Do you like working with young children or have an interest in pursuing a degree in the education field?
The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) is offering college scholarships to students and daycare professionals that plan to teach or become administrators in the early childhood care and education field in Illinois once they have earned their degree. The scholarship is available for students studying at any one of 63 colleges and universities in the state.
If you currently work or have worked in the early childhood education field and want additional credentials like a 2- or 4-year degree, you may be eligible for the scholarship. The award is designed to help cover college costs for an academic year - including a summer session - after financial aid from other sources has been received by the applicant.
"The program was created to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators by encouraging the pursuit of credentials and advancement of already-held degrees in early childhood education, with an aim toward building a strong, well-prepared workforce," according to scholarship announcement on the isac.org.
The application deadline for the upcoming academic year is March 1. For more information and to apply, follow this link: ECACE Scholarship Program.
Playground swings have remained one of the most recognizable features of parks and schoolyards for generations. Children eagerly line up for a turn because swinging combines excitement, movement, and imagination in a simple activity. Communities continue to invest in quality playground equipment because outdoor recreation strengthens neighborhoods and supports healthy childhood development.
The history and benefits of playground swings reveal why they continue to hold an important place in public spaces across Illinois and beyond. Explore eight fascinating facts about playground swings and why kids and adults cherish these windy moments.
Julian Jimenez Martinez/PEXELS
Swings have been a childhood favorite since the beginning of civilization. Neighborhood parks are excellent gathering places where families build lasting relationships.
1. Swings Have Entertained Children for Thousands of Years
The concept of swinging dates back much farther than many people realize. Archaeological discoveries and historical records suggest that early forms of swings appeared in ancient civilizations, including Greece. While early versions served ceremonial purposes in some cultures, children quickly embraced them as a source of recreation. Over time, swings evolved into familiar playground equipment found in schools, parks, and neighborhoods around the world.
Modern playground swings feature stronger materials and improved engineering than their historical counterparts. Steel frames, durable chains, and weather-resistant seats provide greater longevity and safety than earlier wooden designs. Manufacturers continue refining swing systems to improve accessibility and durability. These advancements allow today’s playgrounds to welcome larger numbers of visitors throughout the year.
2. Swinging Supports Physical Development
Swinging may look simple, but it activates several important muscle groups at once. Children strengthen their legs, core muscles, arms, and balance while learning to coordinate body movements. Pumping a swing also develops timing and rhythm as children discover how body position influences motion. These physical skills often transfer into sports and other recreational activities.
Regular outdoor play also encourages healthy movement habits during childhood. Time spent climbing, swinging, running, and exploring offers valuable alternatives to extended screen time. Physical activity supports cardiovascular health while helping children develop endurance and coordination. Playground visits often become an enjoyable part of a family’s weekly routine.
3. Swings Benefit Emotional Well-Being
Many parents notice that children often leave the playground happier than when they arrived. The smooth, repetitive motion of swinging creates a calming experience that helps many children relax and focus. Outdoor play also reduces stress while providing opportunities to enjoy fresh air and natural surroundings. These emotional benefits contribute to overall childhood wellness.
Swinging also builds confidence as children master new skills. Learning how to pump independently or safely jump from a swing creates a sense of accomplishment. Small achievements encourage children to continue challenging themselves in healthy ways. Confidence developed through play often extends into school, sports, and social situations.
4. Modern Designs Welcome More Children
Today’s playground designers place greater emphasis on accessibility than previous generations. Inclusive swing seats provide opportunities for children with varying physical abilities to enjoy the same recreational experiences as their peers. Accessible playground planning also considers pathways, surfacing materials, and surrounding amenities. These thoughtful improvements help more families participate together.
Communities increasingly recognize that inclusive recreation benefits everyone. Children learn empathy and cooperation when they play alongside peers with different abilities. Families also appreciate parks that welcome every child without unnecessary barriers. Inclusive design reflects broader community values centered on participation and belonging.
5. Safety Standards Continue To Improve
Playground safety has advanced significantly during the past several decades. Manufacturers follow detailed standards regarding equipment construction, spacing, fall zones, and protective surfacing. Regular inspections also identify maintenance needs before small issues become larger safety concerns. These practices create safer environments for children while giving parents greater peace of mind.
Parents and caregivers still play an important role during playground visits. Active supervision allows adults to encourage safe behavior while helping younger children navigate equipment appropriately. Simple reminders about taking turns and using swings correctly reduce unnecessary risks. Combining quality equipment with attentive supervision creates the safest experience possible.
6. Swings Bring Communities Together
Neighborhood parks are excellent gathering places where families build lasting relationships. Children naturally interact while waiting for swings or inventing games together on the playground. Parents and grandparents frequently meet neighbors during these visits, creating stronger community connections. These everyday interactions contribute to friendlier and more welcoming neighborhoods.
Many planners also recognize that commercial playgrounds encourage active lifestyles by creating inviting destinations for families, schools, and community organizations. Well-designed playgrounds motivate children to spend more time outdoors while encouraging adults to participate in physical activity alongside them. These shared experiences strengthen individual health and community engagement. Public recreation spaces continue to play an important role in supporting active living.
