Page 93 - North State Parent September 2023

NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE FALL/WINTER 2023 SAFETY
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT BabysittingTrainingCourses
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Bike & Board Helmets
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT CarSeatSafety
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT COVID Resources
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT CPR&FirstAidTraining
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT Domestic Violence, Trafficking & Abuse
Prevention
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT FireSafety
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT ProductRecalls&AwarenessWebsites
CARET-SQUARE-RIGHT WaterSafety
BABYSITTING TRAINING COURSES
MULTIPLE COUNTIES
American Red Cross Babysitters’ Train- ing Programs. Recommended for ages 11-15. Participants learn about childcare skills, safety hazards, injury prevention and starting a babysitting business. Infant/ child CPR & first aid. Find local programs or enroll in an online course. redcross. org/take-a-class/babysitting-child-care. (800)733-2767.
BUTTE COUNTY
Safe Babysitting Courses; Chico. Enloe Mother & Baby Education Center offers courses for ages 12+. Participants receive a pediatric CPR participation card. enloe. org/services-and-treatments/mother-ba- by-care-center/tours-classes/safety-class- es. 251 Cohasset Rd, Ste. 120. (530)332- 3970.
BIKE & BOARD HELMETS
Valley Oak Children’s Services; Chico. Low cost bike helmets available for toddler and preschool aged children. valleyoak- children.org. 3120 Cohasset Rd, Suite 6. (530)895-3572.
Yreka Police Department; Yreka. Gives out free helmets to children in size S, M,
& L. ci.yreka.ca.us/194/Department. 1400 Fairlane Rd. (530)841-2300.
CAR SEAT SAFETY
BUTTE COUNTY
AAA; Chico. Book an appointment online for a virtual meeting with a car seat tech- nician, who will check to see if the car seat has been recalled and ensure you’re using the correct seat based on the age, weight, and height of your child. Technicians also work with you to practice the correct installation and use of your car seat. mwg. aaa.com/automotive/car-seat-inspections. 2221 Forest Ave. (530)332-2600.
AAA; Oroville. Book an appointment online for a virtual meeting with a car
seat technician, who will check to see if the car seat has been recalled and ensure you’re using the correct seat based on
the age, weight, and height of your child. Technicians also work with you to practice
the correct installation and use of your car seat. mwg.aaa.com/automotive/ car-seat-inspections. 2024-A, Oro Dam Blvd E. (530)538-8900.
Butte County Public Health; Oroville. Offering hands-on, car seat safety classes both one-on-one by appointment or bi-monthly in the evenings. Qualifying families will receive a free car seat. Call to make a car seat appointment. buttecounty. net/874/Car-Seat-Program. 25 County Center Dr. (800)339-2941.
California Highway Patrol; Chico. Car seat inspections Wed 8:30am-11:30am. 413 Southgate Ave. (530)332-2800.
California Highway Patrol; Oroville. Con- tact office to schedule an appointment. 2072 3rd St. (530)538-2700.
SHASTA COUNTY
AAA; Redding. Book an appointment online for a virtual meeting with a car
seat technician, who will check to see if the car seat has been recalled and ensure you’re using the correct seat based on
the age, weight, and height of your child. Technicians also work with you to practice the correct installation and use of your
car seat. mwg.aaa.com/automotive/ car-seat-inspections. 943 Mission de Oro Dr. (530)722-1600.
California Highway Patrol; Redding. Call 8am-5pm to make sure there is an officer available for a car seat inspection before coming in. 2485 Sonoma St. (530)242- 4300.
Shasta County Maternal, Child, & Adolescent Health and Human Services Agency; Redding. Virtual car seat classes. 2660 Breslauer Way. (530)245-6877. Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency; Redding. Offering a free car seat safety class and low-cost car seats for those who qualify. shastahhsa.net. https://www.shastacounty.gov/health-hu- man-services/page/child-safety-seats. 2650 Breslauer Way. Call to pre-register: (530)225-5850 or (800)300-5122.
SISKIYOU COUNTY
California Highway Patrol; Yreka. Call for appointment. 1739 South Main St. (530)842-0530.
