(NewsUSA) - Raising a family is overwhelming enough; add in milestones, routines, challenging behavior and keeping an eye on academic progress, and you’re in for a spin. However, your child’s teacher is often there to help navigate you along the way. Family-teacher conferences are not only a great measure of your child’s academic progress and needs, but it’s also a time to learn more about your child’s personality and tips to set them up for confidence and success beyond the classroom.

“No matter how old your child is, it’s important to communicate regularly with teachers and stay plugged into your school community,” says Ariel Bronson, Inclusion Services Advisor for KinderCare. “We hold conferences twice yearly because we value family as important educational collaborators. Research shows that when families and teachers stay connected, children are not only better prepared to enter kindergarten but their social skills and achievement improve, too. We are always thinking about how to set kids up for the most success, and we’re proud that the longer kids stay in our program, the better they do.”

Here are two focus topics, beyond academics, to help set you up for a well-rounded family-teacher conference:

1. Social-emotional. Your child craves relationships, and we know they’re important for you, too. According to a study, 58% of parents have seen a difference in their child’s social-emotional skills since enrolling their child in a child care setting. 
   • What are my child’s strengths outside of academic performance?
   • What is something kind you have seen my child do?
   • How does my child interact with their peers?
      
2. Executive functioning. Your child is capable of more than you may think. As adults, we often want to help, but it’s important to take a step back so your children can learn more about their abilities to stay focused on tasks and continue improving and developing healthy skills.
   • How well does my child follow simple instructions?
   • How does my child bounce back from an unpreferred situation?
   • How does my child react to conflict?

Don’t be afraid to ask your child’s teacher to elaborate on an answer or explain using an example for you. Be sure to also ask for resources and tips to use at home to help your child expand on these skills.

Remember that these conferences are merely a snapshot in time. Use the results as a positive guide to build upon. This meeting does not define your child; it informs you about them. It’s not an all-inclusive list of their abilities or what they’re going to do in the future. You’ve got this, and they do, too! For more resources, visit KinderCare.com.

(NewsUSA) - Coded to Kill by Marschall Runge, M.D.

Is medicine’s greatest breakthrough also the world’s most efficient killing machine?

After a decade of development, Drexel Hospital’s cutting-edge Electronic Health Records system is about to become the national standard and revolutionize health care. Housing the real-time medical records of every American, the EHR system will enable doctors to access records with a keystroke and issue life-or-death medical orders with a finger swipe.

No one wants the EHR to succeed more than Hugh Torrence, a former NSA honcho who sees the system as a tool for unimaginable and unaccountable power. The only thing standing in his way is a loose-knit group of Drexel employees with conflicting agendas and questionable loyalties.

While they search for answers, the suspicious patient deaths keep mounting as the target on their back grows larger. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3TC7Dyz.

The Dream Collector: Book I “Sabrine and Sigmund Freud”  by R.w. Meek

The Dream Collector thrusts readers into the dynamic ambiance of late 19th-century Paris where science and art entwine. Against the backdrop of the emerging Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements, the story centers on Julie Forette, a self-educated woman from Marseilles. Her journey leads her to the notorious Salpêtrière, a sprawling hospital and asylum governed by the esteemed neurologist Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot.

Amidst the chaos of over five thousand disabled, demented, and abandoned women, Julie forges a friendship with the young intern Sigmund Freud. Together, they explore the conscious-altering power of cocaine, hypnotism, and dream interpretation, embarking on an urgent quest to find a cure for the star hysteric, Sabrine Weiss, before Dr. Charcot resorts to radical measures.

As the narrative unfolds, Julie's entanglements extend beyond the asylum, intertwining with major artists like Cezanne, Gauguin, and Monet, making Belle Époque Paris come alive in an unforgettable way. Purchase at https://geni.us/bS4c.

Langston Mangston's Cool-Le-Made Adventure by Chandler G. Hayes

Join Langston-Mangston, his parents, and his imaginary best friend, the pink elephant Zonky, as they embark on fun family discussions about personal finance. Covering basic concepts that cultivate early awareness about how money affects our daily lives, Langston Mangston's Cool-Le-Made Adventure is a lively guide to success for young readers ages six to 12.

Encouraging parents to embrace their child's interest in family finances with mindfulness and care, children are empowered to develop and communicate new ideas, set goals, ask for help, overcome obstacles, and build confidence. The author, with two school-age children, motivates other children to be courageous when considering and planning new tasks and projects – a perfect book for entertainment, engagement and learning. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3TxhGVF.

At the Edge of the Ice by Carolyn Armstrong

The perfect book for middle-graders to celebrate Earth Day later this month, At The Edge Of The Ice is a heartfelt eco-adventure about the complexities of how habitats are affected by climate change and how small steps can make a big difference.

