As parents, we sometimes are so busy taking care of our children that we lose track of some of the details of their lives.

Take 5 minutes and test yourself with this 16-question quiz recommended by our Better Indy Babies and Healthy Families staff. It will help you to see if you are having enough conversations, spending enough time, and showing enough interest to share in your child’s life each day. A parent needs to know his or her child better than anyone else in the world!

1. If your child could paint his room any color, what would it be?
2. What does your child want to be when he or she grows up?
3. Who is your child’s best friend?
4. Does your child think he or she is too big or small for his age?
5. What does your child think others think about him?
6. What does your child like best about school? Why?
7. What does your child dislike about school? Why?
8. Who outside your family has influenced your child the most?
9. Who is your child’s hero?
10. How does your child feel about you?
11. What would your child change about his family?
12. Does your child think you are fair?
13. If your child had $5 today, what would he or she buy?
14. What is your child’s favorite toy?
15. What would your child change about you?
16. If asked, “What do you do well?” what would your child say?

Find a time to sit down with your child, check your answers and see how well you did!

Helping Vulnerable Kids and Families Succeed

ALL parents need reminders from time to time on how to be the best mom or dad they can be for their kids. HealthNet’s Better Indy Babies and Healthy Families teams work with at-risk Indy parents during the critical early years of their children’s lives. They help increase parent knowledge of early childhood development, improve parenting practices, provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues, prevent child abuse and neglect and increase children’s school readiness.  Kudos to these programs for making Indy a healthier place for children!

More than four in five smokers say they want to quit.  Research shows that you are twice as likely to succeed if you join a tobacco cessation program that includes ongoing support.  That’s particularly important for those living near the poverty line.

Like many, Delorus Alderman of Indianapolis started smoking at 18.  Before long, she was a two-pack-a-day smoker.

“Quit now or die”

… was the sobering message from her doctor after she was diagnosed with heart disease.  Delorus began the difficult journey to quitting.

She had help from Stacey Chappell, the smoking cessation counselor at HealthNet Southeast Health & Dental Center.  Stacey gave Delorus many practical tips that she used to prepare herself and her family.  She also received free nicotine replacement therapy patches.

Delorus asked for support from her family and her on-line “IndyMoms” group – all of which rallied around her to help her get through the tough early months.

As Delorus celebrates her second year without cigarettes, challenges remain.  Still, she finds all the reason in the world to remain a non-smoker when she thinks back to that remarkably memorable day when one of her children gave her a big hug and said how glad she was that mom didn’t smell bad anymore.

• Thinking about quitting?  When you’re ready, we’re here to help with ways to quit smoking or chewing tobacco, and resources to support you every step of the way.
• Ready to quit?  HealthNet offers FREE one-on-one tobacco cessation counseling. You’ll learn how to beat cravings and overcome weight gain. Make an appointment at the health center nearest you.
• Help someone in need quit. A small donation to HealthNet’s Health Promotions Program will enable an underserved person to have access to free tobacco cessation counseling.

Family time during Halloween was always a fun time for me growing up.

Partly because my Mom’s birthday is on Halloween – so we always celebrated in style! From haunted houses, to choosing our costumes (which were always handmade), to parties, to apple dumplings and cider, to trick-or-treating – the month of October has always been one of my favorites!

With all the Halloween activities planned tomorrow, we want to remind families to have fun while being safe!

Here are some tips for your trick-or-treaters:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Always take a flashlight
• Inspect candy and treats before consuming and throw out anything already opened
• Consider participating in local trick-or-treating activities at area churches and fire stations – especially if you are not familiar with your neighborhood
• Make sure your child’s costume is hazard free

Check here for more great tips to keep your kids safe!

Have a safe and

fun Halloween!

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What was your favorite childhood costume for Halloween?

So you are registered to vote, but let’s add some barriers – Limited access to a car, just moved, and you have a million other things to worry about in May.  The Indy 500 is coming up.  You are training for the mini-marathon.  Your kids are getting done with school.  Okay, elections are furthest from your mind…

And May 8^th? A Tuesday?

And it is only to vote for the Republican Candidate?

You are now thinking – “Come on! I can sit this one out. No big deal!”

But what if you thought about it this way?

Legislators like to keep their jobs.  Hopefully it is because they like to lead our country in a positive direction.  BUT! It is true that everyone likes job security.

Well if a legislator likes to keep his/her job, then they need to gain votes.  At least enough votes to beat the other candidate that they are running against.  So, if a legislator is in office, but they are thinking about the future and getting more votes, then how are they going to do that?

They are probably going to serve the wants and needs of the people who have already voted, first.  So, if you DON’T vote, then will that legislator listen to what you have to say?

flickr photo by mdanys

This is one way that I think about the need for everyone to vote.  Plenty of different people have different reasons to vote.  But what is stated above has always made sense to me on the reason to vote.

