Child Care Links Pediatric CPR Class Slated for December

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Initially established as a childcare referral and funding resource for the Tri-Valley, Child Care Links has consistently taken on new responsibilities over its 34 year lifetime as part of its aim to strengthen families and support children. Its latest service is one that can literally make the difference between life and death: a training class in pediatric CPR and first aid.

While new guidelines have recently been announced for the administration of adult CPR, the procedure is different for infants and children, who require techniques that are tailored to their smaller and more fragile physiques, explains Child Care Links Executive Director Carol Thompson. The new CPR class is designed for childcare providers as well as other community members, such as paramedics and EMTs (emergency medical technicians), who are normally on the scene of life-threatening situations.

The CPR class will be held on Saturday, December 18, at the agency's new Pleasanton location at 6601 Owens Drive, Suite 100. Also covered will be the gamut of potential dangers - choking and poison hazards, basic first aid, and safety - apt to arise in the childcare setting. Participants who complete the seven-hour course will be eligible for the certificate that satisfies EMSA (Emergency Medical Services Authority) requirements.

"This is a good tool for us to build relationships with new providers, and it is very helpful for those who need to re-certify their eligibility," Thompson observes. "Registration is open not just to the childcare providers using our services," but to anyone who needs or wants CPR training, such as new parents and nannies.

In addition to the CPR class, the agency has also introduced a new seven-hour preventative health course to further support childcare providers. Each component of the program will be offered in alternating months, with the next health segment slated for January.

Inclusion is another high-priority area for Thompson and her colleagues. Especially with reports of the rising incidence of autism in children in the Tri-Valley, this has become a "huge issue," she notes. Thanks to grants and support from Alameda County, Child Care Links is making a concerted effort to educate providers and parents about the requirements for assistance at regional centers as well as offering workshops to help providers create a more inclusive environment for all children. "We feel like we've really made great leaps here in valley," Thompson says.

With state budget cuts imminent, the agency is also exploring new avenues for funding to help low-income workers and job-seekers pay for childcare. "Children need role models," she points out, adding that seeing their parents working helps to instill the value of providing for a family.

In that vein, the agency is now contemplating reviving its Family-Friendly Employer awards program, acknowledging companies that provide some kind of childcare assistance to their workforce. "Businesses that offer those perks should get credit and recognition," Thompson states.

For more information, call (925) 417-8733 or visit www.childcarelinks.org, where registration forms for the CPR class are also available.

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