5-2-1-0 Let's Go!

Let’s Go! is a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program implemented throughout Maine and in a few communities in neighboring states. We partner with schools, child care and out-of-school programs, healthcare practices and community organizations to change environments where children and families live, learn work and play. 

Behavioral Health Resources For Those Affected By The Tragedy In Lewiston

DHHS will be holding two webinars on Wed, Nov 8 & Nov 15 (12N-1P) focused on additional BH topics:


Resources:

Breast Feeding Resources

The AAP policy, Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk is one of the most accessed policies available from the AAP because of its importance for the health of families here in the US and throughout the world. This statement details the benefits of breastfeeding, its true contraindications and those that are not, the challenge of breastfeeding in the US, recommendations for breastfeeding for healthy as well as high risk infants, and the role pediatricians play in protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding.

Related AAP Policies

Policies from Other Organizations

Cold and flu season are well upon us. Many mothers wonder if it is still safe for them to breastfeed if they are sick. Please assure them it is! In fact, breast milk contains multiple bioactive components that support the infant immune system:

· Immunoglobulins/antibiodies

o Breast milk is full of antibodies that are directed against the microbes the mother has been exposed to and protect the infant against a wide range of microorganisms.

o These include immunoglobulins A, G, M, D, and E, with SIgA being the most abundant. IgA promotes infant immune tolerance by coating the mucosal surfaces in the infant’s gut and reinforces its epithelial barrier to block pathogens, prevent inflammation, and stimulate the infant’s production of SIgA.

· Lysozymes

o Active against inflammation, and highest in the milk after 6 months. Lysozymes are not destroyed by heat treatment.

· Lactoferrin

o An antimicrobial, modulator of immune function. Lactoferrin may modify immune function through a lactoferring receptor in the intestine. It is able to suppress E.coli in the intestine.

· Maternal leukocytes

o “Hematopoietic-derived cells from breast milk survive the infant gastrointestinal tract… likely due to the weak digestive enzyme activities and low acidity of the infant stomach… This allows for the survival of maternal milk leukocytes.” FMI: Transfer of maternal immune cells by breastfeeding: maternal cytotoxic T lymphocytes

· Infant microbiome components:

o Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO): these protect against mucosal infections by regulating the gut epithelium, immune cells and microorganism.

o “Breast milk develops a supportive and protective microbiota. Glycosylated proteins such as lactoferrin, lysozyme, and immunoglobulins are important nonnutritive factors that protect infants from infection and, as a result, affect the development of the intestinal microbiome. These bioactive proteins are the first line of defense against potential pathogens within the infant gut and exert their protective effects via multiple and often overlapping mechanisms. These may have either direct or indirect effects on the intestinal microbiome by interacting with bacteria, engaging in pathogen destruction/deflection including immune exclusion, interacting with the infant mucosal immune system, and stimulating epithelial barrier function.” FMI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4686345/pdf/nmi-suppl.1-2015-001.pdf

· Immune cells: Macrophages, granulocytes (neutrophils, etc.), leukocytes, lymphocytes: specifically, T-cells

o Thymic development

§ Previous research shows that the thymic index of breastfed infants is larger than formula fed infants, and that breastfeeding may influence the T cell compartment in infants.

§ “Breast milk may potentially modulate infant thymic development by influencing infant microbiome composition and bacterial metabolite production.”

§ “Cytokines, hormones, micro-RNAs, oligosaccharides, as well as active maternal immune cells and mammary microbiome may modulate the infant immune development through mechanisms both dependent and independent of the thymus.”

o Copyright © 2018 Hsu and Nanan

· And have you heard about HAMLET- human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells? HAMLET is a protein-lipid complex that induces apoptosis-like death in tumor cells, but leaves fully differentiated cells unaffected. HAMLET inactivates 40 forms of tumors. “This mechanism may contribute to the protective effect of breastfeeding against childhood tumors.”

There are rare contraindications to providing breast milk to infants. Read more here.

References :

Cabinian A, Sinsimer D, Tang M, Zumba O, Mehta H, Toma A, et al. (2016) Transfer of Maternal Immune Cells by Breastfeeding: Maternal Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Present in Breast Milk Localize in the Peyer’s Patches of the Nursed Infant. PLoS ONE 11 (6): e0156762. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156762

Campbell SH, Lauwers J, Mannel R, Spencer B. Core curriculum for interdisciplinary lactation care. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2019.

O’Sullivan et al. The Influence of Early Infant-Feeding Practices on the Intestinal Microbiome and Body Composition in Infants. Nutrition and Metabolic Insights 2015:8(S1) 1–9 doi:10.4137/NMI.S29530.

Car Seat and Booster Seat Help

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's site for car seat and booster seat information including seat types, installation help, recall updates, and a resource to find car seat inspection stations

CDC Immunization Information Page

Information includes Spanish language versions, vaccine safety, answers to frequently asked questions, related news, links/resources

Childhood Violent Trauma Center (CVTC)

The CVTC exists to increase public and professional awareness of the effects of violence on children and to reduce the impact of violence. Its mission is to improve the mental health of children and families, advance understanding of psychological and developmental needs, and to treat and prevent childhood mental illness (through research, clinical practice, and professional training)

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Check out recalled products, sign up for online newsletter, report unsafe products. CPSC also has a special section geared to kids and parents. This section is devoted to safety issues for children on bike helmets, scooters, etc.

