take 5 newsmagazine issue 11
DESCRIPTION
As part of her ambitious campaign to eliminate childhood obesity in one generation, First Lady Michelle Obama said, "Our kids didn't do this to themselves. They don't decide the sugar content in soda or the advertising content of a television show. Kids don't choose what's served to them for lunch at school, and shouldn't be deciding what's served to them for dinner at home. And they don't decide whether there's time in the day or room in the budget to learn about healthy eating."TRANSCRIPT
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700
Take5QUARTERLY NEWSMAGAZINEWinter 2011 – Issue 11
Early childhood obesity is an epidemic
that our community can no longer
ignore. While there are many causes of
childhood obesity, the largest source
of added sugar for our children is
sugary drinks and sodas.
With this in mind, FIRST 5 Santa Clara
County is one of the lead agencies
in the ReThink Your Drink campaign
which encourages families to “rethink
their drink” and drink water instead
of sugar-sweetened beverages such
as sodas, sports drinks, juice blends,
punch and even 100% juice.
Drinking sugary beverages has been
linked to weight gain, obesity, high
cholesterol, dental cavities and
developing severe health problems
such as Type 2 diabetes.
. . . . . .continued on page 4
Pot ter the Ot ter Website............2
Sugar Sweetened BeveragePolicy..............................................3
High 5 Winner................................3
Schools and Our Obesity Prevention Campaign.......................................4
Why ReThink Your Drink?............5
Text for Baby Campaign...............5
Caroline's Journey.........................6
Safe Sleep Campaign....................7
01
According to the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, 3 infant deaths have been caused by unsafe sleeping practices in the county this year and 41 infant deaths within the last six years.
To prevent any more tragic deaths due to unsafe sleeping practices,FIRST 5 Santa Clara County has partnered with the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office and the Public Health Department, to launch a Safe Sleep Awareness Campaign. The goal of this campaign is to ensure that every parent and caregiver is aware of and prepared to adopt lifesaving saving safe sleep practices for their infant.
Recent Infant Deaths Due To Unsafe Sleeping Practices
ReThink Your Drink Campaign
. . . . . .continued on page 7
In this Issue
Left: Dr. Louis Girling, Deputy Health Officer and Dr. Michelle Jorden, Assistant Medical Examiner
FIRST 5 is a partner in the Safe Sleep Awareness Campaign
w w w.sur veymonkey.com/s/Take5Sur vey
Tell us what you think...
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700
Visit potterloveswater.com and you will be greeted
by our new, animated and loveable character…
Potter the Otter! Potter swims off the pages of his
popular English/Spanish children’s book, Potter the
Otter: A Tale About Water and comes to life through
cyberspace!
Children learn to make healthy drink choices by
following Potter and his friends. Children can also color
Potter right on the computer screen just by clicking
their mouse! The website offers fun games as well as
resources and tips for parents and caregivers. Potter
the Otter: A Tale About Water books can also be read
and ordered on the website.
“Potter the Otter” Has His Own Website
In this delightful story, Potter, on his way to a picnic,
meets his friends Toada, Moose, Goose and many
others, and teaches them that water is the best choice
over soda, punch and juice. The potterloveswater.com
website reinforces this message in a fun, engaging
and interactive way.
Be sure to visit potterloveswater.com, take the
pledge to drink water and join the fun along with
Potter and his friends!
02
Have you seen our YouTube
Channel? Subscribe today and
check out our latest videos!
www.youtube.com/user/
FIRST5SCC
We’re Blogging!Visit blog.first5kids.org for the latest news on early childhood topics
and learn more about us! Join our blogging forum today.
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700 03
Sugary drink intake at age f ive is associated with higher body fat, larger
waist circumference, and heavier weight from ages f ive to 15.1 Obesity and
Type 2 diabetes are inherently connected as childhood obesity is the most
impor tant r isk fac tor for the development of Type 2 Diabetes in youth.2
Randomized controlled tr ials in children found that reducing consumption
of sugary drinks leads to reductions in weight.3 As a result, the following
state and local policies have been enac ted to reduce sugary beverage
consumption by children.
In 2010, the State of California set nutrit ion standards for beverages served
in early childhood programs, including:
Serve only one percent or non-fat milk to children ages two and older.
Limit juice to no more than one serving of 100 percent fruit juice per day.
Serve no beverages with added sweeteners, natural or artificial.
