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At the current time there is no clear legal definition as to what constitutes an unsupervised child.  In determining if a child is old enough and mature enough to be left alone, a number of factors considered in tandem assists in the determination.  They include:  Chronological age: Young children from 0-6 years should not be left alone for even short periods of time.  Children 6-9 years should be left for only short periods, depending on their level of maturity.  The factors to follow should also be considered.  Children 10 and above probably can be left for somewhat longer periods, again dependent upon the other factors.How long the child is alone: It is one thing for a parent to leave a...

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 VotER is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501c3-affiliated organization that a growing number of hospitals and residency programs have been partnering with. Their vision is to help create a future where those most hurt by the healthcare system are empowered to fix it by inviting their voices into the democratic process through voter registration in health care settings. COVID-19 has added new urgency to this work.  The Healthy Democracy Kit helps healthcare providers register employees or patients to vote or request their absentee ballot using an ID badge backer that has a text short code on it so patients can access the platform on their own phones. Watch the short video below. Over 10,000 Healthy Democracy Kits have been ordered thus far and there is a competition among some programs! This...

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The Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (KAAP) recognizes that children learn best when physically present in the classroom. While academics are important, children also learn social and emotional skills at school, get healthy meals and exercise, mental health support and other services that are difficult to replicate online.  While returning to school is important for the well-being of children, it is important to pursue re-opening in a way that is safe for all students, teachers, and staff. Decisions about when to return to classrooms and how that is accomplished should be driven by science, so it is done as safely as possible. Guidance should come from public health agencies based on evidence, not politics.  Public health experts should tell...

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The Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatric (KAAP) understands that racism is a public health crisis. All children and adolescents should feel safe and have access to quality care that is essential to their health. Children and adolescents of color, we see you, we care about you, and our hearts are with you. As AAP stated last year in the policy statement "Racism and Its Impact on Child and Adolescent Health," racism's societal impact, particularly on communities of color and populations that are historically disenfranchised, is wide-reaching, systemic, and complex. A growing body of scientific research has found that racism harms children's mental and physical health in myriad ways. We are watching this play out now, in real time, and...

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KAAP members: please use the social media messages and graphics to amplify the message to families and communities that pediatricians are available and OPEN FOR CHILDREN. Did we miss anything? If you would like to see a specific message, please contact Amy at amy.trollinger@kansasaap.org. Pediatricians are Open to Care for Children  KAAP Press ReleaseMask Guidance for School-Age Children (pdf)Mask Guidance for School-Age Children – SPANISH (pdf) Social Media Messages (pdf)Teaching "Six Feet" to KidsPhysical Distancing (animals)Physical Distancing (objects)Sports PhysicalsYou've been doing enough - Call Your PediatricianWell-Checks and ImmunizationsCall your PediatricianKeep Vaccines Up to DateShould My Child Wear a Mask?Help Your Child Wear a MaskBe a Mask HeroImmunizations and Well Check Visits for Babies Encourage Families to Stay Home Children and Masks...

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From KSHSAA: As you know, KSHSAA rules require every student participant in our interscholastic activity program to have a Preparticipation Physical Exam completed prior to practice or competition. For the upcoming school year, the form has been revised and we are hopeful that you, in your role as Executive Director of the  Kansas Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics, would help in notifying your members of this updated form.  While we will still accept the previous version, we believe the new form provides additional perspective for student healthcare needs.   The new PPE form is available on our web site at http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/PDF/FORM-PPE.pdf and the Spanish version is available via http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/PDF/FORM-PPE(Spanish).pdf. The form now includes a cover page with specific responsibilities for students/parents, healthcare providers,...

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From AAP News: Children with COVID-19 have different symptom presentations, laboratory findings and severity than adults, and co-infections are common, according to a new study. From Jan. 20 through Feb. 27, 2020, researchers looked at data on 74 pediatric patients with COVID-19 in China and found nearly all had been in contact with adults in their household who were infected with the virus before them. Read the full article.

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COVID Vaccine COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A Handout for Parents - pdf (June 2021) AAPCDC offers guidance to health care workers with symptoms after COVID-19 vaccinationKDHECOVID Vaccine Prioritization (Jan. 7, 2021)FrameWorks Instituteand AAPReport: Communicating About Vaccination in the United States: A FrameWorks Strategic Brief The following is a list of resources regarding COVID-19. KAAP's What do I do if I suspect a patient is infected with SARS CoV-2? KAAP's COVID-19 Pediatric Clinic Key Strategies (pdf) KAAP's Improving Financial Health During COVID-19 (pdf) KAAP's Mask Guidance for School-Age Children (pdf) KAAP's Mask Guidance for School-Age Children - SPANISH (pdf) Social Media Toolkit General Information AAP NewsCOVID-19 outbreakAAP Red Book Online2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) InfectionsKDHECOVID-19 UpdatesCDCCoronavirus (COVID-19)John HopkinsMap TrackingKansas Breastfeeding CoalitionCOVID-19 and BreastfeedingNIHCoronavirus (COVID-19)National...

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As of April 18th, John Fales, DMD and Kory Kirkegaard, DMD began printing thousands of NP swabs which will be couriered to the lab at the KDHE. The NP swabs are printed on FORMLABS printers, which are specialized medical device printers, using a specialized surgical guide resin and the USF FDA EUA files tested at Northwell. Dr. Fales, a Pediatric Dentist in Olathe, is a member of the KAAP and serves on the AAP’s Section on Oral Health as the liaison from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Kirkegaard practices at The Art of Dentistry in Overland Park. On April 3rd, the KDHE acquired the CEFEID platform to increase testing capacity to 1000 tests a day, but the rate...

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As a member benefit during this difficult time, KAAP is offering the CME presentations planned for our Progress in Pediatrics - Spring 2020 virtually and at no charge. You will have the option to participate in the live virtual presentations or to watch the recording for CME credit on our website at a later date. Find registration information for the live events below. Past Webinars Click here to access recording of these webinars. CMEs will be available to KAAP members. New Guidelines for ADHD Trevena Moore, MD, MPH, FAAP        Friday, April 10, 202011:00 a.m. (1 hour) A recording of this webinar will be available soon. The Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics designates this live activity for a maximum...

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