Sydney Cabella talks to animals, but they never talk back -- until one day, they do.

When an intuitive eleven-year-old Sydney, her brainiac twin sister Sierra, and her photojournalist parents explore the Arctic ecosystem near the North Pole, Sydney accidentally hits her head. When she wakes up, the impossible happens: she and the animals can talk to each other.

The first animal who speaks up, a ringed seal named Ringo , tells Sydney that loss of habitat and global warming have pushed this ecosystem to the brink of collapse. With just 72 hours, the twins must put their squabbles aside to decipher Ringo’s clues and help. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3VvHkvq.

(NewsUSA) - Advocates of all ages across the country join forces on April 1, Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action, to stand up and speak out against the tobacco industry.

Demonstrations, rallies and educational events are scheduled to expose how the tobacco industry targets kids with flavored, nicotine-filled products. Youth and adults are calling on federal, state and local officials to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products.

“When I finally realized that it wasn’t just cancer that killed my grandma, tobacco did, I started my tobacco prevention journey because I never wanted to see another person lose a loved one to tobacco,” says Neveah, a National Youth Ambassador with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which sponsors Take Down Tobacco.

The tobacco industry has a long history of using flavored products including e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars to appeal to children and other vulnerable groups. These flavors mask the harshness of tobacco products, making it easier for kids to start and ultimately become addicted.

“I’m shocked by the number of teens I see vaping who are vaping daily or even continuously. All of them are using minty, fruit flavors,” says Dr. Deepa Camenga, an addiction specialist with the American Academy of Pediatrics. “The products that are on the market have extremely high levels of nicotine and young people’s brains are particularly susceptible.”

A report of the U.S. Surgeon General found that, in addition to being highly addictive, nicotine can be harmful to child and adolescent brain development, especially the areas of the brain involved in learning, memory and attention. 

Although tobacco use among U.S. teens has decreased in recent years, the latest survey shows that 2.8 million middle and high school students still use tobacco products, including 2.1 million users of e-cigarettes.

“We’ve made tremendous progress in reducing youth tobacco use, but the tobacco industry is relentless in targeting our kids with flavored e-cigarettes and other flavored products. The FDA and  policymakers at every level of government should commit to removing all flavored tobacco products from the marketplace to protect our kids,” says Yolonda C. Richardson, President & CEO of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

“Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action is a time for communities to stand together against Big Tobacco’s efforts to addict another generation of kids,” she adds.

Take Down Tobacco is a national program of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to empower youth to create change in their communities, with the goal of achieving the first tobacco-free generation. To learn more, visit www.takedowntobacco.org.

(NewsUSA) - April is National Minority Health Month, and Black Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN), and underserved Americans, are among those disproportionately affected by colorectal cancer, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance), the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the disease.

The Alliance is expanding its health equity efforts to increase awareness of colorectal cancer risk in minority populations and to improve access to screening and care.

“Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when caught early,” said Cedrek McFadden, MD, colorectal cancer surgeon and Alliance Medical Scientific Advisory Committee member. “Providing equity and access for minority and underserved communities with barriers to screening and care must be a priority to help decrease incidence and mortality rates.”

To further address disparities, the Alliance has created a Health Equity Fund and Health Equity Advisory Committee to forge partnerships that:

●Offer free or low-cost screening options to more Americans in need.

●Expand financial assistance for patients during treatment.

●Enable innovative research to identify reasons for and solutions to disparities.

●Connect those most in need with high-quality and potentially lifesaving screening and treatment options.

“The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is committed to breaking down barriers to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment,” said Angele Russell, Senior Director of Partnerships & Health Equity, and leader of the Health Equity Advisory Committee at the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. “The Alliance’s Health Equity Fund and Health Equity Advisory Committee were established to address disparities in healthcare and provide free lifesaving screening and care resources to communities most affected by this deadly disease.”

The Alliance urges everyone, especially Black American and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, to know the risk factors and symptoms of colorectal cancer.

Risk factors include a family history of colorectal cancer, certain inherited genetic syndromes such as Lynch syndrome, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of colorectal cancer may include a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, abdominal discomfort, weakness and/or fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.

The Alliance offers a free and easy online quiz, available in both English and Spanish, that provides a screening recommendation based on personal risk factors. Visit quiz.getscreened.org to take the quiz and receive a customized screening recommendation based on personal risk factors that you can discuss with your doctor.

(NewsUSA) - Advocates of all ages across the country join forces on April 1, Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action, to stand up and speak out against the tobacco industry.

Demonstrations, rallies and educational events are scheduled to expose how the tobacco industry targets kids with flavored, nicotine-filled products. Youth and adults are calling on federal, state and local officials to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products.