Ensure water is available throughout the day (especially at meal and snack
times).
In 2003, the State of California banned the sale of sof t drinks in elementary
and middle schools, and extended the ban to high schools in 2005.
In 2005, the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors adopted a nutrit ion
standards policy for vending machine beverages and beverage purchasing.
Vending machines in County buildings can only include water, 100% fruit
juice, non-fat and low-fat milk. In addition, County funds cannot be used
to purchase sugar-sweetened beverages either in County programs or by
County contrac tors.
Other states and local jurisdic tions have sought to enac t sales and/
or excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages with the twin benefits
of reducing consumption while providing additional tax resources to
address the childhood overweight and obesity caused by sugar-sweetened
beverages.
Groups that endorse taxation as an ef fec tive approach to childhood
obesity include the American Academy of Pediatr ics and the U.S.
Conference of Mayors. Repor ts from the Bipar tisan Policy Center,
Brookings Institution, the Institute of Medicine, the Urban Institute and
Children Now also recommend this strategy.4
States including Mississippi, New Mexico, Oregon, New York, Philadelphia
and Washington have at tempted, but failed, to pass an excise tax on sugar-
sweetened beverages. However Washington D.C. recently passed a sales
tax of 6 percent on diet and non-diet sodas, energy drinks and spor t drinks.
Policy Alert: Sugar Sweetened Beverage
1Fiorito LM, Marini M, Francis LA, Smiciklas-Wright H, Birch LL. (2009). Beverage intake of girls at age 5 y predicts adiposity and weight status in childhood and adolescence.2Hannon, Tamara S., Goutham, Rao, Arslanian, Silva, A.. "Childhood Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus." Pediat-rics 116, no. 2 (2005): 473-480.3James J, Thomas P, Cavan D, Kerr D. (2004). Preventing childhood obesity by reducing consumption of carbonated drinks: Cluster randomized controlled trial. BMJ 328:1237.4Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, www.yaleruddcenter.org.
HIGH 5 Winner: Katie Milligan M a n ager of Ea rly Educat ion at S a n Jose Un i f ie d S c ho ol D i s t r ic t
Each quarter, FIRST 5 recognizes a
HIGH 5 Partner Appreciation Award
winner for outstanding contributions.
Recipients further FIRST 5’s mission
by performing above and beyond
contractual obligation and effectively
leverage FIRST 5’s time, talent and/or
funding.
Katie Milligan helped revitalize
San Jose Unif ied School Distr ic t ’s
Preschool Program by introducing
technology into the classrooms.
Last year, hundreds of four-and
f ive-year olds had access to a
"real" computer and students
learned reading skills using
the Lexia computer curriculum.
Teachers also used new overhead
projec tors to instruc t their
students.
Renovations to the exterior of the
preschool also improved qualit y
play time for students, an example
of such renovations include
benches and shade struc tures
which provide comfor t for t ired
children and adults alike.
Parents and teachers appreciate
Katie’s dedication to San Jose
Unified’s preschool children.
Local and State Policy to Reduce Sugary Drink Intake of Children
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700
Kindergarten classrooms and talked
with the students about making
healthier drink choices.
“History tells us that these educational
campaigns work. In fact, it may be the
only way to turn things around. Many
children don’t have an awareness of
obesity issues but it is interesting to
see how quickly they gain awareness
and then start to educate everyone
else,” said Dave Cortese, President,
Board of Supervisors, Santa
Clara County, Third District, who
participated in the kick-off and read
the storybook to students.
This event was part of the ReThink
Your Drink campaign led by FIRST 5
Santa Clara County, along with Kaiser
Permanente and the Santa Clara
County Public Health Department.
An otter named Potter only drinks
water, and FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
urged Santa Clara County kids to do
the same. FIRST 5 used their colorful,
English/Spanish rhyming book titled,
Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water
to entice young children to make the
right drink choices and mitigate the
epidemic of childhood obesity in
Santa Clara County and the nation.
Preschools and elementary schools
across Santa Clara County were
provided a copy of Potter the Otter:
A Tale About Water and students
were encouraged to read the book to
promote awareness against childhood
obesity.