You may not feel as if your voice is being heard during elections, but when it comes down to advocating for a cause, specifically funding for the Health Centers program and Medicaid, being a voter MAKES your voice heard.  Legislators pay attention to those who are going to polls, sending in absentee ballots and have the potential to swing elections.

SO GET OUT AND VOTE!

MAY 8^TH is the Indiana Presidential Primary.  If you are not registered to vote, it is just a little too late.  But, don’t get discouraged, if you register to vote now, then you will be good to go once November gets here!

Another way to get your voice heard?  Signing our petition to support health centers and Medicaid!

More than ever millions of Americans are turning to their neighborhood community health centers for their primary health care needs. These needs continue to outpace the growth of the infrastructure needed for our safety-net providers. The briefing comes as the nation marks the two-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA aims to expand the reach of Community Health Centers across the nation.

3 ways you can join……

•  SIGN OUR PETITION! Every signature helps our health center colors shine through!  By signing, you are helping to protect health center and Medicaid funding, allowing health centers to continue to bring better access to health care for those who need it most.
• Take action NOW! The deadline for both Representatives and Senators to sign onto their respective Health Centers Dear Colleague Letter is THIS Friday, March 16^th!! CALL your U.S. Representative directly using the toll-free NACHC Advocacy Hotline at 1-866-456-3949 to ask for his/her support as a Co-Signer.Ask your Representative to: Sign onto the Bilirakis-Pallone Health Centers Dear Colleague Letter.
• Voting matters for everyone, if you feel your voice isn’t heard today it might be heard in the future. Visit the Campaign for America’s Health Centers’ website for more information on how you can make a difference!!

Did you know? Health centers throughout the nation are the health care homes for over 20 million Americans.

Did you know? There are STILL almost 60 million Americans, even those with insurance, who do NOT have access to health care.

Did you know? Health centers’ average cost runs $1 less per patient per day compared to ALL physician settings.

Please join us in advocating the need for community health center expansion.  Amidst all of the different opinions and debates regarding health care, the Health Centers program has always been something that all sides can agree on.

The need for SHOWING SUPPORT is always a must, and as the campaign trail heats up, then budget talks will get more specific.

YOU CAN HELP THE HEALTH CENTERS PROGRAM!

By signing our petition, you will show our legislators just how important the Health Centers program is to our Indianapolis community.  The petition, located on our Facebook page, is calling our legislators to

1) Protect existing Health Center operations and increase Health Centers’ funding to the highest amount possible in fiscal year 2013 to allow health centers to serve an additional 2.5 million patients; and

2) Oppose cuts in the Medicaid program that would undermine Health Centers like ours.

Head over to our Advocacy Page on Facebook, sign the petition and share with friends and family!  Every signature counts and will help to let our health center colors shine through!

One year ago tomorrow, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act.

Community Health Centers now serve 23 million patients and provide care for one-fourth of all primary care visits for low-income citizens in our country.  The Affordable Care Act has been one more step towards health centers throughout the nation caring for 40 million patients by 2015.  The two greatest statistics that show the effectiveness of community health centers are

1. Cost per patient per day is nearly a dollar lower than all physician settings ($1.67 v. $2.64)
2. Medicaid beneficiaries who choose health centers for primary care are 19% less likely to use the ER for unnecessary visits and 11% less likely to be hospitalized.

The expansion of HealthNet’s Southwest Health & Dental Center, People’s Health & Dental Center, and the soon-to-be Barrington Health & Dental Center has benefited the Indianapolis area greatly.  These expansions will allow HealthNet to reach a greater number of underserved areas and provide services to more patients who otherwise would go without primary and preventative health care or unnecessarily use the ER.

However, there are still areas of HealthNet (not supported under ACA) that need expansion.  Areas such as

• Homeless Initiative Program – serving more than 3,200 homeless persons in Indianapolis
• Better Indy Babies/Healthy Families – making more than 14,720 visits to families in at-risk homes in Marion County
• Social Services – providing support to families living below the poverty level which is one in every 16 people in Marion County
• Radiology/Mammography Assistance – helping uninsured women who are less likely to be screened for breast cancer
• School-based Services – assisting more than 3,320 students in receiving health care and health education in 8 public and charter schools in Marion County
• Health Promotions – a free service that includes a dietitian, tobacco cessation counselor, and childbirth specialist

In light of the one-year anniversary of the signing of the ACA into law, we want to highlight the successful expansion of our community health centers throughout Indianapolis, but also ask for our COMMUNITY’S help in expanding our outreach services to reach further and build a healthier neighborhood for everyone.

You can help us reach those in need by making a quick donation online or by mail.  Visit our donation page to learn more about these programs and ways to assist HealthNet