COVID RESOURCES
Butte County Public Health; Oroville. buttecounty.net/727/COVID-19-Resources. 202 Mira Loma Dr. (530)552-4000. Fairchild Medical Center; Yreka. 8am- 4pm, Mon-Sat. fairchildmed.org. 444 Bruce Street. (530)842-4121.
Glenn County Public Health. countyof- glenn.net/dept/health-human-services/ public-health/covid-19.
Shasta Ready. shastacounty.gov/ health-human-services/page/covid-19-re- sources.
Siskiyou County Public Health; Yreka. 8am-5pm Monday-Friday co.siskiyou.ca.us/ publichealth/page/covid-19-guidance-re- sources. 810 S. Main St. (530)841-2134. Tehama County Health Services Agency; Red Bluff. tehamacohealthservices.net/ covid-19/. 1850 Walnut St. (530)527-8491.
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www.northstateparent.com • NorthStateParentFamilyResourceGuideFall/Winter2023 93
Strengthening Children After Traumatic Events
BY DEBORAH PEEL
Serious traumatic events like the North State wildfires in 2020 and 2021, or suddenly having to move due to family or housing issues can diminish a child’s feelings of trust and safety. During an evacuation, sudden relocation or other
urgent life changes, the adults are in survival mode patching together the basics of food, shelter and clothing. But what about the kids? Children may be experiencing high levels of distress from events they don’t understand and emotions they don’t know how to manage. By understanding the signs of child distress, parents can take intentional steps to restore their child’s sense of safety, love and stability. Even in the face of adversity, parents can help strengthen their children and build the resilience they’ll need to cope with stress.
Signs of distress
A child’s signs of distress are important clues for parents. Child trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry explains, “The acute post-traumatic period is characterized by an attempt by the child to re-organize, re-evaluate and restore their pre-traumatic world. Many of the emotional, behavioral and cognitive signs and symptoms of the acute post- traumatic period are due to these efforts.”
Children may not know how to tell parents about their fear, confusion or turmoil. It’s their behavior that communicates distress. Parents should watch for signs of distress, including:
• Difficulty separating from parents or other important people.
• Sleeping too much or too little, or having a hard time getting to sleep.
• Developing a fear of the dark.
• Eating too much or too little.
• Becoming more, or less, physically active.
• Being unusually quiet or remote or more talkative than usual.
• Bedwetting or diarrhea.
• Stomachache, headache, nausea or body aches.
• Fearful reactions to loud or sudden noises such as sirens or household sounds.
• Patterned behavior like rocking, thumb sucking or humming.
Take steps to reduce a child’s distress
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events that can have lasting effects on health and wellness into adulthood. Childhood trauma can be linked to heart trouble, mental health disorders, drug and alcohol abuse and other serious adult health and behavior issues. During and after traumatic events, parents can reduce their child’s likelihood of acquiring ACEs by taking steps to nurture them through their distress. The following are suggested steps that parents can take to help their children.
• Give children an abundance of warm attention and loving interactions.
• Re-establish routines as soon as possible; a predictable mealtime, bath and
bedtime restore a sense of predictable, reliable normalcy.
• Engage in side-by-side activities such as walking, drawing, coloring, puzzles or
playing with blocks.
• Let children talk about the event when they are ready.
• Share brief, honest information about the event and allow children to ask
questions.
• Be reminded that children don’t worry about the same things as adults. Take care
to validate their worries.
• Stay available to children, especially at bedtime.
• Know when to seek help from a healthcare or mental health professional. Anxiety
may last for months, but panic attacks, hearing voices, seeing things or wanting
to harm oneself or others are indicators that help is needed.
• From toddlers to teens, offer the reassurance of loving hugs or a pat on the back.
Remember that reassuring and strengthening children will be an ongoing need as they transition from their old home to a new place to live, a new school and meeting new friends. They may be missing old friends and familiar places and, in some cases, grieving for family members or pets they have lost. The stable and nurturing relationship children have with their parents or at least one caring adult is a protective factor that can help them through a traumatic event. The support they receive during and after trauma can foster resilience that will help them thrive in the future. Protect children with unwavering love, support and attention. Help them emerge from a traumatizing event stronger than before. Ó