First 5 LA’s Parent Helpline Provides Answers to Urgent NeedsJanuary 12, 2009 |
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| LOS ANGELES------- I lost my job and need information about what social service assistance my family is eligible for? My child only eats junk food - what should I do? Is it "normal" for a two-year-old to have lots of temper tantrums? Where can I find an educational program for a child who isn't old enough for preschool? From eating patterns to speech and language development, recent research shows that 31 percent of U.S. parents know very little about the expected pace of a typical infant's development - whether it's when a child should start talking or begin potty training. "While it may not sound like a big deal, this lack of understanding can negatively affect parents' interactions with their babies and young children," said Evelyn V. Martinez, executive director of First 5 LA. "Parents who have a higher level of knowledge of normal infant development will have a higher quality of interactions with their children." First 5 LA, a child advocacy organization, was created by California voters to invest Prop. 10 tobacco tax revenues in support of programs for improving the lives of children from prenatal through age five in Los Angeles County. First 5 LA strives to help educate families and caregivers about early childhood development. Although considerable information exists about what to expect during pregnancy, Martinez said many young parents do not know what to anticipate as their child grows and develops in the first years of life. First 5 LA's Parent Helpline - a toll-free number available for resources, referrals and answers to questions about children and families - provides easy access to information every parent and care giver needs to know. And in these volatile economic times, the Parent Helpline is a good place to start gathering information about social services available to parents who may have lost their jobs or face other financial hardships. All parents and caregivers have to do is dial 1-888-FIRST5LA or 1-888-347-7855. "The parent helpline provides trained specialists who respond to a variety of questions callers may have, including those relating to prenatal care, a child's health and education, childcare, health insurance and even how to help babies get to sleep," explained Martinez. "It also puts expectant parents and new parents and caregivers of children five and under in touch with social services for any urgent need on specific parenting or child development concerns." The First 5 LA parent helpline can address a wide range of topics including:
By calling First 5 LA Parent Helpline at 1-888-347-7855, parents can get more information on programs and services and also begin the application process to sign their children up for health insurance. The First 5 LA Web site is located at www.first5la.org. # # # |
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