The Indiana State Fair: Comin’ Back Around! Food, rides, animals, and fun abound as the Indiana State Fair begins August 6th and concludes August 17th. The State Fair is an annual event for families and individuals that boasts large attendance numbers annually. In addition to all the food and fun, fair goers can expect to see exhibits and vendors from all over the state.
This year, the State Fair is highlighting Indiana history and culture. Come and check out Indiana trees, Indiana basketball, a covered bridge built for the event, and more. There’s something for everybody – including the great food! Watch the construction of the covered bridge day by day via the State Fair’s website (scroll down to the bottom of the page) or participate in the fourth annual Heartland Walk for Health Saturday, August 9. According to this week’s Governor Mitch Daniels’ Weekly Wrap-up, the walk will be hosted by First Lady Cheri Daniels and activities will include “warm-up exercises, music, entertainment, and free health screenings by Clarian Cardiovascular.” Click here for more information or to register online for the walk.
Indiana State Fair, main page: http://www.in.gov/statefair/fair/#
History of the State Fair: http://www.in.gov/statefair/fair/about/history.html
State Fairgrounds 101: http://www.in.gov/statefair/fairgrounds/general/faq.html
Fairgrounds Map: http://www.in.gov/statefair/fairgrounds/docs/Fairgroundsmap.pdf
Heartland Walk for Health: http://www.kenlongassoc.com/heartland08.htm
Photos from 2005-2007: http://www.in.gov/gov/firstlady/2335.htm
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
As of July 24, 2008, the federal minimum wage has officially increased to $6.55/hour, per the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act. Prior to this, workers making minimum wage at the federal level earned $5.85/hour. Each state also sets its own minimum limit, independent of the federal. While Indiana’s minimum wage is also $6.55/hour, other states have different rates. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers must be paid at the higher rate of the two. This new wage is not applicable to workers who receive tips as a part of their income – they earn a minimum of $2.13/hour. Federal minimum wage is scheduled to increase again this time in 2009, when it will be $7.25/hour.
For more information, see the Department of Labor’s website regarding the increase: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/minimumwage.htm. To see how Indiana’s wage laws compare with other states, see: http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm.
WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK: August 1 – 7
According to the United Nations (UN) News Service, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) kicked off World Breastfeeding Week last year by calling for new mothers to nurse children immediately after birth. “UNICEF estimates that exclusive breastfeeding to the age of six months can prevent the deaths of 1.3 million children under the age of five each year.” Breastfeeding has remained an international health issue since the 16th century (or before). For a brief history of the concept as a public health issue around the world, see Chapter 4 (Breastfeeding, Fertility and Population Growth) of the 1992 United Nations symposium report, Nutrition Policy Discussion Paper No. 11, “Nutrition and Population Links – Breastfeeding, Family Planning and Child Health.” Especially of interest is the access to early statistics (from years 1540 to 1799) in Table 2: Ages of Weaning Recommended by Early Medical Writers (chapter 4) and Table 3: Mortality Rates in European Foundling Hospitals in the 18th Century (chapter 4).
The links that follow include updated international, federal, and state-level information on breastfeeding and its benefits. Many websites and materials are offered in both Spanish and English.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=23384&Cr=breastfeeding&Cr1=&Kw1=breastfeeding&Kw2=&Kw3=
UN, “Nutrition and Population Links – Breastfeeding, Family Planning and Child Health”: http://www.unsystem.org/SCN/archives/npp11/index.htm
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, World Breastfeeding Week 2008: http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/
CDC, Breastfeeding Information & national hotline: http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Breastfeeding — Best For Baby. Best For Mom: www.4women.gov/breastfeeding/
MedlinePlus, Breast Feeding: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastfeeding.html
USDA, Food & Nutrition Service, Breastfeeding Promotion and Support in WIC: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Breastfeeding/breastfeedingmainpage.HTM
Indiana State Department of Health, Breastfeeding Resources: http://www.in.gov/isdh/17289.htm
Returning to Work While Breastfeeding: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20031201/2199.html
Breastfeeding made easier at home and work: http://www.4woman.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=236
National Conference of State Legislatures, 50 State Summary of Breastfeeding Laws http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/breast50.htm
ACT EARLY – ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENTAL TESTING
Are your patrons aware that federal and state resources can help them prepare for developmental challenges in the lives of their children? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities ACT EARLY campaign encourages citizens to “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Their website lists developmental milestones for children ages three months to five years, useful Fact Sheets, Positive Parenting Tips for infants to adolescents, and links to many resources for parents, healthcare givers, and childcare providers. Materials are also available in Spanish by clicking “Esta página en español” or “CDC en español” at the top of the page (right-hand side).
The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) “ensures that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to culturally competent services, supports, and other assistance and opportunities that promotes independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion into the community.“ The ADD monitors the implementation of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 and administers grants for programs that serve children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Indiana‘s Family and Social Services Administration has a program called First Steps which focuses on early intervention for infants and toddlers. It allows eligible families to receive testing and child development-related services. Visit their website for more information. Also, check out child wellness trends in your county via Snapshots of Your County data, from the 2007 Kids Count in Indiana Data Book via the Indiana Youth Institute website.
Act Early: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/ActEarly/default.htm
Positive Parenting Tips: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/child/default.htm
U.S. Administration on Developmental Disabilities: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/index.html
PUBLIC LAW 106–402: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/adddocs/act.pdf
Indiana and the ADD: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/states/stin.html
IN FSSA, First Steps: http://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/4964.htm
Snapshots of Your County: http://www.iyi.org/reports/county-snapshots.aspx
INVESTMENT PROTECTION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
You can help older citizens protect themselves from fraudulent investment practices. A recent press release from the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) promotes the new publication package that it created with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission – Fraud Protection for Seniors. This free package includes tips on how to remove names from solicitation lists, how to find an investment advisor, and what to ask prospective investment brokers. It also includes the brochure, “Fighting Fraud 101: Smart Tips for Older Investors,” which details the process some scam artists use to commit fraud, and offers methods to keep from becoming a target. To order the package, visit http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rc/n78fraudprotection.htm, call 1.888.878.3256 (weekdays, 8am to 8pm), or send your name and address to:
Fraud Protection for Seniors
Pueblo, Colorado 81009.
PDF: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/fighting/fraud101.pdf
Large Print PDF: http://www.saveandinvest.org/web/groups/sai/documents/sai_original_content/p036701.pdf
For access to other FCIC publications (free and/or available online), please visit http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_shop/cicshop.htm.
BEIJING TRAVEL ADVISORY
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued its travel tips for those choosing to travel to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The CDC recommends that visitors to China eat foods that are thoroughly cooked and to stay away from street vendors. Use of ice is discouraged, as is drinking any liquids that are not pre-bottled.
More information on disease risks and links to information and to health-care providers is linked to the CDC website. Travel advisories are also in effect for avian flu and hand, foot, and mouth disease. The CDC advises that visitors can enjoy all that the 2008 Olympics and the country of China has to offer, but to use common sense during their stay.
For more information, please visit the links below.
CDC, Travel like a Champion in China: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/BeijingOlympics
Go for the Gold – Travel in Health: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/OlympicTravel/
Travel risks and advisories: wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentolympics2008.aspx
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: www.hhs.gov
by Katharine Springer & Elisabeth O’Donnell