Community leaders also gathered at
Ryan Elementary School in the Alum
Rock School District and read Potter
the Otter: A Tale About Water, to
Schools Across Santa Clara County Successfully Kicked-Off Our Obesity Prevention Campaign
04
“Our children are our community’s
most valuable resource and their
healthy development should be our
highest priority. FIRST 5 created this
book because it serves to educate
in many ways…parents can read to
their children and teachers can read
to students. The book also includes
fun activities to reinforce the sugar-
free messaging. Education enables
smart choices and learning through
enjoyment is the best way to never
forget what we learn,” said Jolene
Smith, Chief Executive Officer for
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County.
Over 600,000 copies of Potter
the Otter: A Tale about Water are
circulating throughout by their First 5
County Commissions, schools, child
care and health agencies statewide.
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County and “Potter the Otter” urged kids to drink water
ReThink Your Drink Campaign . . .continued from page 1
As part of the ReThink Your Drink campaign, leading agencies - FIRST 5 Santa
Clara County, Kaiser Permanente, and Santa Clara County Public Health
Department have joined together to encourage families to take the first
step in preventing obesity by choosing to drink water over sugar-sweetened
beverages.
DID YOU K NOW ?The average 4-to-5 year old child consumes 65 pounds of added sugar a
year
41% of children ages 2-11 drink at least one soda or sugar-sweetened
beverage on an average day
Juice is loaded with sugar –two small juice boxes (6.75 oz) contain more
sugar than one can of soda
Soda is the #1 source of added sugar in the American diet
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700
Childhood obesity is an epidemic in
the United States. As pediatricians we
now frequently see complications of
childhood obesity that we never saw
before: diabetes type 2, hypertension
and hormonal problems. These
problems can last a lifetime and lead to
stroke, heart attacks, kidney problems
and other conditions.
At Kaiser Permanente, we are committed
to fighting this epidemic. We encourage
breast feeding, avoiding juices in infants
and we monitor our patients’ weights at
each visit. We advocate water instead
of juices, sports drinks and sodas. We
advocate home cooked meals instead
of fast foods and we encourage at least
an hour of play or exercise everyday for
children.
What ef forts has Kaiser
Permanente undertaken to f ight
childhood obesity?
Kaiser Permanente, along with the Santa
Clara County Public Health Department,
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, and the
Bay Area Nutrition & Physical Activity
Collaborative are all fighting childhood
obesity by participating in the ReThink
Your Drink campaign.
Families are asked to choose healthy
drinks like water, nonfat/lowfat milk,
unsweetened ice teas or carbonated
water without added sweeteners.
The ReThink Your Drink campaign has
over 100 partners that are promoting
the message in hospitals and clinics,
child care centers, schools, worksites,
non-profits, and preschools.
Why ReThink Your Dr ink? Q & A with Calv in Gordon , MD, Assistant Physician In Chief Kaiser Permanente , San Jose Medical Center
05
The campaign has many elements:
Pledge cards - provide information on
sugar in common beverages and ask
adults and children to take a pledge to
stop drinking sugary drinks.
Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water
Storybook – a bi-lingual (English/
Spanish) storybook for young children
and their parents which narrates the
story of an otter that helps his friends
stop drinking sugary drinks and make
healthier drink choices. The book
includes activities for children, tips for
parents, and an action card for parents
to commit to serving water to their
children.
What can parents or caregivers do?
Make a pledge to stop drinking sugary
drinks!
Read Potter the Otter: A Tale About
Water story book to any child in your life.
Tell your friends about sweetened
beverages and encourage them to drink
water, milk or unsweetened beverages.
During the summer months, all FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Family Resource Centers hosted circle time readings of Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water. 600,000 copies of our book are being distributed statewide.
HIGHLIGHTS
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700
Text4baby is a free mobile information
service designed to provide pregnant
women and new moms with information
to help them care for their health and give
their babies the best possible start in life.
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County is a text4baby
Outreach Partner. We encourage our
partners to promote the FREE text4baby
service to the families they serve. Text
messages are available in English
and Spanish. FIRST 5 also of fers
posters to our par tners to promote
this service.
FIR ST 5 Launches TEXT4 BA BY Free Tips for New and Expectant Mothers
For more information, please contact Molly Fezell, [email protected].
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.370006
Caroline was diagnosed with Rett
Syndrome (RTT) in June 2011 at the age
of 17 months. Rett Syndrome is a rare
and debilitating neurodevelopmental
disorder that mainly affects girls and
interferes with their ability to use their
hands, talk, and walk. Girls with RTT
develop normally for the first 6-18
months before they lose these skills
and begin repetitive hand movements
such as wringing, clapping, or mouthing.
