For Parents' Sake - A Valley Outreach Program

53 TECHNOLOGY LANE, SUITE 102, CONWAY, NH 03818
603.447.2350 info@forparentssake.com

Issues below:

1. 5-2-1-0!

2. Help Prevent Suicide

Valley Outreach says:
“Go with 5-2-1-0!”
Staying healthy can be done with 4 easy steps: 5 - 2 - 1 - 0!

Eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise are two of the most important things you and your children can do to stay and be healthy. We at Valley Outreach know that the health of your children is very important to you and also recognize that it’s not always easy. But with 5-2-1-0 we hope to show you that you and your family CAN reach your goals for better health!

Here is the 5-2-1-0 recipe for kids:

5 Fruits and vegetables…more matters! Eat at least 5 servings a day. Limit 100% fruit juice.
2 Cut screen time to 2 hours or less a day (includes television, computer, and video games).
1 Participate in at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
0 Restrict soda and sugar-sweetened sports and fruit drinks. Instead, drink water and 3-4 servings/day of fat-free/skim or 1% milk.
We recommend you pick just one of the goals listed above and take small steps to reach it. For instance, if you choose “5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day,” try adding just one serving every 2 weeks. That will give you time to try some new vegetables, find one your kids and family like, and get it into your daily routine!

If you choose “1 hour of physical activity a day,” start with walking 15 minutes a day and each week add 5 more minutes. Before you know it, you and your kids will be walking 60 minutes and finding that you have more energy!

The following information sheets can help give you some ideas of how to eat healthier (including snacks!) and be more active:
• Healthy Snacks
• Fruits and Vegetables: for breakfast, lunch and dinner
• 3 Simple Steps to Eating More Fruits and Vegetables
• More Physical Activity
• Decrease Screen Time
• Encourage Milk and Water
• Promoting Physical Activity & Healthy Eating: A guide for parents and caregivers

Use these goal tracker sheets to help you and your children set and reach your 5-2-1-0 goals:
• More fruits and vegetables
• More physical activity
• Less TV time
• Less soda a sugar

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for NH kids and 9th for people of all ages. Depression, substance abuse and other mental health problems are involved in 9 out of 10 suicide deaths and attempts. Most of the deaths are preventable. You can help.
Watch for these Warning Signs:
???? Difficulties at school or work
???? “Rollercoaster” moodiness or sadness
???? Drug or alcohol abuse, especially an increase in use
???? Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
???? Difficulty concentrating, restlessness
???? Feeling like a failure, worthless
???? Hopelessness or helplessness
????

Preoccupation with death (may be seen in music, art, poetry)
???? Isolating self from friends, family, and previous activities
???? Putting life in order
???? Sudden improvement in mood after being down or withdrawn
???? A detailed plan for how, when, where
???? Talking about suicide or death – directly or indirectly. (Examples: "I’m just going to end it all" or "Everything would be easier if I wasn’t around.")
If you see a number of these signs, take the following steps:
???? Reach out to the person at risk and tell them you are concerned.
???? Get others involved – don’t try to handle this alone.
???? Connect them to mental health, counseling or other services.
???? Try to reduce their access to guns, drugs and other lethal means.
???? If the risk is high, do not leave them alone.
Mental health problems can be successfully treated.
With your help, our kids can survive and do well.
If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal, seek help!
Call your local community mental health center or 911 in an emergency.
For more information on how to prevent youth suicide in your own family or community, go to the NAMI NH (National Alliance on Mental Illness) website www.naminnh.org and click on Suicide Prevention.
www.chadkids.org/goto/childhealthmonth
9/2006 Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth, Injury Prevention Center, NH Department of Health and Human Services, NH Department of Education, NH Pediatric Society, NH SAFE KIDS & Partnership for a Drug Free NH

Keeping Your Child Safe: A new list of websites to help.

Children, Terrorism, and Disasters Web site: www.aap.org/terrorism

Ų Family Readiness Kit: Preparing to Handle Disasters (updated) http://www.aap.org/family/frk/frkit.htm

Ų Feelings Need Check Ups Too CD ROM http://www.aap.org/profed/childrencheckup.htm

Ų Responding to Children's Emotional Needs During Times of Crisis http://www.aap.org/terrorism/topics/parents.pdfŲ Pediatricians & Disaster Preparedness Policy Statement & Technical Report ; http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;117/2/560; http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;117/2/e340

Ų Tip Sheet on When Your Child Needs Emergency Medical Services (revised) http://www.aap.org/terrorism/topics/EMS_TIPP_VIPP.pdf

Ų Tip Sheet on Four Steps to Prepare Your Family for Disaster (revised) http://www.aap.org/terrorism/topics/TIPP_VIPP.pdf