7. Playground Swings Inspire Imaginative Play
Children rarely see a swing as just a seat hanging from chains. One moment it becomes a soaring airplane, and the next it transforms into a pirate ship crossing rough seas. Imaginative play encourages creativity while helping children develop storytelling and problem-solving skills. Open-ended recreation allows every child to create unique adventures.
Creative play also supports communication and cooperation. Friends invent games together while negotiating rules and sharing ideas throughout their time at the playground. These interactions strengthen social skills in a relaxed setting. Playgrounds remain valuable spaces where learning happens naturally through fun.
8. Small Maintenance Efforts Make a Big Difference
Even the strongest playground equipment requires regular care. Routine inspections help identify worn chains, loose hardware, damaged seats, or deteriorating surfacing before they become hazards. Parks departments that prioritize preventive maintenance often extend the life of their playground investments while reducing costly repairs. Consistent upkeep also keeps parks attractive for local families.
Communities can support these efforts by reporting damaged equipment promptly and respecting posted playground rules. Shared responsibility preserves public recreation spaces for future generations. Local volunteers sometimes assist with cleanup days that improve neighborhood parks. These cooperative efforts strengthen community pride while protecting valuable public resources.
What Makes Playground Swings So Enduring?
Several qualities explain why playground swings continue to remain popular across generations:
They encourage active outdoor play.
They support physical coordination and balance.
They promote creativity and imaginative thinking.
They provide calming sensory experiences.
They create opportunities for social interaction.
They welcome children across a wide range of ages.
Playground swings continue to offer far more than simple entertainment. They promote physical activity, encourage emotional well-being, strengthen social connections, and support imaginative play in ways few recreational activities can match. Communities that invest in safe, accessible playgrounds create valuable gathering spaces that benefit families for years to come. As neighborhoods continue to grow and evolve, the familiar playground swing will likely remain a fascinating symbol of childhood and community life.
Casey Cartwright is a passionate copyeditor highly motivated to provide compelling SEO content in the digital marketing space. Her expertise includes a vast range of industries from highly technical, consumer, and lifestyle-based, with an emphasis on attention to detail and readability.
Illinois advocates urge Congress to pass the Child Care for Working Families Act to lower child care costs.
by Mark Richardson
Public News Service
CHICAGO - Advocates for working families are asking Congress to pass a bill to lower the cost of child care in Illinois and across the U.S.
The Child Care for Working Families Act is stalled in the Republican-controlled Congress. The measure would increase federal funding so child care would cost no more than 7% of a family's annual income. The median family income in Illinois is about $80,000 a year.
Amber Knight, board president of the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children, said currently, most families are priced out of the child care market.
"This act is going to help working families," Knight asserted. "It's going to provide security and being able to have children attend early-childhood education settings without having the burden be solely placed on families."
Early childhood education is so beneficial to the children and families
The bill would fund grants to open new child care centers and guarantee higher wages for providers, in order to stabilize and grow the workforce. The two biggest programs in the bill, Child Care and Development Fund and Head Start, would receive about $12 billion each. Most House and Senate Democrats are backing the bill, while Republicans oppose it because of its cost.
Knight noted many Illinois families, especially those in rural areas, live in so-called "child care deserts," where the supply is insufficient to meet the need. She stressed it forces working families to make hard social and financial decisions.
"People are able to go to work if their child is being taken care of and also be able to take care of their family by not putting their whole paycheck to child care," Knight explained.
She pointed out studies show children who get an early start on education perform better during their entire time is school and are more successful later in life.
"Early childhood education is so beneficial to the children and families and being able to give them the access in any way we can," Knight added. "Helping the families or helping the centers will really benefit our future."
Tags: Illinois child care costs, Child Care for Working Families Act 2025, early childhood education funding, child care deserts in Illinois, Head Start and Child Care Development Fund expansion
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 75% of U.S. high school students said they have had at least one adverse childhood experience, or ACE.
Research has shown ACEs can alter a child's brain chemistry and produce a prolonged toxic stress response. Experiencing at least one ACE as a child is linked to having alcohol and substance use problems in adulthood, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Joe Bargione, a certified school psychologist, said the symptoms are troubling.
"We're seeing some of the same kinds of patterns," Bargione pointed out. "That increased sense of loneliness, isolation in our youth, increased levels of suicide ideation, exposure to violence, exposure to other adverse childhood experiences."
The Illinois Department of Public Health said 61% of adults have had at least one ACE, including witnessing domestic violence in the home, parental separation, or physical and sexual abuse. Females and several groups who identify as a racial or ethnic minority were at greater risk for experiencing four or more ACEs.
The Illinois Department of Health said preventing ACEs may lower the risk for depression, asthma, cancer, and diabetes in adulthood. Bargione added schools can help address the youth mental health crisis by cultivating a sense of belonging and connectedness, as well as increasing suicide prevention programs.
