 4 has a long history of enhancing school readiness skills and promoting later school success and economic well-being.
  • Citation: Reynolds AJ, Smerillo NE, Ou SR, Loveman-Brown M, Varshney N. School performance in third grade after a full-day vs part-day preschool program.

Early Behavioral Health Problems Need Earlier Interventions

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023

CINCINNATI, Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A six-year study that analyzed data from a 25-question screening tool found alarming evidence of unhealthy behavioral trajectories starting as early as age 2 among families affected by low income and other social stressors.

Key Points: 
  • However, the early ages of onset and severity of behavioral problems were unexpected.
  • "The elevated results we saw reflect significant behavioral problems starting at very early ages," Ammerman says.
  • That's why--until care resources are dramatically expanded across the country--the early steps for addressing behavioral health risks need to focus more on preventive interventions to promote healthy behavioral development.
  • The recently announced Mental and Behavioral Health Institute at Cincinnati Children's plans to accelerate expansion of integrated behavioral health services into community-based pediatric practices.

A 1-minute gun safety video helped preteen children be more careful around real guns – new research

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 17, 2023

We observed this difference even though children saw the gun safety video a week earlier at home and even after they had watched scenes from a violent movie in our lab.

Key Points: 
  • We observed this difference even though children saw the gun safety video a week earlier at home and even after they had watched scenes from a violent movie in our lab.
  • By the flip of a coin, children watched either a gun safety video or car safety video alone at home.
  • Another was having guns in the home, which makes sense because surveys find that parents with guns are more likely to talk to their children about gun safety than parents without guns.
  • What other research is being done
    Other research on children and gun safety primarily focuses on access to guns and responsible, safe and secure gun storage.

Allegheny Health Network launches Cai & Kate, a children's show focused on behavioral health

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 17, 2023

PITTSBURGH, May 17, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Allegheny Health Network (AHN) today premiered a new YouTube show focusing on the emotional well-being of children ages 3 to 6 years old.

Key Points: 
  • Funded by the A. J. and Sigismunda Palumbo Charitable Trust , Cai & Kate aims to build knowledge related to emotional wellness for children and their families.
  • Puppetry, music, and education are blended to foster a sense of wonder as kids expand their ability to identify and talk about emotions.
  • The premiere episode is the first in a series being produced by Chill Project Productions, an initiative of the AHN Chill Project .
  • Offered through AHN's Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Institute and led by a team of behavioral health specialists, the Chill Project teaches evidenced-based coping techniques to equip students, teachers, and parents with a standardized approach to managing stress, anxiety and other mental health concerns.

Telehealth programs improve behavior problems in young children with developmental delay

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 5, 2023

MIAMI, April 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Telehealth programs for parents can improve the behavioral problems of children with developmental delay, according to new research.

Key Points: 
  • MIAMI, April 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Telehealth programs for parents can improve the behavioral problems of children with developmental delay, according to new research.
  • "Even with the increase in telehealth mental health services during the pandemic, there's very little scientific evidence that this type of treatment works, especially for families with young children with developmental delay," Bagner said.
  • Previous research has shown developmental delay diagnosis puts children at three times the risk of developing behavioral problems.
  • They recruited 150 children with developmental delay and behavior problems from Early Steps — Florida's early intervention system.

Pediatric Mental Health Crisis is Top Patient Safety Threat

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 13, 2023

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., March 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The pediatric mental health crisis tops ECRI's 2023 list of most pressing patient safety concerns. The nation's largest nonprofit patient safety organization notes that, while rates of depression and anxiety in children have increased since 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the situation to crisis levels.    

Key Points: 
  • ECRI's annual list of patient safety concerns shows ongoing staffing shortages continue to put patients and providers at risk; report issued in conjunction with Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 12 to 18
    PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., March 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The pediatric mental health crisis tops ECRI's 2023 list of most pressing patient safety concerns .
  • The nation's largest nonprofit patient safety organization notes that, while rates of depression and anxiety in children have increased since 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the situation to crisis levels.
  • ECRI's experts identify several recommendations to address the crisis including performing universal mental health screenings during every office and hospital visit, making personal connections between pediatric mental health providers and patients/families (i.e., warm handoffs), and providing additional support to address social determinants of health.
  • The top 10 patient safety concerns for 2023 are:
    Some issues on the safety concerns list are related to specific clinical practices and device malfunctions, but many are exacerbated by ongoing staffing shortages—including the pediatric mental health crisis, violence against healthcare staff, mismatches between assignments and competencies, poor care coordination, and missed care opportunities.

NIH STUDY FINDS THE HEALTHY, HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT REDUCED CHILDREN'S BODY MASS INDEX

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 13, 2023

The HHFKA was fully implemented in 2016 and is the first legislation passed in nearly 3 decades to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.

Key Points: 
  • The HHFKA was fully implemented in 2016 and is the first legislation passed in nearly 3 decades to improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
  • "This is particularly important for children in lower-income families who are more likely to participate in the NSLP and are at higher risk of obesity."
  • Dr. Chandran and Dr. Knapp led this collaborative research published in JAMA Pediatrics.
  • Changes in Body Mass Index Among School-Aged Children Following Implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

Charlie Health Launches Virtual IOP Services in Michigan to Provide Life-Saving Behavioral Health Treatment to Young People and Families in Crisis

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 13, 2022

BOZEMAN, Mont., Dec. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charlie Health, the largest provider of virtual intensive outpatient programming (IOP) for young people and families in crisis, announces its expansion into Michigan.

Key Points: 
  • BOZEMAN, Mont., Dec. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charlie Health, the largest provider of virtual intensive outpatient programming (IOP) for young people and families in crisis, announces its expansion into Michigan.
  • "It's time for a new solution in Michigan," says Allison Walsh JD, VP of Clinical Outreach at Charlie Health.
  • Charlie Health , founded in 2020, is the largest virtual-first mental health clinic for teens and young adults who need more than weekly mental health support.
  • By providing individualized and evidence-based mental health support, Charlie Health ensures that sustainable healing is available to all.