Greetings! 

Nat King Cole must have been singing about life in Santa Barbara County, when he sang, "Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer... You'll wish that summer could always be here." Living here we certainly have those hazy summer mornings that burn off to glorious days for adventure, fun, and lazy enjoyment, whichever calls to you each day. We know our families are busy, busy with activities, vacations, friends and family, making lasting special memories. I'm sure that's the crazy he is referring to in the song - the sweet hectic joy of summertime lives. And I know many people who would prefer it to be summertime year-round, my children for sure.

 

However, this past month, Angels been experiencing a different type of crazy, one which has seen four children find homes with caring Angels families and many more calls from Child Welfare about very young children in need of the same. Unfortunately, we are not able meet the needs of all these children as our existing Angels homes fill up quickly. We have Angels foster parent training starting in September and will hold another fall training if there is enough interest. Please help us by encouraging interested people to call our office, even if just to learn more about the program. We would like our hectic summer days to be filled with certifying new homes and having homes open for young children rather than having to say we have no homes available.

 

 

Many thanks and enjoy these last days of summer,

 

Jennifer

 

 

 

 

 

Angels in the Community

We're looking for opportunities throughout Santa Barbara County to speak about Angels Foster Care and the urgent need for foster families. If you know of a local club, group, church or synagogue that would be interested in a presentation about Angels, please contact Ellen. 

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Health & Safety: Keeping Children Safe on the Playground

   Whether it's a swing set in the backyard or the more elaborate apparatus in the park, there are many positive things to say about playground equipment. The use of this equipment encourages children to test and expand their physical abilities. However, there are some inevitable dangers. The risks can be minimized when equipment is well designed and children are taught basic playground manners. Here are some guidelines you can use in selecting playground equipment and sites for your child.

1. Children under five should play on equipment separate from older children.
2. Make sure there is sand, wood chips, or rubberized matting under swings, seesaws, and jungle gyms, and that these surfaces are of proper depth and well-maintained. On concrete or asphalt, a fall directly on the head can be serious-even from a height of just a few inches.
3. Wooden structures should be made from all-weather wood, which is less likely to splinter. Examine the surfaces periodically to be sure they are smooth. Metal structures, for example, can get extremely hot in warmer months.
4. Conduct a periodic inspection of equipment, looking especially for loose joints, open chains that could come loose, and rusted cotter pins. Be sure there are no open S hooks or protruding pieces that could hook a child's clothing. On metal equipment, check for rusted or exposed bolts as well as sharp edges and points. At home, cover them with protective rubber. In a public playground, report the hazard to the appropriate authorities.
5. Be sure swings are made of soft and flexible material. Insist that your child sit in the middle of the seat, holding on with both hands. Don't allow two children to share the same swing. Teach your child never to walk in front of or behind a swing while another child is on it. Avoid equipment in which the swings hang from overhead climbing bars.
6. Be sure children on slides use the ladder instead of climbing up the sliding surface. Don't permit pushing and shoving on the ladder, and have children go up one at a time. Teach your child to leave the bottom of the slide as soon as he reaches it. If a slide has been sitting in the sun for a long time, check the sliding surface to see if it's too hot before letting him use it.
7. Don't allow children under four to use climbing equipment that is taller than they are (i.e., jungle gyms) without close supervision.
8. Between the ages of three and five, your child should use a seesaw only with other children of comparable age and weight. Children under three don't have the arm and leg coordination to use the equipment.
9. Although trampolines often are considered a source of fun for children, about 100,000 people per year are injured on them, most often on backyard models. Childhood injuries have included broken bones, head injuries, neck and spinal cord injuries, sprains, and bruises. Parental supervision and protective netting aren't adequate to prevent these injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to take steps to ensure that their children never use trampolines at home, a friend's house, the playground, or in a routine gym class. Older children should use trampolines only in training programs for competitive sports such as gymnastics or diving, and only when supervised by a professional trained in trampoline safety.

 - from HealthyChildren.org

Last Words

"Summer is the topsy-turvey season when the goldfish have to be boarded out while the family goes on a fishing trip."

"The bigger the summer vacation, the harder the fall"

-- Unknown