"Promoting mental health awareness," Bargione urged. "Teaching kids around social-emotional learning and dealing with their emotions in an effective way, increased mental health services."
The Illinois Department of Health said healthy childhoods can provide lasting benefits throughout their lives. One way to help at-risk youth is by educating communities, youth-serving and faith-based organizations, coaches, and caregivers to better understand ACEs.
A new report looks at children's well-being in every state and finds in Illinois, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race.
In its Race for Results report, the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzed indicators of child well-being, from early childhood education and reading achievement, to family resources.
One indicator needing attention is fourth-grade reading proficiency. One in three Illinois students is reading at grade level, but only 13% of Black fourth graders.
Katelyn Jones, vice president of policy research and evaluation at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, explains the need to correct the discrepancy early.
"We know for a fact, based on lots of research, that reading proficiency levels at the fourth grade level are really strong indicators for high school graduation rates, college enrollment, income," Jones outlined. "All of these benchmarks for success later in life."
On the Casey Foundation's scale of 1,000 points, white children got the highest score for well-being in Illinois, at 740 points. Hispanic children saw a score of just over 500 points, and Black children, 341 points. Jones noted parents working long hours and the cost of early childhood education programs are additional factors in the education disparities.
The report suggested expanding the federal Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit could help narrow the gaps for children of color, along with targeted programs and policies. Jones pointed out the need for continued support for early childhood education to help set kids up for success in school. She acknowledged one resource is showing promise to achieve the goal.
"Illinois is doing a pretty good job of that," Jones noted. "The governor's Smart Start Illinois program, as that goes into effect, I'm sure that will work to address many of the challenges."
The Smart Start Illinois program is a multiyear plan to provide every child with access to preschool, increase funding to child care providers and reach more vulnerable families with early support.
Haunting memories of a child's measles death in rural Nepal take on new urgency as the disease surges across America with over 900 cases in just six weeks. A former immunization team leader warns that declining vaccination rates threaten to return the U.S. to an era of preventable childhood deaths.
by Mary Anne Mercer, MPH, DrPH
The escalating number of measles infections in the U.S. brings haunting memories from the year I spent leading an immunization team in Nepal. I was trekking through a rural district without roads, electricity, or modern conveniences. We immunized kids under age five against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and tuberculosis, but a heat-stable measles vaccine was not yet available. Sadly, in those small villages the deadliest, most feared illness was measles.
I wrote in my journal about a day I was called to see a child suffering from measles.
We moved into the shadows of a low-slung house and stepped inside. An elderly woman sat on a mat, holding the now lifeless body of a small child, pale and still, in her arms. She was half-singing, half-crying an ancient sound of mourning, rocking him gently and fondling his face, arms, and legs. It was a painful sight, almost too difficult to witness. I took a deep breath, fighting back tears, an immense effort to keep my composure in the face of this tragic scene.
“There’s the boy’s mother,” whispered the local health assistant, pointing with his chin to a younger woman weeping quietly next to the grandmother. In her arms was an older child, also suffering from measles. Other adults and children milled about the shadows of the room. Dust motes floated in the narrow beacon of sunlight streaming through one small window.
We approached the two women with a deep namaste. “Kasto dukhha, Aama,” I said and bowed respectfully. So much pain. The child’s mother looked up with the saddest of eyes and nodded her acknowledgement.
Before a vaccine was widely available, measles caused two to three million deaths around the world every year, most often among malnourished kids. The first measles vaccine required freezing and refrigeration at every point prior to injection, so it was years before a new formulation was available that could be used in areas without electricity. Even today, measles is still a leading cause of child death in poor countries, killing over 100,000 children annually.
In pre-vaccine U.S., measles was an expected rite of passage for kids. “Just get it over with,” was the usual advice. During that era, around half a million U.S. kids came down with measles and roughly 500 of them died every year. When immunization programs were launched after 1963, the numbers gradually dropped to fewer than 100 cases a year by the late 1990s.
But now -- it’s coming back. In 2025, more than 2200 cases were reported in the US, most in families with religious or other objections to immunizations. Three of them died. In only the first six weeks of 2026 over 900 cases have been reported, encompassing half the U.S. states. Among that group are many children of “anti-vaxxer” parents, who unknowingly put their children at risk by refusing the vaccine. Even college campuses are seeing a surge in infections because of generally lower immunization rates among incoming groups.
Why such rapid spread? Measles is in fact one of the most infectious diseases we know: Just spending a few minutes in a room soon after a measles patient has left is enough exposure to lead to infection. Similarly, touching something contaminated by droplets from the sick person’s sneezing or coughing also will do it.
We can combat deaths from measles with widespread vaccinations. “Herd immunity” for measles requires that 95% of susceptible people are vaccinated, and as coverage drops below that level, the risk of outbreaks increases. But the value of vaccines is apparently not understood by our Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Though without formal health training, Kennedy has expressed unverified concerns about the safety of many routine childhood immunizations.
Before President Trump took office, the U.S. was a major supporter of organizations providing vaccines and other basic health interventions for children around the world. But funding for vaccines meant to save children’s lives was cut by the Trump administration, and other sources of support have been slow to emerge. The result: many families—some who live in the most impoverished places on earth—are on their own to provide for their children’s health.
