Up to date information about children's entertainment – film, TV, DVD and more…. from founder and president of KIDS FIRST! Ranny Levy

Archive for November, 2012

Mobile health has found its market: smartphone owners

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

According to The Pew Internet & American Life Project, in conjunction with Princeton Survey Research, 85% of U.S. adults own a cell phone, and 31% of them have used their phone to look for health information. Two years ago, only 17% of cell phone owners had used their phones to look for health advice.

Smartphone owners lead this activity: 52% gather health information on their phones, compared with 6% of non-smartphone owners. Cell phone owners who are Latino, African American, between the ages of 18-49, or hold a college degree are also more likely to gather health information this way.

80% of cell phone owners say they send and receive text messages, but just 9% of cell phone owners say they receive any text updates or alerts about health or medical issues. Women, those between the ages of 30 and 64, and smartphone owners are more likely than other cell phone owners to have signed up for health text alerts.

Smartphones enable the use of mobile software applications to help people track or manage their health. Some 19% of smartphone owners have at least one health app on their phone. Exercise, diet, and weight apps are the most popular types. Mobile health continues to climb in popularity, especially among smartphone owners.

Among all cell phone owners, some demographic groups are more likely than others to look for health information on their phones: Latinos, African Americans, those between the ages of 18 and 49, and college graduates.

Mobile health information also seems to appeal to certain groups of health consumers: caregivers, people who went through a recent medical crisis, and those who experienced a recent, significant change in their physical health such as gaining or losing a lot of weight, becoming pregnant, or quitting smoking.
Nearly all demographic groups report significant increases in this activity, with the exception of those over 65 and those who did not complete high school. A few groups stand out: cell phone owners who are African American, college graduates, women, those with an annual household income between $50,000 and $74,999, and those between the ages of 3049. Smartphone ownership has greatly increased over the last two years and no doubt had an effect on this trend.

Text messaging is a nearly universal activity, especially among younger cell phone owners, but it has not yet had a significant impact on the health market. 80% of cell phone owners say they send and receive text messages, but just 9% of cell phone owners say they receive any text updates or alerts about health or medical issues.
Source, all data: Pew Internet/CHCF Health Survey, August 7September 6, 2012. N=3,014 adults ages 18+. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish, on landline and cell phones. 

For additional information and the PDF file, please visit PewInternet here.

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Help end childhood hunger with Share Our Strength

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

Have you ever experienced going without a meal?

As we prepare for upcoming holiday feasts and celebrations, we are also reminded of those who are forced to go without. Did you know that each year, 1 in 5 children across America struggle with hunger? It’s a surprising statistic but Share Our Strength believes that we can solve this problem. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign is putting an end to childhood hunger by connecting kids to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals. We would love your help in spreading awareness about childhood hunger.

Every little bit counts. In fact, just a $10 donation can help connect a kid with up to 100 meals!  Why not take action this holiday season by visiting the No Kid Hungry website to take the pledge to end childhood hunger, donate or become a community advocate.

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New Resource on State Initiatives to Expand Early Head Start

Friday, November 16th, 2012

In September, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and ZERO TO THREE released Expanding Access to Early Head Start: State Initiatives for Infants and Toddlers at Risk. The publication highlights how states are using innovative funding, policies, and partnerships to expand the critically important Early Head Start (EHS) program to better meet the needs of more low-income children and pregnant women. Twenty-three states currently have at least one initiative that builds on the federally-funded EHS program. The publication is available at www.zerotothree.org/expandingehs or at www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/ehsinitiatives.pdf.

In addition to the report, there are nine updated in-depth state initiative profiles. They will be available online on the CLASP and ZERO TO THREE websites shortly. Hope that you will find the report useful in your work.

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Minnesota Vikings fight childhood hunger with Taste of the Vikings event at Mall of America®

Wednesday, November 14th, 2012

Approximately 375,000 children in Minnesota currently receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year. When the school year ends however, only about 20 percent of these kids continue to access similar meal programs over the summer.

In an effort to strengthen the battle against childhood hunger, the Minnesota Vikings will host Taste of the Vikings presented by Carlson at Nickelodeon Universe® on Monday, Nov. 19 to rally support for the one in six kids who are at risk of hunger.
This ticketed event is an opportunity for individuals to sample food and beverages from the Twin Cities’ finest restaurants while mingling with Minnesota’s top professional athletes including current and former Vikings players Adrian Peterson, Christian Ponder, Percy Harvin, Jared Allen and many more. All proceeds will benefit the Vikings Children’s Fun Summer Lunch Program and Second Harvest Heartland to bring more summer meals to kids.

Taste of the Vikings is a companion to the nationwide Taste of the NFL. In their 21 years, Taste of the NFL has distributed more than $12 million to hunger relief organizations in NFL cities.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.vikings.com/schedule/taste-of-the-vikings.html. For more information, see this video from the 2011 Taste of the NFL Minnesota event.
Remember
WHEN: Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mall of America – Nickelodeon Universe

BE THERE!

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