American Academy Of Pediatrics California Chapter 3

AAP-CA3 IS DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING PHYSICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING FOR EVERY INFANT, CHILD, AND ADOLESCENT IN SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES AND SUPPORTS OUR MEMBERS IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

AAP-CA3 RUNS SEVERAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE FOLLOWING IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.AAP-CA3 PROVIDES ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION TRAININGS FOR PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THROUGH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY LOCAL ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM. THE GOAL IF THIS PROJECT IS TO PARTNER WITH PEDIATRIC OFFICES TO IMPLEMENT ENHANCED ORAL HEALTH PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION, AS WELL AS INCREASE EARLY REFERRALS TO DENTAL PROFESSIONALS. THE ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM PROMOTES AAP'S BRUSH, BOOK, BED CAMPAIGN AND THE CDC'S RETHINK YOUR DRINK CAMPAIGN AS WAYS TO PROMOTE GOOD ORAL HEALTH THROUGH HEALTHY CHOICES AND ROUTINES. THE PROGRAM ALSO MAKES FLUORIDE VARNISH AVAILABLE FOR PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO OFFER THEIR PATIENTS. AAP-CA3 IS AVAILABLE TO TRAIN LOCAL PEDIATRIC OFFICES ON ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION.AAP-CA3 RUNS REACH OUT AND READ SAN DIEGO, AN EVIDENCE-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF MEDICAL PROVIDERS WHO PROMOTE EARLY LITERACY AND SCHOOL READINESS IN PEDIATRIC EXAM ROOMS NATIONWIDE BY GIVING NEW BOOKS TO CHILDREN AND ADVICE TO PARENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF READING ALOUD. REACH OUT AND READ BUILDS ON THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO DEVELOP CRITICAL EARLY READING SKILLS IN CHILDREN, BEGINNING AT 6 MONTHS OF AGE. REACH OUT AND READ SERVES MORE THAN 4 MILLION CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY. REACH OUT AND READ FAMILIES READ TOGETHER MORE OFTEN, AND THEIR CHILDREN ENTER KINDERGARTEN BETTER PREPARED TO SUCCEED, WITH LARGER VOCABULARIES AND STRONGER LANGUAGE SKILLS. DURING THE PRESCHOOL YEARS, CHILDREN SERVED BY REACH OUT AND READ SCORE THREE TO SIX MONTHS AHEAD OF THEIR NON-REACH OUT AND READ PEERS ON VOCABULARY TESTS. THESE EARLY FOUNDATIONAL LANGUAGE SKILLS HELP START CHILDREN ON A PATH OF SUCCESS WHEN THEY ENTER SCHOOL.THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CALIFORNIA SURGEON GENERAL (CA-OSG) AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES (DHCS), AAP-CA3 PARTICIPATED IN THE STATE'S ACES AWARE INITIATIVE WITH THE MISSION TO PROVIDE PEDIATRIC OFFICES WITH TRAININGS, COMMUNICATION, AND ON-GOING SUPPORT TO PROMOTE THE PROJECT AMONG MEDI-CAL PROVIDERS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THE GOAL IS TO CHANGE AND SAVE LIVES BY HELPING PROVIDERS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SCREENING FOR ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND TRAINING PROVIDERS TO RESPOND WITH TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE TO MITIGATE THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF TOXIC STRESS. AAP-CA3 PROVIDES COUNTYWIDE COORDINATION AND SUPPORT TO THE FIRST 5 COMMISSION OF SAN DIEGO'S HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (HDS) PROJECT. THE PROJECT PROVIDES HEALTH-ORIENTED SERVICES TO CHILDREN AGES 0-5 LIVING IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, INCLUDING: - DEVELOPMENTAL CHECK UPS, CLASSES, PARENT COACHING AND THERAPY, INCLUDING SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES; - BEHAVIORAL CHECK UPS, PARENT COACHING AND THERAPY; - CARE COORDINATION FOR FAMILIES ENGAGED IN HDS SERVICES; - THESE SERVICES ARE TARGETED TO CHILDREN WITH MILD TO MODERATE NEEDS, WITH THE INTENT OF PROVIDING HELP FOR CHILDREN WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT RECEIVE THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.THE FIRST 5 FIRST STEPS (FIRST STEPS) FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDES HOME VISITING SERVICES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-3. FIRST STEPS PROMOTES POSITIVE PARENTING AND ENHANCES CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR FAMILIES WHO MAY FACE HARDSHIPS AND STRESSORS THAT PLACE THEM AT INCREASED RISK FOR POOR HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES. OUR SERVICES ARE OFFERED OVER THE LONG TERM TO PREPARE CHILDREN TO ENTER SCHOOL AS ACTIVE LEARNERS AND ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY, LOVED AND NURTURED.