Vaccines prevent kids’ dying from measles and other infectious diseases. We must not return to the era of tragic, needless child deaths that I encountered in Nepal - which could return to this country, unless we safeguard the system that protects our most vulnerable.
About the author ~
Dr. Mary Anne Mercer is a University of Washington public health faculty member and author whose four-decade career has focused on maternal and child health in developing nations. Beginning with her transformative year providing immunizations in rural Nepal in 1978, she has developed health projects in 14 countries and authored books including Beyond the Next Village (2022) and Sickness and Wealth: The Corporate Assault on Global Health. Her recent work strengthening midwifery care through mobile technology in Timor-Leste has been adopted as a national program.
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TAGS: measles outbreak 2026 United States cases, childhood vaccination rates declining America, RFK Jr vaccine policy concerns, herd immunity measles 95 percent threshold
October 31 has come and gone, but the memories from this year's celebration in Tolono will live on thanks to the collection of photos shot by long time resident Susan Plackett at this year's Halloween parade.
Participants stretch for blocks as they make their way through town during the Tolono Halloween parade on October 31. (Photo courtesy of Susan Plackett)
Born and raised in Tolono, Plackett enjoys making memories for those growing up in Tolono like many of the members of the community did for her during her childhood.
"There is nothing more uplifting in these times than seeing families and children having fun," she said.
The Halloween parade was a first for Tolono according Plackett and the third parade in the village this year. With the annual Tolono Fun Day festival canceled due to restriction on large public gatherings in Illinois to prevent the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, a 4th of July parade was put together at the last minute she said because "everyone was missing not having Fun Day the weekend before."
"The Tolono Fun Days committee is trying to give the community something to do during the pandemic," Plackett said. "We had 18 participate 4th of July and 20 participants at the September 4 golf cart parade. [For the] Halloween [parade] there were over 40 vehicles and I don’t know how many walkers."
She shared 146 photos from the parade on Facebook from the parade. Here's a look at some of her photos from three weeks ago and a little bit about her Halloween memories.
Photos courtesy of Susan Packett
Click on any photo view larger
Photos courtesy of Susan Packett
Click on any photo view larger
Looking back, what is your favorite trick-or-treat childhood memory?
"I am too old to remember my own but I do remember my daughter, Veronica’s Halloweens. My husband and I always made her costumes. Until one year she asked if she could please get a store costume. She still loves Halloween and I still take her picture in her costumes."
What is your favorite Halloween movie? How many times have you seen it?
"My brother (John Dodds) and I used to watch Creature Feature every Friday night in the 70’s. There was a different movie every week. Though we watched the movies in the dark our Dad would get upset because every light would be on in the house after the movie. My brother is a chicken. LOL..."
Describe the best costume you wore as an adult?
"My husband and I usually build floats for parades, but we did make a two man cow from an old white blanket and a Papier-mache’ head for a party we were invited to."
You probably saw hundreds of costumes on Saturday at the parade. What was your favorite costume of the day and why?
"I loved all the costumes. This little guy spooked me when he peeked out while I was taking pictures. I think next year there needs to be a pet costume contest The second link of a ketchup bottle costume with the dog as a hot dog. LOVED that one."
Earlier, we asked about your favorite trick-or-treat story. What year was your absolute worse Halloween and how did it end up like that?
"Oh, there is no such thing as a bad day or being bored in our house. My daughter was so disappointed when she was sick and missed the Halloween party and parade at school. Her whole class showed up all through the night to give her candy. The most trick-or-treaters we have ever had here on Daggy Street. LOL And just like that her gloom turned into joy!"
On Facebook, there were several people who said they did not have many trick-or-treaters. Did you have many stop by your house? Do you think the pandemic limited participation this year and why?
"The Pandemic may have had some to do with the low trick-or-treaters. We do not normally get trick-or-treaters because the location of our home and there are not many children in our neighborhood. Door to door trick or treating has declined for the past several years. I think parents take their kids to the newer subdivisions where there is better lighting and sidewalks and trunk or treat events."
Are you a professional photographer? When did you start taking pictures and what do you like about it?
"No, I am not a professional photographer. I have been taking photos since I was a little girl. My first camera was a pocket camera that I earned from selling things door to door.
I don’t normally take posed shots but at the request from a close friend several years ago I started to taking senior photos for family and friends. I just like taking action shots. I like catching the moment or a memory. "
According to Susan, this is the Plackett's all-time best Halloween costume. Photo provided.
I almost always have my camera around my neck during all special events I attend. I remember going to a high school play without my camera and caught myself several times reaching for it. Yes, photography withdraw is very real. LOL ... Can you believe I was restricted from having my camera at my daughters wedding. LOL ... I did capture a couple special moments behind the scene with my cell phone but I had to sneak it. Best thing ever when they put a camera in a cell phone.
I make memories beyond the camera by being involved in the school, my church and several organizations in town.