Medical complications also include
issues with chewing and swallowing,
seizures, abnormal breathing, as well as
gastro-intestinal and heart problems.
Caroline was born in January 2010.
We were in love the second we
met her. She was sweet, bright,
easygoing, and observant from
the very beginning. She hit all her
milestones on time until about 6
months. She even said “mama” for
the first time at 5 ½ months.
At 9 months, Caroline wasn’t crawling
so her pediatrician suggested
we contact Fairfax County Early
Intervention services. After a couple of
months of physical therapy, Caroline
had finally developed the strength
and motivation to crawl, but the
coordination necessary to move
forward was still missing.
At 15 months, we noticed that Caroline
was performing a strange repetitive
movement with her hands. It looked
like “clapping” or clasping. The
movements were subtle at first, but
my heart sank the first time I noticed
them. The repetitive behavior was a
sign that we were dealing with more
than just gross motor skill delays. In
the following month, the movements
became constant and Caroline began
to lose the ability to use her hands
to pick up objects, play with her toys,
self-feed, and hold her bottle. Around
this time, we noticed that she was
losing her words. Communication had
always been her strength, which made
her regression all the more noticeable.
Caroline also developed problems
with chewing and swallowing. We had
dark days filled with grief and anxiety
as we watched Caroline struggle with
the loss of these skills.
We received the clinical diagnosis
for Rett Syndrome...a genetic test
revealed a deletion in the MECP2
gene. The MECP2 gene, which
is located in the X chromosome,
regulates a protein in our brains that
plays a role in basic coordinated
movements that we otherwise take
for granted, such as talking, walking,
and using our hands. Mutations or
deletions in the MECP2 gene disturb
the function of those skills.
Caroline’s diagnosis caused an
unexpected turn in our lives, but
it also gave us a clear explanation
behind her symptoms. We began
educating ourselves and reaching out
to all appropriate resources to ensure
that we fully understand and meet
her needs. Once a week, Caroline
gets both early educational therapy
(focused on speech, fine motor
skills, and play) and physical therapy.
Caroline is still unable to crawl, but
she is working hard on standing and
taking steps with assistance. She is
making slow but steady progress every
day! Caroline also goes to a wonderful
private daycare four days a week. In
September 2012, after Caroline turns
2, she will transfer to the public school
system, where she will continue to
receive various therapies while also
benefiting from an individualized
education program.
Rett Syndrome prevents Caroline
from expressing herself and moving
the way she wants to. The disorder,
however, doesn't affect Caroline's
intelligence or her ability to love. She
is an affectionate and sweet baby.
She says so much with her eyes, and
is very observant and engaged. She
understands everything we say to
her, even though she struggles to
communicate back to us. Caroline
is not to be defined by her missed
milestones, but by her strength and
sweet spirit.
Caroline’s family, doctors, therapists,
and teachers are all committed to
working on helping her preserve her
skills and continue to make progress
in all areas of development. We are
dedicated to giving Caroline a rich
and happy life.
Caroline's Journey Living with Rett Syndrome
Marta and Caroline Conner
A Mother's Story...
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700FIRST 5 Santa Clara County • 4000 Moorpark Ave., Suite 200 • San Jose, CA 95117 • www.first5kids.org • 408.260.3700 07
Karma King, mother who lost her child due to unsafe sleeping practices
Rett Syndrome Facts
1 in every 10,000 girls are born
with Rett every single day.
Caused by a spontaneous gene
mutation in the X chromosome.
The leading cause of impairment
in girls—most cannot speak, walk,
or use their hands.
Girls develop normally for the
first 6-18 months before they lose
these skills and begin repetitive
hand movements such as
wringing, clapping, or mouthing.
Medical complications also
include issues with chewing and
swallowing, seizures, abnormal
breathing, as well as gastro-
intestinal and heart problems.
For more information, please visit
the following organizations:
Girl Power to Cure
www.girlpower2cure.org
Rett Syndrome Research Trust
www.rsrt.org
International Rett Syndrome
Foundation
www.rettsyndrome.org
"Unsafe sleep practices have been the cause of one-third of the deaths of Santa
Clara County infants since 2005," said Dr. Michelle Jorden, Assistant Medical
Examiner. "Thorough examinations that include working with families to re-enact
the baby's sleeping situation have provided us with the data we need to fully
understand unsafe sleep situations. Now, it is crucial that we teach all parents and
caregivers what must be done to keep their babies safe while sleeping."