Consumer Safety

ConsumerSafety.org strives to make information about recalls and safety-related news about drugs, medical devices, food, and consumer products accessible to everyone in a transparent, easily understandable way.

DHHS District Office Locations []

Sanford Office -

890 Main Street, Suite 208
Sanford, ME 04073-3800
Telephone: (207)490-5400
Toll-free: 1-800-482-0790
Fax: (207) 490-5463
sanford.dhhs@maine.gov

Lewiston Office -

200 Main Street
Lewiston, ME 04240-7098
Telephone: (207)795-4300
Fax: (207) 795-4444

Toll-free: 1-800-482-7517
lewiston.dhhs@maine.gov

South Paris Office -

243 Main Street, Suite 6
South Paris, ME 04281-1620
Telephone: (207)744-1200
Toll-free: 1-888-593-9775
Fax: (207) 743-8798
southparis.dhhs@maine.gov


Disaster Preparedness

The Maine Chapter has strong ties to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Kate Herlihy is the new Disaster Preparedness Chapter Champion. The chapter continues to encourage and expand participation in the CDC Health Alert Network.

Resources

The National AAP has a 5 year strategic plan around disaster preparedness which you can read or download.

For assistance or additional information, please reach out to the Maine Chapter.

Dr. Spock

Created by doctors and other experts to offer a complete, personalized resource for parenting information, including behavior concerns, covering every stage of pregnancy and childhood, from newborns to teens.

EthnoMed

The EthnoMed site contains information about cultural beliefs, medical issues, and other related issues pertinent to the health care of recent immigrants

Every Child By Two

An organization devoted to raising awareness of the critical need for timely immunization and to foster a systematic way to immunize all of America's children by age two

Families First Prevention Services Act

The Family First Prevention Services Act of 2016 is a comprehensive, bipartisan effort to improve how the child welfare system serves children and families in adversity. This bill represents a pivotal opportunity for a major federal policy shift that moves away from placing children in out-of-home care and toward keeping families together.

Children in or at-risk for entering foster care are especially vulnerable; they are more likely to be exposed to trauma and often have complex medical needs. This bill not only recognizes the unique needs of children and families in adversity, but also makes great strides to meet them in a way that pediatricians can stand behind: through evidence-based, prevention-focused approaches.

Families First Implementation Guide

Family First Detailed Summary

First Gov

Search all federal online services at one site: student loans, health information, consumer handbooks--everything!

Fostering Health []

Standards of health care for children and adolescents in foster care are detailed in 10 chapters. The members of the AAP Task Force on Foster Care hope that this manual will result in the integration of the health care plan with child welfare's permanency plan for each child or adolescent in foster care. For a copy please contact fostercare@aap.org until supplies last.

Developed by an AAP multidisciplinary panel of experts, Fostering Health has been designed for use by medical, mental health, and developmental health care professionals, as well as foster parents, social welfare agencies, members of the legal community, health insurance agencies, and policy makers.

Futures Without Violence

Education programs, national policy development, professional training, and public action campaigns designed to end violence against women, children and families around the world.

Healthy Homes

Information on home related house issues in Maine such as lead poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, mold, well-water safety, emergency preparedness, and more.

hear ME now!

Maine’s leading auditory oral education center, committed to supporting children and adults with hearing loss, their families, and their communities.

Helping Foster and Adoptive Families Cope with Trauma [pdf]

The purpose of this guide is to support adoptive and foster families by strengthening the abilities of pediatricians to: 1) identify traumatized children, 2) educate families about toxic stress and the possible biological, behavioral, and social manifestations of early childhood trauma, and 3) empower families to respond to their child's behavior in a manner that acknowledges past trauma but promotes the learning of new, more adaptive reactions to stress.

KidsGrowth

Has a great deal of information and articles regarding developmental, physical and behavioral health of child.

Maine Lung Cancer Coalition

Information on all aspects of lung cancer including a statewide approach to education, prevention, screening, and a list known risk factors

Maine's Coordinated School Health Program

Presents the eight components of Coordinated School Health Programs for school personnel, parents and students. A great resource for information and networking for those involved or interested in school health issues.

Medical Marijuana Resources

Recreational Marijuana Legislative Documents


Safe Kids

National health safety site for kids 14 and under

Safe Kids

National health safety site for kids 14 and under

Safety Belt Safe

More than 95% of the car seats we check are being used incorrectly. Don't take a chance with your child's life!

Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Promotes better care and outcomes for children and families affected by developmental, learning, and behavioral problems. Links to other organizations, materials and information for physicians, fellows, resident physicians and students.

Spurwink Portland Clinic []

Provides care for children placed in care through the Biddeford and Portland DHHS offices. Serves York, Oxford, and Cumberland counties.

Spurwink Services
901 Washington Ave., Suite 100
Portland, ME 04103
207.871.1200

The Whole Child

Sponsored by PBS, the website has information for providers and parents on a wide range of developmental and behavioral concerns. Site is written in both English and Spanish.

TransParent - Videos

TransParent is a St. Louis-based organization providing support and resources to parents raising transgender or gender independent children.

Zero to Three

ZERO TO THREE is a national non-profit organization that is devoted to the promotion of the healthy development of infants and toddlers.