Many Americans unconsciously link being "American" with whiteness and English fluency, a bias that starts in early childhood, research shows.
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Illinois News Connection
CHICAGO - With Donald Trump in the White House, Illinois and the nation face new challenges about who "belongs" in the United States.
Nationality has become a flashpoint, and studies show folks tend to have an implicit bias about who fits the bill for being "American." Experts say many associate the term "American" with white people who speak English - even if they initially say otherwise.
University of Chicago psychology professor Katherine Kinzler said people don't always consciously exclude individuals from being American, and can be vocal about how ridiculous the notion of being white to be American sounds.
"And yet," she said, "those same people, when given a more subtle task - of 'what they think of when they think of what it means to be American' - they might just be a little bit faster to identify somebody who's white and who speaks English as being American, versus somebody else."
Formed biases are more often a result of social and cultural attitudes rather than political messages.
She said humans categorize others using cognitive shortcuts, which can cause prejudice and stereotypes, and lead to real-world consequences such as determining hiring decisions and ultimately making individuals feel like they don't belong.
Studying the development of social attitudes in kids, Kinzler said she found young children initially perceive English speakers as "more American." As they grow older, they then associate both English speakers and white faces with American identity. Kinzler said children often pick up on the statistical realities of their world, which can also color their beliefs.
"So they might be noticing, 'Who are the people I come in contact with? Who are the people that my parent talks to, who come over for dinner? Who are the people in my school? What access to resources do they have?' And so forth," she said. "And so, kids are paying attention to the social realities of their world and kind of adding it up."
While it's impossible to control everything children are exposed to, Kinzler suggested parents try to broaden their early experiences by exposing them to diverse ideas, languages, people and places, especially from a young age. She said formed biases are more often a result of social and cultural attitudes rather than political messages.
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Tags: Implicit bias in American identity perception, How children learn cultural stereotypes in America, English language and American belonging study, Racial bias in defining who is American, Effects of early childhood exposure on prejudice
A new tool highlights trauma risks in Illinois school districts, aiming for better policy, funding, and public health coordination.
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Illinois News Connection
CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Education has a new tool to measure adversity in children by identifying areas where they may be exposed to potential sources of trauma.
The Illinois Children’s Adversity Index is an interactive map which compares the risk factors of school districts across the state using three categories to measure community and economic barriers. Initial findings show the highest concentration of adversity levels in Southern Illinois driven by factors such as food and housing insecurity and high rates of mental-health distress and imprisonment in adults.
Colleen Cicchetti, executive director of the Center for Childhood Resilience at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, helped in the development process. She said the goal is to hold schools accountable while acknowledging outside factors.
The index will be updated every two years and aims to guide resource allocation more efficiently across state agencies.
"It's really important to understand that it was never designed to say that this is a burden that only schools need to address," Cicchetti emphasized. "This really is talking about what is the context, the community context that schools are operating in that is impacting their ability to educate their students."
Chiquetti pointed out the index will be updated every two years and aims to guide resource allocation more efficiently across state agencies to address the root causes of potential issues for children.
Chiquetti noted it includes informing school-level decision-making to help principals better prioritize interventions based on community context and school data, like focusing on increased mental health services, addressing disparities, or implementing social-emotional learning programs.
"There's a lot of things that people are being exposed to that look different," Chiquetti observed. "So it really does mean that by using database decisions, we might invest in different things in parts of the state than in others, as opposed to globally saying, ‘oh, everybody needs more access.'"
The index builds upon state-level initiatives such as the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative and the Whole Child Task Force, which Chiquetti said all calls for a reconfiguring of the silos of government in order to achieve a more holistic approach to addressing the well-being of children across the state.
"It really is shared across all of these different entities," Chiquetti noted. "It's a public health issue, it's an education issue, it's also a child welfare issue, it's a juvenile justice issue, it's Medicaid insurance access, it's health care … you need all of the systems to have what they need to support those children, families and communities."
More stories ~
Tags: Illinois Children's Adversity Index explained, School trauma risk mapping tool Illinois, Community context in education policy, Measuring childhood adversity in Illinois, Statewide trauma-informed school initiatives
We see depression leads to difficulty with concentration
PEORIA - If you spend time on social media, chances are you’ve seen an ad asking, “Do you have ADHD?”
The ads lead to a self-diagnosing quiz and often provides viewers with misconceptions about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), before they ever see a medical provider.
That’s where Kyle Boerke, PsyD, director of Behavioral Health Outpatient Services for OSF HealthCare, hopes to provide clarity.
ADHD starts in childhood, not in adulthood
“Are adults being diagnosed with ADHD? Absolutely, yes. Is it that they are developing ADHD in adulthood, that’s a no. We know enough about the research, that in order to receive a diagnosis of ADHD, we have to have symptoms starting in childhood. Somewhere near 7 years of age,” Dr. Boerke says.
If you’re having symptoms as an adult that appear to be ADHD, such as lack of focus, inability to sit still, fidgeting, or excessive talking, but you didn’t have these symptoms as a child, Dr. Boerke says you may be experiencing something else.