During a joint press conference on December 15, 2011 at a FIRST 5 Family Resource
Center, Dr. Louis Girling and Dr. Michelle Jorden, physicians leading the County's
Child Death Review Team, spoke on the causes and circumstances surrounding
deaths of children in Santa Clara County due to unsafe sleeping practices. A
mother also shared her tragic story about the loss of her baby due to unsafe
sleeping practices.
"The only way to put a baby to sleep safely is alone, on his or her back, and in a
crib or bassinet," said Deputy Health Officer Dr. Louis Girling. "It's so important
for people to be aware of the dangers of sharing a bed with an infant, and to make
sure the baby's sleeping space is clear of things like toys, blankets, or pillows."
FIRST 5 Chief Executive Officer, Jolene Smith introduced the Safe Sleep Campaign
which will spread safe sleep messages throughout shopping malls, bus ads and
radio public service announcements in the county. FIRST 5 will also be donating
infant one-piece pajamas, or "onesies," with a safe sleep message to birthing
hospitals for distribution to new parents.
"These deaths are heartbreaking," said Jolene Smith. "We must remember that
unsafe sleeping practices can be prevented, and together with this campaign,
we will help ensure that another precious life is not lost due to unsafe sleeping
environments and practices."
For more information on Safe Sleep Practices please visit:
www.first5kids.org/safesleep or www.sccphd.org.
Recent Infant Deaths Due To Unsafe Sleeping Practices
4000 Moorpark Ave. Suite 200San Jose, CA 95117P: 408.260.3700
www.f i rst5kids.org
08
Our Commissioners
Message from the Chief Executive Officer, Jolene SmithAs part of her ambitious campaign to eliminate childhood
obesity in one generation, First Lady Michelle Obama said,
"Our kids didn't do this to themselves. They don't decide
the sugar content in soda or the advertising content of a
television show. Kids don't choose what's served to them
for lunch at school, and shouldn't be deciding what's served
to them for dinner at home. And they don't decide whether
there's time in the day or room in the budget to learn about
healthy eating."
Rachel Samoff, Chairperson
Representing Santa Clara County
Board of Supervisors, District 5
Eleanor Villarreal, Vice-Chairperson
Representing Santa Clara County
Board of Supervisors, District 1
Laura Champion, Commissioner
Representing Santa Clara County
Board of Supervisors, District 4
Carmen Montano, Commissioner
Representing Santa Clara County
Board of Supervisors, District 3
Dr. Leticia Pelayo, Commissioner
Representing Santa Clara Val ley
Health and Hospital System
George Philipp, Commissioner
Representing the Local Early
Education Planning Council
Gina Sessions, Commissioner
Representing Santa Clara County
Social Services Agency
Corazon Tomalinas, Commissioner
Representing Santa Clara County
Board of Supervisors, District 2
Supervisor Ken Yeager, Commissioner
Representing Santa Clara County
Board of Supervisors
Jolene Smith, Chief Executive Officer, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County
First Lady Michelle Obama’s powerful words summarize the sad reality we face as a
nation as the percentage of overweight children in the U.S. is growing at an alarming
rate, with 1 out of 3 children now considered overweight or obese.
While there are many causes of childhood obesity, research clearly points to sugar
intake as a huge contributor to the obesity crisis! One of the largest sources of
added sugar for our children is found in sugary drinks and sodas.
With this in mind, FIRST 5 has joined together with other key agencies to launch the
ReThink Your Drink campaign. This campaign encourages families to “rethink their drink”
and drink water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas and fruit drinks.
We also created a popular children’s book, Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water,
which uses adorable animal characters to encourage children to choose water
over sugary drinks. Over 600,000 copies of the book, available in both English and
Spanish, have been distributed to families statewide, as well as to every public
kindergarten class throughout Santa Clara County and in pediatric settings within
both Kaiser Permanente and the Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System.
This new year find alternative and creative ways to limit sugary foods and drinks and
encourage children to do the same. Please remind children of the delightful story
of Potter the Otter and encourage them to make healthy resolutions. Children learn
and remember through fun so visit potterloveswater.com, take the pledge with your
children to drink water instead of sugary drinks!
May your new year be filled with health and well-being!
For the elec tronic version, go to
w w w.f irs t5kids.org/newslet ter