“When I finally realized that it wasn’t just cancer that killed my grandma, tobacco did, I started my tobacco prevention journey because I never wanted to see another person lose a loved one to tobacco,” says Neveah, a National Youth Ambassador with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which sponsors Take Down Tobacco.

The tobacco industry has a long history of using flavored products including e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars to appeal to children and other vulnerable groups. These flavors mask the harshness of tobacco products, making it easier for kids to start and ultimately become addicted.

“I’m shocked by the number of teens I see vaping who are vaping daily or even continuously. All of them are using minty, fruit flavors,” says Dr. Deepa Camenga, an addiction specialist with the American Academy of Pediatrics. “The products that are on the market have extremely high levels of nicotine and young people’s brains are particularly susceptible.”

A report of the U.S. Surgeon General found that, in addition to being highly addictive, nicotine can be harmful to child and adolescent brain development, especially the areas of the brain involved in learning, memory and attention. 

Although tobacco use among U.S. teens has decreased in recent years, the latest survey shows that 2.8 million middle and high school students still use tobacco products, including 2.1 million users of e-cigarettes.

“We’ve made tremendous progress in reducing youth tobacco use, but the tobacco industry is relentless in targeting our kids with flavored e-cigarettes and other flavored products. The FDA and  policymakers at every level of government should commit to removing all flavored tobacco products from the marketplace to protect our kids,” says Yolonda C. Richardson, President & CEO of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

“Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action is a time for communities to stand together against Big Tobacco’s efforts to addict another generation of kids,” she adds.

Take Down Tobacco is a national program of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to empower youth to create change in their communities, with the goal of achieving the first tobacco-free generation. To learn more, visit www.takedowntobacco.org.

(NewsUSA) - As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the landscapes of our society, the impact on national security must be a top priority.  

Hear from experts about the latest advancements in how AI innovations are impacting national security at the second annual Ash Carter Exchange, an event held concurrently with the first-ever AI Expo for National Competitiveness. The Carter Exchange will take place simultaneously with the AI Expo at the DC Convention Center, but will be a distinct event with its own programming. 

The Ash Carter Exchange honors the vision of Dr. Ash Carter, who served as Secretary of Defense from 2015-2017, and whose forward-thinking recognition of technology’s role in national security guides our preparation today for the emerging challenges of tomorrow. The event is hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) and Mrs. Stephanie Carter, and is designed as a forum for the exchange of ideas. This year’s Ash Carter Exchange takes place in Washington, D.C., on May 7 and 8, with the goal of building on the groundbreaking discussions and strategic connections made during last year’s event. 

"As we carry forward Dr. Carter's critical mission, we bridge the essential gap between cutting-edge innovation and the safeguarding of our national security," according to Ylli Bajraktari, president and CEO of SCSP. 

“Last year’s Exchange was a testament to the power of collective expertise, bringing together esteemed leaders from the government, industry, and scientific spheres for engaging dialogue. This year, we are poised to delve even deeper into the conversations that shape our national defense.”  

SCSP is a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal to make recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies reshape national security, the economy, and society. 

Speakers currently scheduled to participate in the Ash Carter exchange include Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Gen. David W. Allen, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Dr. William A. LaPlante, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; Dr. Heidi Shyu, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Development; LtGen Karsten S. Heckl, Deputy Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps; Gen. James E. Rainey, Commanding General, Army Futures Command; Rear Adm. Kurt J. Rothenhaus, Chief, Office of Naval Research; Doug Beck, Director, Defense Innovation Unit; Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, Director, DARPA; Dr. Catherine Marsh, Director, IARPA; Dr. Evelyn N. Wang, Director, ARPA-E; Dr. Renee Wegrzyn, Director of ARPA-H; Gil Herrera, Director of Research, National Security Agency;  Heidi Shyu, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; Gen. James E. Rainey, Commanding General, Army Futures Command; Anne Neuberger, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology; Michael Collins, Acting Chair, National Intelligence Council; Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, KCB, ADC, Chief of the Defence Staff, United Kingdom; Nand Mulchandani, Chief Technology Officer, Central Intelligence Agency; Frank Kendall, Secretary of the Air Force; Gen. Anthony Cotton, Commander, United States Strategic Command; Dr. Jason Kelly, Chair, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology; Dr. Jason Rathje, Director, Office of Strategic Capital, Department of Defense; Dr. Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Dr. Nadia Schadlow, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute; Alan F. Estevez, Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security; Dr. William LaPlante, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitio and Sustainment; Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, USMC (Ret.), 19^th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Michele Flournoy, Co-founder and Managing Partner, WestExec Advisors.

Don’t miss two exciting days of demos and dialogue with leading experts and technology enthusiasts who share a vision of solidifying the United States as a leader in critical emerging technologies. Visit scsp.ai for more information.