“We see depression leads to difficulty with concentration,” Dr. Boerke says. “Something inside of them will ring true (if they have ADHD), like if they always struggled with paying attention to their teacher in elementary school.”
What to do about an ADHD diagnosis?
“The easy answer is, we need to seek treatment from a professional,” Dr. Boerke says. “If you have thoughts that you’ve had ADHD symptoms for a long time and you take one of those online quizzes, that’s fine, that can be a starting point.” But he stresses, “I wouldn’t take that quiz and all of a sudden say ‘I have ADHD.’ A great place to start is with your primary care physician.”
Dr. Boerke adds that there’s no official test for ADHD. It’s a whole set of symptoms that include how it’s impacting your daily functioning and for how long.
There are three types of ADHD1: Predominantly Inattentive
“They’re not going to be jumping all over the place, moving from activity to activity,” Dr. Boerke says. “It’s just going to be some hard times focusing, concentrating or finishing a task because your mind gets switched over to a different task all of a sudden.”
2: Predominantly Impulsive/Hyperactive
“These are the kids that just can’t sit still. They’re up out of their seats in the classroom, and this is really where ADHD in children to adults’ changes,” Dr. Boerke explains. “As we age, we do a better job managing the motoric end of things. It’s not uncommon to see kids have a hard time sitting still, it’s more uncommon to see somebody in a business meeting get up and walk around the room.”
3: Combined Presentation
Dr. Boerke describes the third type this way: “You have inattention, plus you have hyperactivity and impulsivity,” Dr. Boerke says.
Do I need to take medicine if I have ADHD?
Dr. Boerke says medicine alone isn’t the answer.
“The analogy I’ll use is Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild. He’s an adventurer on a TV show where he goes out into the wild and he has to survive for a number of days,” Dr. Boerke says. “I liken ADHD to being on a Bear Grylls survivor show. He can do it. ADHD management without medication is like Bear gets dropped in the middle of the Florida Everglades and he has to trudge through the swamps, battle the alligators, get past the snakes and manage to get out. Can he do it? Yes, he does. Is it easy? It sure isn’t.”
Dr. Boerke says ADHD medication is as if Bear Grylls was in the Florida Everglades and producers drop him a rescue boat.
“But the reality is, he still has to get himself into the airboat. He has to start it, steer it, and do the work. It’s just easier to do the work,” Dr. Boerke adds. “Medication is not the fix. It can help, but if you don’t change your lifestyle, put in some organizational tools and do the things necessary, we’re still not going to get better and you’re going to rely on the medication.”
If you’re an adult and think you have ADHD, Dr. Boerke says seeking medical attention by a professional is the best first step. Then, your medical provider will help map out a plan moving forward. This can include ADHD medication and working to keep a strict routine to help you manage any ADHD symptoms.
A global health expert's research revealed unexpected similarities between Iran and the United States—comparable life expectancy, higher literacy rates, and superior childhood immunization coverage—before U.S. and Israeli strikes began destroying hospitals, killing 160 schoolgirls, and creating food shortages. The data suggests Iranians lived lives not so different from Americans just weeks ago.
by Mary Anne Mercer, MPH, DrPH
My work in global health always nudges me to learn about places and people I read about in the news. Right now: Iran, of course. Though I’ve never been there, I knew it was an incredibly old civilization, dating back several millennia with a vibrant culture and elegant, stunning architecture from the past. In recent decades it’s been led by a dictatorial, hard-line Muslim, the Supreme Leader.
I investigated a few facts about the country because understanding how the health of people in other settings compares with ours is often enlightening. Iran is poorer economically than the U.S., so the population probably would have lower living standards, life expectancy, and literacy rates than we do. I’ve worked in public health in a number of low-income countries, so I also expected that use of important services like immunizations for children and family planning for women would be limited.
A quick web search revealed that, indeed, our population is much wealthier than Iran’s. That country has a median income of $4300, compared to the U.S. with around $19,300.
But the other assumptions didn’t fit what I expected. A surprising 100% of the population has access to electricity. Much lower life expectancy? No, they are not dying at young ages: the average Iranian man in 2024 would live to be 76 years old, not far behind the American man at 77 years. I also didn’t expect that most of the main causes of death were the same as ours – heart disease, stroke, hypertension and injuries. Adult literacy, an important social determinant of health, was even more perplexing: only 11% of Iranians were nonliterate in 2023, compared to 21% of Americans around that time.
Maternal and child health practices are important monitors of a population’s well-being. So, another surprise: over 99% of Iranian children have the full set of immunizations by age five--while in the U.S. that rate is only 94% and said to be dropping. For women, childbearing patterns hint at their roles in family decision-making. How does that work in this solidly Muslim country? Another puzzler: at today’s birth rates, both Iranian and American women will have, on average, fewer than two children over their lifetimes.
Pondering these numbers, I couldn’t escape the feeling that Iranians were, put simply, very much like us. They have strong families, send their children off to school every day, have basic conveniences and an efficient public health system.
