Blog

My family has quite a unique tradition for New Year's Day.  Every year after we've gone to bed on New Year's Eve, Baby New Year brings each of us a new book.  I don't exactly know where this tradition originated from or how a new book ties into the New Year's holiday.  All the same, I have loved the tradition and plan to continue it in my family.  As a child, it was exciting to have one more thing to look forward to after all the presents at Christmas.  And the book, being the only gift given that day, didn't get lost among the many other gifts from Santa Claus.

As part of our Sub For Santa program here at United Way of Utah County, every child who is sponsored always receives a book as one of their Christmas gifts.  Our hope is that this book won't get lost among the other gifts, but will help foster a love of reading in these children and encourage parents, if they don't already do so, to read to them.  In Utah County, 32% of 3rd grade students are below their reading level.  By simply reading to their children from the beginning of their lives, parents can have a dramatic effect on their reading ability.  And children who are at or above their appropriate reading level are more likely to stay in high school and be successful in adulthood.

So start a new tradition of giving the children in your lives a book for Christmas or the New Year.  And make a New Year's resolution to read to your child every night.  If your not sure what book to start with, check out these reading lists from Provo City Library, http://www.provolibrary.com/booklists, or ask your child's teacher for personal recommendations.  Not only will you be helping your child succeed, you might just enjoy an adventure or two yourself.

Announcing: One of United Way of Utah County’s newest early childhood initiatives, Help Me Grow, was selected to receive funding from the NATIONAL Help Me Grow team!! The national team received a grant from Kellogg to replicate the original Help Me Grow program in 10 new sites across the country over the course of three years and we were chosen to be one of three sites to be implemented in the next year! It’s so exciting! With this funding and approval from the national team, we plan on expanding Help Me Grow statewide and help families all over Utah.

One great success story from Help Me Grow was about a family who had a 2-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. The daughter was very bright and very verbal. The son didn’t talk very much because his sister often talked for him. The mom was concerned so she called Help Me Grow, expressed her concern and filled out a developmental screening questionnaire. The questionnaire showed that he was developing well in all areas, except for in communication where he showed signs of an expressive speech delay. Help Me Grow referred him to an agency where he received weekly speech therapy and also gave the mother activities to reinforce his speech in the home. After eight months Help Me Grow re-administered the developmental questionnaire and found that his communication test results were normal. He began attending preschool continues to be progressing well.  

So often there are cases where developmental delays go unnoticed, causing greater problems in the future. In my time working with Help Me Grow, I’ve seen how each family situation is unique and has unique needs. Help Me Grow tries to help these families and get them connected to needed resources. It’s been very fulfilling for me to see how just a little extra support in families can go such a long way. So, support families! Support us!

Check us out on Facebook, helpmegrowutah.org or our blog: helpmegrowutah.blogspot.com

With a severe weather alert and blizzard coming our way, we had our emergency preparedness VISTA George V. put together some things we can do to keep our families and homes safe in the extreme cold. We know there is a lot to read through, but it is all valuable information that everyone should know. So here are a few winter preparedness safety tips. BEFORE SEVERE WEATHER ARRIVES

• Store drinking water, first aid kit, canned/no-cook food, non-electric can opener, radio, flashlight and extra batteries where you can get them easily, even in the dark. Have questions about kits? Check out Ready Utah for some great checklists and tips!
• Keep cars and other vehicles fueled and in good repair, with a winter emergency kit in each.
• Get a NOAA Weather Radio to monitor severe weather.
• Know how the public is warned (siren, radio, TV, etc.) and the warning terms for each kind of disaster in your community; e.g.:
  
  • "winter storm watch" --- Be alert, a storm is likely
  • "winter storm warning" --- Take action, the storm is in or entering the area
  • "blizzard warning" --- Snow and strong winds combined will produce blinding snow, near zero visibility, deep drifts, and life-threatening wind chill--seek refuge immediately!
  • "winter weather advisory" --- Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous, especially to motorists
  • "frost/freeze warning" --- Below freezing temperatures are expected and may cause damage to plants, crops, or fruit trees
• Keep plywood, plastic sheeting, lumber, sandbags and hand tools on hand and accessible.
• Winterize your house and any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors or equipment. Install storm shutters, doors and windows; clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks; and check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow--or water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.

If you think you might want to volunteer in case of a disaster, now is the time to let voluntary organizations or the emergency services office know--beforehand.

DURING A SEVERE WINTER STORM

• Monitor your NOAA Weather Radio or keep a local radio and/or TV station on for information and emergency instructions.
• Have your emergency survival kit ready to go if told to evacuate.
• If you go outside for any reason, dress for the season and expected conditions:
  
  • For cold weather, wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water-repellent. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Wear a hat. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs from extremely cold air. Wear sturdy, waterproof boots in snow or flooding conditions.
• Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your house cooler than normal. Temporarily shut off heat to less-used rooms.
• Avoid travel if possible. If you must travel, do so during daylight.
  
  • Don't travel alone. Stay on main roads, and keep others informed of your schedule.

IF A BLIZZARD TRAPS YOU IN YOUR CAR

• Pull off the road, set hazard lights to flashing, and hang a distress flag from the radio aerial or window. Remain in your vehicle; rescuers are most likely to find you there.
• Conserve fuel, but run the engine and heater about ten minutes each hour to keep warm, cracking a downwind window slightly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Exercise to maintain body heat but don't overexert. Huddle with other passengers and use your coat for a blanket.
• In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers, floor mats, newspapers or extra clothing for covering--anything to provide additional insulation and warmth.
• Turn on the inside dome light so rescue teams can see you at night, but be careful not to run the battery down. In remote areas, spread a large cloth over the snow to attract the attention of rescue planes.
• Do not set out on foot unless you see a building close by where you know you can take shelter.
• Once the blizzard is over, you may need to leave the car and proceed on foot. Follow the road if possible. If you need to walk across open country, use distant points as landmarks to help maintain your sense of direction.

AFTER THE STORM

• Report downed power lines and broken gas lines immediately.
• After blizzards, heavy snows or extreme cold, check to see that no physical damage has occurred and that water pipes are functioning. If there are no other problems, wait for streets and roads to be opened before you attempt to drive anywhere.
• Check on neighbors, especially any who might need help.
• Beware of overexertion and exhaustion. Shoveling snow in extreme cold causes may heart attacks. Set your priorities and pace yourself after any disaster that leaves you with a mess to clean up. The natural tendency is to do too much too soon