Early Childhood

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First Steps- Early Intervention
First Steps is an early intervention program and serves children from birth to age three who have a developmental delay or a medical condition known to cause a delay. New Vista provides services for children who live in our 17-county service area. Staff provide screening and determine eligibility for services as well as coordinate services for families. Services are provided in the child’s natural environment, either at home, daycare, or in the community. Parents and caregivers have the opportunity to learn and continue activities to promote child development. Click here to learn more. 

Finding Quality Childcare
Quality childcare matters! Choosing the right caregiver is one of the most important decisions a family can make, which is why it’s important to get as much information as you can to ensure your choice is the best one.

To assist you in your choice, the Public Child Care Provider Search lists child care providers in your area.  You can also view inspection reports, hours of operation, and review program ratings using the Kentucky All STARS rating system.

Car Seat Information
In the United States, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children. In 2017, 675 children ages 12-years-old and younger died in motor vehicle crashes and nearly 116,000 were injured. Of the children 12-years-old and younger who died in a crash in 2017 (for which restraint use was known), 35% were not buckled up.

If your baby is on the way, has already arrived, or is growing into a preteen, check out the Ultimate Car Seat Guide from Safe Kids Worldwide for tips on buying, installing, ensuring the right fit, and knowing when to change your car or booster seat.

Booster Seat Information
Sometimes it can be hard to determine when your growing child should be placed in a booster seat.  Let the Kentucky Booster Seat Law (KRS 189.125) serve as a guide:

“Any driver of a motor vehicle, when transporting a child under the age of eight (8) years who is between forty (40) inches and fifty-seven (57) inches in height in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, and highways of this state, shall have the child properly secured in a child booster seat.  A child of any age who is greater than fifty-seven (57) inches in height shall not be required to be secured in a child booster seat under this section.  If a child is older than 8 years old or over 57 inches tall, they are not required by law to ride in a booster seat.”

Best practice however would be to keep children under 57 inches riding in a booster until they meet the height requirement, regardless of age.

The bill requires law enforcement officers to issue citations with a $30 fine with no court costs. In addition, violators will have the option to purchase a booster seat instead of paying the fine.

Child Passenger Safety Technicians
Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) receive intense training in how to install car seats. You can find one of these trained individuals in your area by visiting the National Child Passenger Safety Certification portal. Just plug in the state and county information to find a local CPSTs.

Safe Sleep Information
Kentucky’s infant deaths double that of the national average.  One of the leading causes of infant deaths is Sudden and Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).   This includes infants who die from unintentional suffocation or an undetermined cause.  SUIDs often happens during sleep or in the baby’s sleep area.

In order to reduce the risk of any infant dying due to unsafe sleep, the ABCs of Safe Sleep should be practiced every time a baby sleeps:

A is for Alone  |  Share the room, not the bed.
B is for Back  |  On my back for night and naps.
C is for Crib  |  In a Clean, Clear, Crib.
D is for Danger  |  Drinking and drug use impair your ability to care for a baby.

To see what a safe sleep environment looks like click here.
For more information on Safe Sleep, visit Safe Sleep Kentucky.

Preventing Childhood Injuries
Did you know preventable injuries is the number one killer of children in the United States?  Kentucky is no exception.  Safe Kids Worldwide provides plenty of tips and information for keeping your children safe from birth to age 18.