Or at least they did, until the current military onslaught by the U.S. and Israel began. Since then, the devastation of the country has been relentless: bombing of military targets with unknown numbers of civilian deaths— including the well-documented strike that killed some 160 schoolgirls. Over a dozen hospitals have been bombed, a pall of toxic “black rain” has fallen on Tehran as a result of the destruction of oil facilities, and food shortages in the cities are under way. It appears, however, that to date the death, destruction and massive displacement inflicted on their country has only strengthened the determination of the Iranian leadership, and also perhaps its people, to endure.
At some point this war will end. Until then the people of Iran, whose everyday lives had not been so very different from ours just a few weeks ago, will continue to go to bed every night wondering what hell the Americans and Israelis will inflict their country the next day.
About the author ~
Dr. Mary Anne Mercer is a University of Washington public health faculty member and author whose four-decade career has focused on maternal and child health in developing nations. Beginning with her transformative year providing immunizations in rural Nepal in 1978, she has developed health projects in 14 countries and authored books including Beyond the Next Village (2022) and Sickness and Wealth: The Corporate Assault on Global Health. Her recent work strengthening midwifery care through mobile technology in Timor-Leste has been adopted as a national program.
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URBANA -- OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center named Erin Rogers, MBA, interim president for the Urbana healthcare facility. Effective today, she replaces Dr.Jared Rogers, who recently retired.
In her new role she will be responsible for aligning the Heart of Mary Center with OSF HealthCare's corporate vision. She will direct internal operations to ensure that high-quality, cost-effective health care is will always be received by patients.
Photo provided
"I look forward to carrying forward a culture of collaboration and integration that provides a safe and supportive environment for patients and Mission Partners [employees]," Rogers said. "I'm excited about the vision for the future at OSF Heart of Mary and am committed to embracing the Catholic health care heritage and supporting the Sisters’ Mission of serving with the greatest care and love."
Joining the OSF HealthCare in 2017, Rogers recently served as regional director of business development. Before tenure with the OSF HealthCare Ministry, Rogers spent many years in operations and posesses certification as a Medical Practice Executive. With her ability to build strategic relationships and maintain them, the board of directors anticipates further growth of services provided to the Champaign-Urbana community and the county.
Rogers earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Illinois State University. She continued her education pursuing a Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education Administration from the University of Illinois and then returned to ISU, where she was awarded with a Master of Business Administration.
Some children experienced an academic and developmental delay due to the pandemic. A new device from Animal Island Learning Adventure assists with improving literacy, problem solving, and creativity in young children.
Thomas G./Pixabay
NewsUSA - A year after the coronavirus pandemic turned education upside down, educators and parents are assessing learning loss and the need to help young children get on track and meet milestones they may have missed because of closed or limited daycare centers and preschools.
Many preschoolers missed out on not only academic development, but also social/emotional education with opportunities for engagement and support.
The Animal Island Learning Adventure (AILA) Sit & Play interactive device offers a unique and effective solution to the challenges of promoting early childhood development at home and in the daycare or preschool setting.
AILA is a hands-free device designed as an early education tool for children ages 12 months and older to build the skills they need to proceed to school. The content is attentive, supportive, and responsive; it meets children where they are, and gets them where they need to be. The curriculum includes literacy, numeracy, problem solving, story time, collaboration, communication, creativity, and music, and addresses social as well as academic development. Children are engaged in active, not passive, screen time.
"What is really rewarding is to impact people's lives in education early on," says Helen Fu Thomas, CEO of DMAI, Inc.
"Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, AILA helped tens of thousands of American households and many daycare centers educate the toddlers and preschoolers effectively," she adds. AILA is the no. 1 New Release on Amazon in the Toddler Electronic Learning System category.
Daycare providers can use AILA as a simple solution to help combat pandemic learning loss.
"I work with inner-city kids from middle- and low-income families," says Maria Benjamin, director of the Next Generation Learning Center in Richmond, VA. "These families deserve the best. I believe they can have a promising beginning and a good foundation of learning, and I'm very thankful they can get a head start with AILA."
AILA has no advertising or inappropriate content, and requires no subscription fees. An accompanying app lets parents set content and check in on their child's progress and activities remotely.
Visit animalisland.us for more information and for a special offer on AILA Sit and Play.
Ladapo sent parents a letter granting them permission to send unvaccinated children to school amid the outbreak
With a brief memo, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has subverted a public health standard that’s long kept measles outbreaks under control.
On Feb. 20, as measles spread through Manatee Bay Elementary in South Florida, Ladapo sent parents a letter granting them permission to send unvaccinated children to school amid the outbreak.
The Department of Health “is deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance,” wrote Ladapo, who was appointed to head the agency by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose name is listed above Ladapo’s in the letterhead.
Ladapo’s move contradicts advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This is not a parental rights issue,” said Scott Rivkees, Florida’s former surgeon general who is now a professor at Brown University. “It’s about protecting fellow classmates, teachers, and members of the community against measles, which is a very serious and very transmissible illness.”
Most people who aren’t protected by a vaccine will get measles if they’re exposed to the virus. This vulnerable group includes children whose parents don’t get them vaccinated, infants too young for the vaccine, those who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons, and others who don’t mount a strong, lasting immune response to it. Rivkees estimates that about a tenth of people in a community fall into the vulnerable category.
Measles is so contagious. It is very worrisome.
The CDC advises that unvaccinated students stay home from school for three weeks after exposure. Because the highly contagious measles virus spreads on tiny droplets through the air and on surfaces, students are considered exposed simply by sitting in the same cafeteria or classroom as someone infected. And a person with measles can pass along an infection before they develop a fever, cough, rash, or other signs of the illness. About 1 in 5 people with measles end up hospitalized, 1 in 10 develop ear infections that can lead to permanent hearing loss, and about 1 in 1,000 die from respiratory and neurological complications.
“I don’t know why the health department wouldn’t follow the CDC recommendations,” said Thresia Gambon, president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a pediatrician who practices in Miami and Broward, the county affected by the current measles outbreak. “Measles is so contagious. It is very worrisome.”
Considering the dangers of the disease, the vaccine is incredibly safe. A person is about four times as likely to die from being struck by lightning during their lifetime in the United States as to have a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
Nonetheless, last year a record number of parents filed for exemptions from school vaccine requirements on religious or philosophical grounds across the United States. The CDC reported that childhood immunization rates hit a 10-year low.
In addition to Florida, measles cases have been reported in 11 other states this year, including Arizona, Georgia, Minnesota, and Virginia.
Only about a quarter of Florida’s counties had reached the 95% threshold at which communities are considered well protected against measles outbreaks, according to the most recent data posted by the Florida Department of Health in 2022. In Broward County, where six cases of measles have been reported over the past week, about 92% of children in kindergarten had received routine immunizations against measles, chickenpox, polio, and other diseases. The remaining 8% included more than 1,500 kids who had vaccine exemptions, as of 2022.
Broward’s local health department has been offering measles vaccines at Manatee Bay Elementary since the outbreak began, according to the county school superintendent. If an unvaccinated person gets a dose within three days of exposure to the virus, they’re far less likely to get measles and spread it to others.
For this reason, government officials have occasionally mandated vaccines in emergencies in the past. For example, Philadelphia’s deputy health commissioner in 1991 ordered children to get vaccinated against their parents’ wishes during outbreaks traced to their faith-healing churches. And during a large measles outbreak among Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn in 2019, the New York City health commissioner mandated that anyone who lived, worked, or went to school in hard-hit neighborhoods get vaccinated or face a fine of $1,000. In that ordinance, the commissioner wrote that the presence of anyone lacking the vaccine in those areas, unless it was medically contraindicated, “creates an unnecessary and avoidable risk of continuing the outbreak.”
Ladapo moved in the opposite direction with his letter, deferring to parents because of the “high immunity rate in the community,” which data contradicts, and because of the “burden on families and educational cost of healthy children missing school.”
Yet the burden of an outbreak only grows larger as cases of measles spread, requiring more emergency care, more testing, and broader quarantines as illness and hospitalizations mount. Curbing a 2018 outbreak in southern Washington with 72 cases cost about $2.3 million, in addition to $76,000 in medical costs, and an estimated $1 million in economic losses due to illness, quarantine, and caregiving. If numbers soar, death becomes a burden, too. An outbreak among a largely unvaccinated population in Samoa caused more than 5,700 cases and 83 deaths, mainly among children.
Ladapo’s letter to parents also marks a departure from the norm because local health departments tend to take the lead on containing measles outbreaks, rather than state or federal authorities. In response to queries from KFF Health News, Broward County’s health department deferred to Florida’s state health department, which Ladapo oversees.
“The county doesn’t have the power to disagree with the state health department,” said Rebekah Jones, a data scientist who was removed from her post at the Florida health department in 2020, over a rift regarding coronavirus data.
DeSantis, a Republican, appointed Ladapo as head of the state health department in late 2021, as DeSantis integrated skepticism about covid vaccines into his political platform. In the months that followed, Florida’s health department removed information on covid vaccines from its homepage, and reprimanded a county health director for encouraging his staff to get the vaccines, leading to his resignation. In January, the health department website posted Ladapo’s call to halt vaccination with covid mRNA vaccines entirely, based on notions that scientists call implausible.
Jones was not surprised to see Ladapo pivot to measles. “I think this is the predictable outcome of turning fringe, anti-vaccine rhetoric into a defining trait of the Florida government,” she said. Although his latest decision runs contrary to CDC advice, the federal agency rarely intervenes in measles outbreaks, entrusting the task to states.
In an email to KFF Health News, the Florida health department said it was working with others to identify the contacts of people with measles, but that details on cases and places of exposure were confidential. It repeated Ladapo’s decision, adding, “The surgeon general’s recommendation may change as epidemiological investigations continue.”
For Gambon, the outbreak is already disconcerting. “I would like to see the surgeon general promote what is safest for children and for school staff,” she said, “since I am sure there are many who might not have as strong immunity as we would hope.”
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
